For violating the three hours limit for tarmac delays, American Eagle Airlines has been fined $900,000.
On May 29, American Eagle has became the first airline to earn the fine by leaving 608 passengers on the Chicago O’Hare International Airport for 225 minutes. Passengers were not provided the ability to deplane. Jet Blue which left 100 passengers on board for seven hours may be next in line for the fine.
Press Release:
In preparation for the upcoming winter storm season, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt are convening a Forum on Wednesday, November 30 to find better ways to manage aircraft diversions. Participants in the forum will review a series of proposed steps to improve travel for passengers who are diverted from their destination because of bad weather.
“During severe weather situations, we want to do everything we can to make sure passengers are flown to airports that are ready and prepared and where passengers can get off the plane quickly,” said Secretary LaHood.
The forum will take place in Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C. and will include air traffic controllers, pilots, aircraft dispatchers, airport operators, and officials from other government agencies and the aviation community.
The participants will discuss all of the factors that influence diversion decisions and airport capacity in bad weather situations, including the status of navigation equipment, aircraft parking and gate availability, Customs capacity, refueling and de-icing assets, jetway and air stair access and general ramp operations and security.
“We can’t control the weather, but we can improve the way diversions are handled,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.
The FAA is asking forum participants to bring ideas and best practices to the discussion. The FAA is proposing a new, web-based airport status tool that would present real-time information about each airport during a severe weather event to help airlines make fully informed decisions about where to divert. The FAA is also proposing including more airports in daily strategic planning conference calls during severe weather events to improve the information flow about which airports can accommodate diversions and would encourage airport contingency plans.
152 died in that crash in July of 2010, nearly a year and a half ago, and the report has still not been released.
Whatever the errors were that occurred, the report should have been released by now, especially after Air Blue made several commitments to release dates of that report. Full disclosure of accident reports is really the only way to learn from the past, and prevent future incidents. Also, it is unnecessarily cruel to keep families of the victims waiting, some of whom who are engaged in lawsuits whose results won’t be determined until after the reports are released.
Airblue’s CEO did not appear in court, even though his presence was specifically requested by the court. A lawyer, Masood A Khan, appeared in his stead and requested more time.
Two weeks ago, we were disappointed to learn of internal documents released by Pinnacle Airlines Corp., parent company of Colgan Air, that were not provided to the NTSB during the course of our investigation into the February 12, 2009, crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407. The NTSB investigation began immediately after the crash and concluded with a public meeting on February 2, 2010.
Today, in a letter to Pinnacle Airlines Corp., the NTSB requested that the company make available any and all information regarding the training and technical qualifications of the Captain and First Officer on-board Flight 3407.
While the content of the newly released email exchanges appears to be consistent with information our investigators learned through other means during the course of the investigation, it is critical that the factual record of this accident be complete. The previously undisclosed documents do not appear to give reason for reconsideration of the NTSB’s final report and probable cause determination.
https://airflightdisaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Demand_Letter_Pinnacle_110911.pdf
After holding passengers on the tarmac for seven hours, Jet Blue says that “…you deserve better and we expect better from our crewmembers and our operation. We can only earn your loyalty and trust one flight at a time and we ask you to give us a second chance. ”
About the delay
What: Gobierno del Estado de Mexico Agusta A109S Grand
Where: Peréz Valenzuela (street), Del Carmen district, in Coyacán, Mexico
When: Oct 21, 2011
Who: 4 aboard, 2 fatalities
Official Statement From Mexico State Government. Eruviel Governor Avila Villegas.
I want to report it relates to the unfortunate events that occurred today in Mexico City, at approximately 10:11 hours of the morning. Time when I was in the very north of the state of Mexico, Temascalcingo, conducting a working visit.
In fact, that I had the opportunity to meet several of you.
As is probably known to all of you, the aircraft of the Government of the State of Mexico, registration XCEDM, suffered the accident already mentioned.
First, I want to say that the government of the State of Mexico, particularly as governor of this state, I am extremely dismayed; regret that this accident has killed the pilot Captain Juan Esteban Rodriguez and Julio Cesar Ruiz Gomez Maturano, who served as associate secretary of logistics and deputy secretary of Metropolitan Development.
To the families of those who unfortunately have died, we express our heartfelt condolences.
I want to participate that we will support them with everything they need, regardless of legal benefits, we will give extra support, since this unfortunate accident happened.
We give our gratitude to the career of public service, both Julius Caesar Maturano Gomez and Captain Juan Esteban Rodriguez Ruiz, who always showed great dedication, commitment, professionalism in the work he performed as public servants, and who were in service when the accident happened unfortunately.
Likewise, we wish a speedy recovery to our partners: Alberto García Cuevas, Secretary of the Metropolitan Development and Juan Manuel Ramirez Rivera, also a pilot of the aircraft, who fortunately saved his life, which we are offering our full support and our solidarity.
They are hospitalized in a private hospital in southern Mexico City. I’ve been in personal contact with the president of this group of hospitals, who are giving details of the evolution of our patients, our fellow public servants.
It is noteworthy that since the Secretary General of Government was with them, I realized his condition, which is stable, although there are, of course, with due regard.
