press release

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    Boeing Statement on Death of Senator Ted Stevens

    CHICAGO, August 10, 2010 — Boeing extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of former Senator Ted Stevens and others who lost their lives in the August 9 crash of a single-engine plane in Alaska. We wish the survivors of the accident a full recovery.

    We remember Sen. Stevens as a patriot who dedicated himself to public service and who made a real difference to the U.S. military and the lives of countless people. He was a great friend to the men and women of the armed forces, and he used his power in the Senate to fight tirelessly for them. Over the course of his six-decade career in U.S. government, Sen. Stevens was a strong advocate for his constituents and put the good of his nation above politics.

    Our thoughts are with Sen. Stevens’ loved ones, with the families of the others who perished, and with the survivors of Monday’s tragic accident.

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    NASA ADMINISTRATOR CHARLES BOLDEN ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF FORMER SENATOR TED STEVENS AND MONDAY’S PLANE CRASH IN ALASKA

    WASHINGTON — NASA Administrator Charles Bolden issued the following
    statement Tuesday about the plane crash in Alaska that killed former
    U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens and injured former NASA Administrator Sean
    O’Keefe and his son, Kevin:

    “We at NASA are deeply saddened by today’s news that former U.S. Sen.
    Ted Stevens and others were killed in a plane crash in Alaska that
    also injured former NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe and his son,
    Kevin. As a long-time supporter of NASA, Sen. Stevens made lasting
    contributions to our agency and our country. We at NASA mourn his
    loss and send our deepest condolences to his family, as well as the
    families and friends of all who perished in the accident. We also
    send our best wishes for a speedy recovery to Sean, Kevin, and other
    survivors of the crash. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and
    their families.”

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    NASA LANGLEY SELECTS MARYLAND COMPANY FOR INFORMATION TECH SUPPORT

    HAMPTON, Va. — NASA has selected Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies of
    Greenbelt, Md., to provide the agency’s Langley Research Center in
    Hampton, Va., with computing support services for complex information
    technology (IT) systems and applications.

    The five-year maximum value of the Langley Research Center Information
    Technology Enhanced Services (LITES) task order contract is $183
    million.

    The systems supported include unique and high-end systems used by
    mission and mission-support staff at Langley. LITES provides a wide
    range of support functions including those for non-standard operating
    systems, for system interfaces, or for use within a dynamic
    environment such as a research laboratory or test facility.

    LITES provides integrated support that encompasses all activities
    necessary to develop, deploy, upgrade, operate and maintain a system
    that delivers an IT capability for research and development use and
    for business systems and applications. The contract provides support
    through Langley’s Office of the Chief Information Officer in the
    areas of science and engineering applications; project management
    applications; business management applications; and center
    infrastructure applications and data center support not provided as
    part of NASA’s Information Technology Infrastructure Improvement
    Program.

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    NTSB BRIEFING TODAY AT 4:00 PM (ADT) ON AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT IN ALASKA

    The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a press
    briefing on its investigation into last night’s airplane
    crash near Dillingham, Alaska.

    The briefing will take place today at 4:00 p.m. Alaska
    Daylight Time (ADT) at the Signature Flight Support
    Building, 2nd floor conference room, 6231 South Airpark
    Place, Anchorage, Alaska.

    NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman will conduct the
    briefing.

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    NTSB LAUNCHES TEAM TO INVESTIGATE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT IN ALASKA

    National Transportation Safety Board
    Washington, DC 20594

    August 10, 2010

    The National Transportation Safety Board has launched
    a Go Team to investigate last night’s airplane crash near
    Dillingham, Alaska.

    At about 8:00 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time, a DeHavilland
    DHC-3T (N455A) crashed 10 miles northwest of Aleknagik,
    Alaska. Reports are that 5 of the 9 persons on board died
    in the accident.

    Senior air safety investigator Clint Johnson, from the
    NTSB’s Anchorage regional office, will serve as
    Investigator-in-Charge. He will be assisted by
    investigators from the Alaska office and from NTSB
    headquarters in Washington, D.C.

    NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman is accompanying the
    team and will serve as spokesperson for the on-scene
    investigation. Terry Williams is the NTSB press officer
    traveling with the team. The full team is expected to
    arrive in Dillingham around mid-day today.

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    FAA Proposes Hazmat Civil Penalties Against 11 Companies

    WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing civil penalties ranging from $54,000 to $91,000 against 11 companies for alleged violations of Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations.

    For further information on the following cases, please contact Arlene Salac or Jim Peters at 718-553-3015.

    • $91,000 against Boston Scientific Corporation of Natick, Mass, for allegedly offering a fiberboard box containing medical-grade silicone fluid, a flammable liquid, to DHL for transportation by air from Alajuela, Costa Rica, to Boston Scientific headquarters, Oct. 23, 2009. The shipment was undeclared. DHL employees at its Cincinnati sorting hub discovered the leaking package.
    • $78,000 against Westfield Coatings Corp., of Westfield, Mass., for allegedly offering a fiberboard box containing paint, a flammable liquid, for transportation by air from Westfield to Hudson, N.C., August 11, 2009. The shipment was undeclared. UPS workers at the Louisville sorting hub discovered the non-hazardous material leaking from the package.
    • $54,000 against Fragrance Resources, Inc., of Clifton, N.J., for allegedly offering a fiberboard box containing a flammable liquid for transportation by air from Clifton to Ft Lauderdale, Fla., Dec. 23, 2009. The shipment was undeclared. UPS workers at the Louisville