Also at this time the Secretary General of Government, Mr. Ernesto Alvarez Nemer, is in the scene where the accident happened.
I also acknowledge the assistance of the Federal District government for prompt medical attention, to transport the injured.
I’ve been in constant communication with the Chief of Government of the Federal District, Marcelo Ebrard, who has given all the institutional support.
They also participated in the call that I made the Citizen President of the Republic, Felipe Calderón Hinojosa teacher, who expressed full solidarity and institutional support to address the circumstances that we are living today.
Also, I got a call from the secretary of Interior, Mr. José Francisco Blake Mora, and other federal public servants.
I have established communication with the Secretary of Transportation, Felipe Duarte Olvera graduated from the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of the Federal Government Héctor González Ruiz, director general of Civil Aviation, as well as government officials in Mexico City.
There has been an extraordinary communication between representatives of governments in the State of Mexico, Federal District and Federal government.
I have asked institutional collaboration, in order to carry out investigations, and to clarify the facts and causes of this accident.
It is necessary to refer to the Metropolitan Development Secretary, together with his colleague, had a morning meeting with businessmen in the eastern part – in fact, local media, national media, were aware of this meeting there in the Valley of Mexico – and moved to the city of Toluca to attend a cabinet meeting that specializes in public safety, and to prepare what will be the development plan of the State of Mexico on metropolitan development, in collaboration with neighboring entities, particularly public safety.
Personally, as I concerned, I have been overseeing the development, monitoring the health of our comrades who were wounded.
The state government of Mexico will pay for the damage that caused this accident to locals, and the Federal District authorities are making the corresponding count, but will all the support, all this support from state government .
Once we have more information to shed the expert, will be contacting the root causes of this accident, regardless of these surveys and investigations by law be made, and also the state government has requested, I have given instructions that strengthen the review of the state that keep state government aircraft, review the operating protocols.
It is also worth referring to the drivers who serve the entire fleet, all helicopters have the service of the State of Mexico, are professional drivers, with many years of experience and seniority in service of this state government.
I asked the secretary of state government communications, is the formal link to be participating in the necessary information and, of course, that you are well aware of this issue.
Master Apolinar Mena, thank you very much for your cooperation.
I want to participate, ladies and gentlemen of different media, we’re really very upset. This is a very sad day for the State of Mexico, because they have killed two comrades in the service of this state, and are injured in the hospital, treated at the Hospital fortunately two of our comrades.
Thank you for your solidarity, and also appreciate your understanding, so that the information given to the public, the public, is really, timely, and will have the full cooperation of the state government to respond to requests for information and be adequately informing the public of the State of Mexico and Mexico.
Thank you very much for your understanding. Thank you for your solidarity, and reiterate our condolences to the families of the deceased partner.
Good afternoon.
At this time I go to the hospital where peers are in hospital being treated clinically.
Having all and all, good afternoon.
—
Comunicado oficial del Gobierno del Estado De México.
Gobernador Eruviel Ávila Villegas.
Quiero informarles lo relacionado a los lamentables sucesos acontecidos el día de hoy en la Ciudad de México, aproximadamente a las 10:11 horas de la mañana. Hora en que precisamente me encontraba en el Norte del Estado de México, en Temascalcingo, llevando a cabo una gira de trabajo.
De hecho, ahí tuve la oportunidad de saludar a varios de ustedes.
Como es seguramente del conocimiento de todos ustedes, la aeronave del Gobierno del Estado de México, con matrícula XCEDM, sufrió el accidente ya referido.
En primer lugar, quiero expresar que el gobierno del Estado de México, en particular como gobernador de este estado, estoy sumamente consternado; lamentamos que en este accidente haya perdido la vida el piloto capitán Juan Esteban Rodríguez Ruiz y Julio César Maturano Gómez, quien se desempeñaba como colaborador de logística y secretario particular adjunto del secretario de Desarrollo Metropolitano.
A las familias, de quienes lamentablemente han fallecido, les expresamos nuestras más sentidas condolencias.
Yo quiero participarles que habremos de apoyarles con todo lo necesario, independientemente de las prestaciones de ley, habremos de dar un apoyo extraordinario, desde que este accidente lamentablemente aconteció.
Les damos nuestro reconocimiento, a la trayectoria del servicio público, tanto de Julio César Maturano Gómez y del capitán Juan Esteban Rodríguez Ruiz, quienes siempre mostraron una gran dedicación, entrega, profesionalismo en la actividad que realizaran como servidores públicos, y quienes se encontraban en servicio cuando aconteció lamentablemente este accidente.
De la misma forma, deseamos una pronta recuperación a nuestros compañeros: Alberto García Cuevas, secretario de Desarrollo Metropolitano y a Juan Manuel Ramírez Rivera, también otro de los pilotos de la aeronave, quienes afortunadamente salvaron su vida, y a los cuales estamos ofreciendo todo nuestro apoyo y toda nuestra solidaridad.
Ellos se encuentran hospitalizados en un hospital privado del sur de la Ciudad de México. He estado en contacto personal con el presidente de este grupo de hospitales, quien está dando detalles de la evolución de nuestros pacientes, de nuestros compañeros servidores públicos.
Es de señalar que ya el secretario General de Gobierno estuvo con ellos, me dio cuenta de su estado de salud, que es estable, aunque se están, desde luego, atendiendo debidamente.
También en estos momentos el secretario General de Gobierno, el licenciado Ernesto Nemer Álvarez, se encuentra en el lugar de los hechos, donde aconteció este accidente.
Quiero también agradecer la colaboración del gobierno del Distrito Federal, por la atención médica oportuna, para el traslado de los lesionados.
He estado en comunicación permanente con el señor Jefe de Gobierno del Distrito Federal, el licenciado Marcelo Ebrard, quien ha dado todo el respaldo institucional.
También les participo de la llamada que me hizo el ciudadano presidente de la república, maestro Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, quien expresó toda su solidaridad y apoyo institucional, para atender las circunstancias que hoy estamos viviendo.
De igual forma, recibí el llamado del secretario de Gobernación, el licenciado José Francisco Blake Mora, y de otros servidores públicos federales.
He establecido comunicación con el subsecretario de Transportes, licenciado Felipe Duarte Olvera, de la Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes del Gobierno Federal; licenciado Héctor González Ruiz, director general de Aeronáutica Civil, así como por autoridades del gobierno del Distrito Federal.
Ha habido una comunicación extraordinaria entre representantes de los gobiernos del Estado de México, del Distrito Federal y del gobierno Federal.
Les he pedido su colaboración institucional, a fin de que se lleven a cabo las investigaciones correspondientes, y se puedan esclarecer los hechos y las causas de este accidente.
Es necesario referir que el secretario de Desarrollo Metropolitano, junto con su compañero de trabajo, tuvo una reunión por la mañana con empresarios de la zona oriente –de hecho, medios de comunicación locales, medios nacionales, dieron cuenta de este encuentro allá en el Valle de México–, y se trasladaba a la ciudad de Toluca para atender la reunión de un gabinete especializado en materia de seguridad pública, y poder preparar lo que será el plan de desarrollo del Estado de México en materia de desarrollo metropolitano, en colaboración con las entidades vecinas, especialmente en materia de seguridad pública.
Personalmente, como les refería, he estado supervisando la evolución, el seguimiento del estado de salud de nuestros compañeros que resultaron heridos.
El gobierno del Estado de México se hará cargo de los daños materiales que haya causado este accidente a vecinos del lugar, ya las autoridades del Distrito Federal están haciendo el recuento correspondiente, pero habrá todo el respaldo, todo el apoyo por parte de este gobierno estatal.
Una vez que tengamos más información que arrojen los peritajes, se estará comunicando de las causas que originaron este accidente, independientemente de estos peritajes y las investigaciones que por Ley deben hacerse, y que además el gobierno del estado ha solicitado, he dado instrucciones para que se fortalezca la revisión del estado que guardan las aeronaves del gobierno estatal, revisar los protocolos de operación.
Vale la pena también referir que los pilotos que sirven a toda la flota, todos los helicópteros que tenemos al servicio del Estado de México, son pilotos profesionales, ya con muchos años de experiencia y con antigüedad al servicio de este gobierno estatal.
He solicitado al secretario de Comunicaciones del gobierno estatal, sea el enlace formal para estar participándoles de la información que sea necesaria, y, desde luego, que estén ustedes bien informados de este tema.
Maestro Apolinar Mena, muchas gracias por su colaboración.
Quiero participarles, señoras, señores de los diferentes medios de comunicación, que estamos verdaderamente muy consternados. Este es un día muy triste para el Estado de México, porque han perdido la vida dos compañeros al servicio de este estado, y están heridos en el hospital, atendidos afortunadamente en el Hospital otros dos compañeros nuestros.
Agradecemos su solidaridad, y agradeceremos también su comprensión, para que la información que se dé a la opinión pública, a la ciudadanía, sea veras, sea oportuna, y tendrán toda la colaboración de este gobierno estatal para poder atender las peticiones de información y estar debidamente informando a la opinión pública del Estado de México y de México.
Muchas gracias por su comprensión. Gracias por su solidaridad, y reitero las condolencias a las familias de los compañeros fallecidos.
Buenas tardes.
En este momento acudo al Hospital en donde se encuentran hospitalizados los compañeros que están siendo atendidos clínicamente.
Que tengan todas y todos, buena tarde.
$160,000 in penalties may be levied against SkyWest Airlines.
Four passenger flights failed to follow cargo and baggage documentation procedures, resulting in weight, balance, cargo and baggage load data errors.
Four flights went out without a load manifest that accurately reflected the weight of the cargo and baggage, when the total weight of the aircraft was not computed under approved procedures, and when the aircraft were not loaded according to an approved load schedule.
SkyWest has paid civil penalties in eight similar previous cases.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded a $2 million grant to San Diego International Airport to reduce the use of conventional fuels at the airport to improve air quality.
The grant through the FAA’s Voluntary Airport Low Emission (VALE) program is part of a major airport improvement project at San DiegoInternational Airport called “The Green Build.” The grant will enable the airport to install a land-side power unit and pre-conditioned air unit at each of 10 new aircraft gates, as well as seven air units at existing gates. The units will allow aircraft arriving at the gates to shut off their auxiliary power units and connect to a cleaner central heating and cooling system, saving fuel and reducing aircraft emissions on the ground.
The official report is out, concluding that because it was dark, passengers were unaware that the plane was flying upside down.
Excuse me? Are we to believe that passengers were unawere the plane was flying UPSIDE DOWN?
I don’t think so. If they were upside down they had to FEEL it, dark or not. Or else they weren’t upside down.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Andrew Bowden
What: All Nippon Airways Boeing 737-700 en route from Okinawa to Tokyo Haneda
Where: Hamamatsu
When: Sep 6th 2011
Who: 2 crew injured
Why: While en route, the co-pilot accidentally activated the rudder trim switch instead of the door mechanism.
The plane descended 6000 feet and rolled, injuring a couple of flight attendants. The first officer—2400 hours— leveled off, and was able to admit the captain who was stuck outside the cockpit, waiting to get in.
The flight continued without incident
Type Dauphin 365 N3
Nationality: INDIAN
registration: VT – SOK
Owner/operator: Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd.
PIC: Flying under rule 160
injuries: Minor
copilot: Holder of CPL (H)
injuries: Minor
Location: Chandigarh Airport
point of departure: Chandigarh Airport
point of arrival (intended): Secretariat, Chandigarh
Date: 16th December, 2010; 04:30 UTC (Approx.)
passengers: n/a
Phase: Taxing
Type: During Taxi the helicopter Toppled toward left side.
Type & model Engines Nationality Registration:
Type:B737-800
Engines:CFM56-7
Nationality:Indian
Registration:VT–JGM
Owner:M/s Jet Airways, Mumbai
PIC: ALTP Holder
1st: CPL Holder
Other: cabin crew 4,
One trainee first officer
Passengers: 139 Minor
INJURIES:21, Serious:4
LOCATION: Mumbai Airport
DATE: 27th Aug?2010,1525 UTC
INCIDENT TYPE: Serious injuries during evacuation
https://airflightdisaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/VT-JGM.pdf
LOS ANGELES – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $207,200 civil penalty against J.R. Simplot Company of Boise, Idaho, for alleged violations of Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations.
The FAA alleges Simplot offered a non-standard fiberboard box containing a five-gallon plastic jug of bactericide and fungicide to United Parcel Service (UPS) for transportation by air from Union Gap, Wash. to New Harmony, Utah, on Oct. 28, 2009.
According to U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, the mixture of hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acids is classified as an oxidizer, which is a hazardous material.
The FAA alleges the package was not declared to contain hazardous materials and that the materials offered were not properly classed, described, packaged, marked, labeled and in proper condition for shipment under the hazardous materials regulations. Additionally, the agency alleges the quantity of liquid in the shipment exceeded the maximum amount that can be transported on a cargo aircraft.
Employees at UPS’s Ontario, California, sorting facility discovered the leaking package.
Simplot has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the Agency.
###
KANSAS CITY – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $2,425,000 civil penalty against Cessna Aircraft Co., of Wichita, Kan., after carbon composite parts of the wing of one of its aircraft came apart during flight.
On Dec. 6, 2010, an FAA test pilot performing a production audit test flight in a Cessna Corvalis experienced a failure of the skin on the left wing. About seven feet of the left wing skin separated from the forward spar and damaged a fuel tank. A spar is a beam-like structure inside the wing and is a principal load-bearing component. The pilot made an emergency landing at the Independence, Kan., airport.
Subsequently, the FAA issued emergency airworthiness directives grounding 13 specific Corvalis aircraft that used wings and parts produced in Cessna’s Chihuahua, Mexico, plant between Dec. 17, 2009, and Dec. 16, 2010. FAA investigators determined that the wing skin separated from the spar due to excessive humidity in the factory that prevented the bonded materials from curing properly.
The FAA alleges that Cessna failed to follow its FAA-approved quality control system when it manufactured the wings on the damaged airplane, as well as 82 additional parts, in the Chihuahua factory. The manufacturer has since made improvements to the plant.
“Safety is our highest priority,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We want to ensure that manufacturers are vigilant when it comes to aviation safety. There can be no exceptions.”
“Quality control is a critical part of the aircraft manufacturing process and has to detect problems before planes leave the factory,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “Manufacturers have to ensure that all the details are followed all of the time.”
The Corvalis is a high-performance four-seat single-engine general aviation aircraft. It uses a significant number of composite parts and structures.
Cessna has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Alastair T. Gardiner
Lebanon’s public works minister announced the investigation report (re: Ethiopian jet that crashed into the Mediterranean in 2010 four minutes after takeoff on Jan. 25, 2010) has been finalized.
Ethiopia Airlines accused Lebanon of failing to provide evidence critical to the investigation. According to the airline, “The Lebanese government had failed to deliver documents, evidence, and data critical to the investigation.”
Ethiopia Airlines said that the report is only in the technical stage, that the analysis has not begin. Therefore the report is not finalized.
The BEA has just formed the « Human Factors » working group whose creation was announced at the time of the publication of the third Interim Report on the investigation into the accident to the Rio-Paris flight on 1st June 2009.
This working group’s objective is to analyze all aspects connected to the conduct of the flight:
Crew actions and reactions during the last three phases of the flight described in the third Interim Report, in particular in relation to the stall warning;
Cockpit ergonomics;
Man-machine interfaces.
This working group is made up of seven experts:
Three BEA investigators specializing in human factors;
A psychiatrist specializing in risk analysis;
A human factors aviation consultant;
A type-rated A330 pilot;
An A330 test pilot.
The BEA may call on other experts from time to time and will consult Airbus and Air France when required.
The group’s work will begin very soon and should be completed by the end of December 2011. Its thinking will take into account input from both the «Operations» and the «Airplane Systems» groups.
All of the work carried out will be included in the Final Report, which will establish the causes of the accident, whose publication is planned for the first half of 2012.
The BEA has just formed the « Human Factors » working group whose creation was announced at the time of the publication of the third Interim Report on the investigation into the accident to the Rio-Paris flight on 1st June 2009.
This working group’s objective is to analyze all aspects connected to the conduct of the flight:
Crew actions and reactions during the last three phases of the flight described in the third Interim Report, in particular in relation to the stall warning;
Cockpit ergonomics;
Man-machine interfaces.
This working group is made up of seven experts:
Three BEA investigators specializing in human factors;
A psychiatrist specializing in risk analysis;
A human factors aviation consultant;
A type-rated A330 pilot;
An A330 test pilot.
The BEA may call on other experts from time to time and will consult Airbus and Air France when required.
The group’s work will begin very soon and should be completed by the end of December 2011. Its thinking will take into account input from both the «Operations» and the «Airplane Systems» groups.
All of the work carried out will be included in the Final Report, which will establish the causes of the accident, whose publication is planned for the first half of 2012.
FIRST NETWORK CARRIER TO INTRODUCE PAPERLESS AERONAUTICAL NAVIGATION CHARTS; MOVE ENHANCES EFFICIENCY, SAVES FUEL, IMPROVES SAFETY
CHICAGO, Aug. 23, 2011 — United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today announced that it is converting to paperless flight decks and deploying 11,000 iPads to all United and Continental pilots. The electronic flight bags (EFB) replace paper flight manuals, and as a first for major network carriers, provide pilots with paperless aeronautical navigational charts through an iPad app. Distribution of iPads began earlier this month, and all pilots will have them by year end.
“The paperless flight deck represents the next generation of flying,” said Captain Fred Abbott, United’s senior vice president of flight operations. “The introduction of iPads ensures our pilots have essential and real-time information at their fingertips at all times throughout the flight.”
Navigational Charting App Breaks New Ground
The iPads are loaded with Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck, the industry’s premier app featuring interactive, data-driven enroute navigation information and worldwide geo-referenced terminal charts. The enhanced full-color, high-quality information display ensures the right information is displayed at the right time.
“We are proud to partner with United Airlines on a project of this magnitude with Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck,” said Mark Van Tine, president and CEO of Jeppesen. “Jeppesen and United share a long and storied history that includes development of numerous innovations for the aviation industry. We look forward to continuing this partnership in integrating our digital mobile solutions that increase efficiency, reduce costs and optimize operations.”
Saving 16 Million Sheets of Paper and 326,000 Gallons of Jet Fuel a Year
Each iPad, which weighs less than 1.5 pounds, will replace approximately 38 pounds of paper operating manuals, navigation charts, reference handbooks, flight checklists, logbooks and weather information in a pilot’s flight bag. A conventional flight bag full of paper materials contains an average of 12,000 sheets of paper per pilot. The green benefits of moving to EFBs are two-fold—it significantly reduces paper use and printing, and, in turn, reduces fuel consumption. The airline projects EFBs will save nearly 16 million sheets of paper a year which is equivalent to more than 1,900 trees not cut down. Saving 326,000 gallons of jet fuel a year reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 3,208 metric tons.
iPad Improves Efficiency and Safety
With iPad, pilots are able to quickly and efficiently access reference material without having to thumb through thousands of sheets of paper and reduce clutter on the flight deck. United and Continental pilots’ work will be streamlined as they can immediately download updates on iPad to their electronic flight materials, rather than waiting for paper updates to be printed and distributed. In addition, by eliminating bulky flight bags loaded with paper, pilots will have less to lift and carry through airports and onboard the aircraft, reducing the risk of injury while on duty.
A Cairns-based aviation maintenance and repair organisation has become the first in Australia to be granted an approval under new air safety regulations.
Hawker Pacific Airline Support Services now has approval to operate under new maintenance regulations introduced in June 2011.
These regulations cover the maintenance of regular public transport aircraft and aeronautical products.
CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety, John McCormick, has presented Hawker Pacific Airline Support Services with their new Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 145 approval certificate.
The presentation was made in Cairns on Wednesday 24 August 2011.
“The finalisation of the first approval under the new maintenance regulations is a major milestone for Australian aviation,” Mr McCormick said.
“Between now and June 2013 a total of 250 maintenance organisations will move across to operate under the new Part 145 regulations.
“They will all benefit from operating within a regulatory framework that enhances safety, offers increased flexibility and aligns with international practices.
“The regulations enhance safety because they introduce requirements for safety management systems and human factors training into the maintenance sector for the first time. The new rules are also clearer, which will improve compliance with safety standards.
“Hawker Pacific Airline Support Services has undertaken a lot of work to win this approval and CASA carefully reviewed their documentation and carried out on site inspections.
“I congratulate Hawker Pacific Airline Support Services for being the first to be granted an approval under Part 145 of the maintenance regulations and look forward to the smooth transition of all the other relevant maintenance organisations by the middle of 2013.”
Hawker Pacific Airline Support Services carries out maintenance of Bombardier DHC-8 and Embraer 120 aircraft in Cairns.
The new maintenance regulations introduced under Part 145 only cover the maintenance of regular public transport aircraft and aeronautical products fitted to those aircraft. CASA will develop new maintenance regulations for other sectors of aviation after further consultation with the industry.
New regulations covering Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and maintenance training organisations were also introduced in June 2011.
WASHINGTON – As part of the continuing investigation into the 2010 rapid decompression that occurred following a fuselage rupture aboard an American Airlines flight shortly after departing Miami, Florida, today the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened its public docket.
On October 26, 2010, American Airlines flight 1640, a Boeing 757-223, while climbing through 32,000 feet, experienced a rapid decompression. The crew executed an emergency descent back to Miami International Airport and landed the aircraft without further incident. There were no injuries to the 6 crewmembers and 154 passengers.
A ground inspection of the airplane shortly after it landed in Miami revealed a section of the fuselage crown skin, measuring approximately 18 inches by 7 inches, had ruptured just above and aft of the forward left passenger door.
Included in the documents released today are a summary of the cockpit voice recorder and reports from the metallurgy and airworthiness groups.
The information contained in the docket is factual in nature and does not provide any analysis.
Additional material will be added to the docket as it becomes available. Analysis of the accident, along with conclusions and a determination of probable cause, will come at a later date when the final report on the investigation is completed.
WASHINGTON — NASA spacecraft observations and new data processing techniques are giving scientists better insight into the evolution and development of solar storms that can damage satellites, disrupt communications and cause power grid failures on Earth.
The solar storms, called Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), are being observed from NASA’s twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, or STEREO, spacecraft launched in 2006. The duo represents a key component within a fleet of NASA spacecraft that enhance the capability to predict solar storms.
Previous spacecraft imagery did not clearly show the structure of a solar disturbance as it traveled toward Earth. As a result, forecasters had to estimate when storms would arrive without knowing the details of how they evolve and grow. New processing techniques used on STEREO data allow scientists to see how solar eruptions develop into space storms at the Earth.
“The clarity these new images provide will improve the observational inputs into space weather models for better forecasting,” said Lika Guhathakurta, STEREO program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
CMEs are billion-ton clouds of solar plasma launched by the same sun explosions that spark solar flares. When they sweep past Earth, they can cause auroras, radiation storms that can disrupt sensitive electronics on satellites, and in extreme cases, power outages. Better tracking of these clouds and the ability to predict their arrival is an important part of space weather forecasting.
Newly released images from cameras on the STEREO-A spacecraft reveal detailed features in a large Earth-directed CME in late 2008, connecting the original magnetized structure in the sun’s corona to the intricate anatomy of the interplanetary storm as it hit the planet three days later. When the data were collected, the spacecraft was more than 65 million miles away from Earth.
The spacecraft’s wide-angle cameras captured the images. They detect ordinary sunlight scattered by free-floating electrons in plasma clouds. When these clouds in CMEs leave the sun, they are bright and easy to see. However, visibility is quickly reduced, as the clouds expand into the void. The clouds are about one thousand times fainter than the Milky Way, which makes direct imaging of them difficult. That also has limited our understanding of the connection between solar storms and the coronal structures that cause them.
“Separating these faint signals from the star field behind them proved especially challenging, but it paid off,” said Craig DeForest, scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. and lead author of an Astrophysical Journal article released online yesterday. “We have been drawing pictures of structures like these for several decades. Now that we can see them so far from the sun, we find there is still a lot to learn.”
These observations can pinpoint not only the arrival time of the CME, but also its mass. The brightness of the cloud enabled researchers to calculate the cloud’s gas density throughout the structure, and compare it to direct measurements by other NASA spacecraft. When this technique is applied to future storms, forecasters will be able to say with confidence whether Earth is about to be hit by a small or large cloud, and where on the sun the material originated.
STEREO’s two observatories orbit the sun, one ahead of Earth and one behind. They will continue to move apart over time. STEREO is the third mission in NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Probes program. The program seeks to understand the fundamental physical processes of the space environment from the sun to Earth and other planets.
The STEREO spacecraft were built and are operated for NASA by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., manages the mission, instruments and science center. The STEREO instruments were designed and built by scientific institutions in the U.S., UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and Switzerland.
FAA Press Release:
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing $155,000 in civil penalties against American Eagle Airlines of Fort Worth, Texas for allegedly operating eight flights with incorrect weight and balance data, and for using improper maintenance procedures when repairing a jet engine and then operating the aircraft when it was not in compliance with FAA regulations.
FAA inspectors observed 12 American Eagle flights arriving at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Dec. 28-29, 2010. In eight instances, loading documents for checked luggage did not match observations made by the inspector.
American Eagle’s FAA-approved weight and balance program calls for the use of an automated Electronic Weight and Balance System (EWBS) to make sure aircraft are operated with correct weight and balance information. However, accurate data must be entered for the EWBS to function properly.
Operators may not exceed an aircraft’s weight limit when loading the plane and the weight must be distributed so that the aircraft remains in balance during the flight. The FAA alleges American Eagle entered inaccurate data in the EWBS, then operated the aircraft with incorrect weight and balance information. The proposed civil penalty is $80,000.
The FAA also alleges American Eagle used improper procedures to repair an engine on one of its Embraer 135 regional jets, and that a mechanic signed off as “complete” on work he had not performed. As a result, American Eagle operated the aircraft on 34 flights between Sept.11 and Sept. 17, 2010, when it was not in compliance with regulations. The proposed civil penalty is $75,000.
American Eagle has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letters to respond to the agency.
Angle of Attack (AoA) Probes Faulty:
Testing shows that data from two different Airbus planes were found inaccurate.
Investigation conducted by Airbus and Thales on the removed probes revealed oil residue between the stator and the rotor parts of the AoA vane position resolvers. This oil residue was the result of incorrect removal of machining oil during the manufacturing process of the AoA resolvers. At low temperatures, this oil residue becomes viscous (typically in cruise), causing delayed and/or reduced AoA vane movement. Multiple AOA probes could be simultaneously affected, providing incorrect indications of the AoA of the
aeroplane. If not corrected, this could lead to erroneous AOA information and consequent delayed or non-activation of the AoA protection systems which, if during flight at a high angle of attack, could result in reduced control of the aeroplane.
From Canada, Bombardier CL-600 has been issued an airworthiness directive concerning failure of the air driven generator with an effective date: 13 August 2011
“The aeroplane models CL-600-2C10, CL-600-2D15, CL-600-2D24, and CL-600-2E25 use the same ADG generator control unit (GCU) as models CL-600-2B16 and CL-600-2B19. However the aeroplane models CL-600-2C10, CL-600-2D15, CL-600-2D24, and CL-600-2E25 are installed with a different hydraulic pump and do not experience the same failure due to the low threshold setting of the circuit protection. However, it was found that the same ADG GCU transformer primary winding can break due to thermal fatigue. Broken transformer primary winding can prevent the supply of power from the ADG to the essential buses. In the event of an emergency, failure for the essential buses to remain powered can prevent continued safe flight.”
The corrective action is to replace within 10 000 hours air time or 60 months from the effective date of this directive. Whichever occurs first, remove and replace the ADG GCU Part Number (P/N) 604-90800-7 with a new ADG GCU P/N 604-90800-27.
Beirut’s Public Works & Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi says the joint investigation committee will be finally providing the public works minister the committee’s report on the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409. The crash occurred on 25 January 2010, carrying 90 people aboard to a watery grave, more than a year and a half ago.
The investigative committee is composed of Boeing representatives, plus Lebanese and Ethiopian representatives who say the report will take at least another month. An NTSB analysis of black spots were caused by hot oil, and one segment of a cockpit voice recorder was unsalvageable.
The Boeing turned after taking off from runway 21, was instructed to bank hard to the left, at which time it spiraled down 8000 feet.
Prior to the latest announcement, the last public announcement promised the Lebonese people that the report would be released before the end of July 2011. Of course, it is August now and it has not yet been made public.
On that flight, there were 23 young Ethiopian women returning home from an abusive stint hired as domestic workers.
The Ethiopian passengers in the crash were:
Addis Abera Demise (Ethiopia)
Bahrnesh Megersa (Ethiopia)
Kidist Wolde Mariam (Ethiopia)
Elisabeth Tilhum Habtermariam (Ethiopia)
Rahel Tadese (Ethiopia)
Etenesh Admasie (Ethiopia)
Woinshet Meugistu Melaku (Ethiopia)
Azeb Betre Kebede (Ethiopia)
Tigist Shikur Hajana (Ethiopia)
Hani Gebre Gembezo (Ethiopia)
Alunesh Tkele (Ethiopia)
Shitu Nuri (Ethiopia)
Selam Zigdaya (Ethiopia)
Yikma Mohamed (Ethiopia)
Seble Agezc (Ethiopia)
Aynalem Tessema (Ethiopia)
Eyerus Alem Desta (Ethiopia)
Mekiya Sirur (Ethiopia)
Lakesh Zeleke (Ethiopia)
Tigist Anura (Ethiopia)
Askalesh Soboka (Ethiopia)
Meselu Beshah (Ethiopia)
Kevin Graingur (UK)
Marla Sanchez Pietton (France)
Akram Jassem Mohammad (Iraq)
Mohammad Abdel-Rahman Saii (Syria)
The Lebanese passengers in the crash were:
Hanna Nakhoul Kreidi
Haidar Hasan Marji
Ali Youssef Jaber
Ali Ahmed Jaber
Abbas Mohammed Jaber
Mohammed Mustafa Badawi
Khalil Ibrahim Saleh
Hasan Adnan Kreik
Saeed Abdel Hasan Zahr
Hussein Ali Farhat
Ali Suheil Yaghi
Rawan Hasan Wazneh
Bassem Qassem Khazaal
Haifa Ahmed Wazneh
Ali Ahmed Tajeddine
Tanal Abdallah Fardoun
Mustafa Haitham Arnaout
Fouad Mahmoud al-Laqiss
Mohammed Kamal Akoush
Tony Elias al-Zakhem
Hamzeh Ali Jaafar
Hasan Mohammed Issawi
Hasan Kamal Ibrahim
Ghassan Ibrahim Qaterji
Haifa Ibrahim al-Farran
Hussein Youssef Hajj Ali
Fares Rashid Zibian
Farid Saad Moussa
Mohammed Ali Qatbi
Yasser Youssef Mehdi
Anees Mustafa Safa
Hussein Moussa Barakat
Antoine Toufiq al-Hayek
Elias Antonius Rafeeh
Tareq George Barakat
Khalil Nami al-Khazen (MTV official)
Rana Youssef al-Harakeh
Mohammed Abdel Hussein al-Hajj
Hussein Kamal Hayek
Asaad Masoud al-Fghali
Ziad Naeem Qosseifi
Rida Ali Mistokirdi
Albert Jirji Assal
Imad Ahmed Hather
Fouad Mohammed Jaber
Khalil Mohammed Madani
Hasan Mohammed Abdel Hasan Tajeddine
Yasser Abdel Hussein Ismail
Jamal Ali Khatoun
Afif Krisht (Lebanese-British)
Abbas Hawilli (Lebanese-Canadian)
Anna Mohammed Abes (Lebanese-Russian)
Julia Mohammed al-Hajj, 3
Mohammed Hasan Kreik, 4
HOUSTON — NASA is once again taking human space exploration to the Arizona desert in tests to simulate conditions on other worlds. News media representatives are invited to two opportunities to learn more about the upcoming Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) field tests.
On Thursday, Aug. 4, journalists can visit NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston from 2:30 to 4 p.m. CDT for the Desert RATS team’s final dry run before next month’s mission. On Sept. 12, reporters at Black Point Lava Flow in northern Arizona can talk with team members and see mission hardware from 9 to 11:30 a.m. MDT.
To attend either opportunity, reporters must contact Brandi Dean at brandi.k.dean@nasa.gov. The deadline for the Johnson event is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 3. For the desert media day, reporters must RSVP by Sept. 2.
For the past 14 years, teams of engineers, scientists, astronauts and technicians from across NASA centers and throughout industry and academia have simulated missions to distant destinations to answer questions about future exploration. This year, for the first time, the desolate desert landscape will stand in for an asteroid. Visiting an asteroid presents NASA with challenges the agency is only beginning to tackle. Among them are how to travel between sites of interest on an asteroid’s surface and how to conduct spacewalks in its microgravity.
Desert RATS will investigate these issues and others applicable to future exploration such as crew size and bases; making the best use of astronauts’ time when faced with extensive time delays in communication from Earth; and efficiently controlling robotic technology during surveys and scouting expeditions.
Technologies being tested in the 2011 Desert RATS mission include: — The Deep Space Habitat, which combines NASA’s Habitat Demonstration Unit with a student-built X-Hab inflatable loft. The habitat provides crew living and work space.
— NASA’s Space Exploration Vehicle. Although its wheels would not be needed on the surface of an asteroid, the vehicle cabin could be mounted on a flying platform to provide astronauts transportation between sites of interest.
— Robonaut 2/Centaur 2. Mounted on a wheeled base called Centaur 2, NASA’s Robonaut 2 robotic astronaut assistant becomes R2C2. It can remotely scout areas for potential crew visits or assist astronauts in spacewalks.
— The Deep Space Network. The size and capability of communications and data network links will have far-reaching impact on day-to-day existence of explorers on distant surfaces. Testing various scenarios in the desert will help identify requirements for such systems.
— The Extravehicular Activity Information System. Spacesuits will not be worn during the planned field test activities, but a suite of prototype electronic tools have been developed to help plan for efficient, autonomous work during future spacewalks. The tools are packaged as a small system for test and evaluation on conceptual lightweight backpacks. They will be connected to displays worn on the astronauts’ wrists and incorporate high definition video cameras.
Participants in the 2011 Desert RATS mission include Johnson and NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.; Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif.; Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena,
Calif.; Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.; Kennedy Space Center in Florida; Glenn Research Center in Cleveland ; Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.; NASA Headquarters in Washington; the European Space Agency; the Canadian Space Agency; the U.S. Air Force; the U.S. Army; the U.S. Geological Survey; the Lunar and Planetary Institute; the Planetary Science Institute; University of Texas, El Paso; Hamilton College of Clinton, N.Y.; Brown University; Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration; the University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Colorado State University; the University of Wisconsin, Madison; Berkeley Heights, N.J., Public Schools; and Penn Manor School District of Millersville, Pa.
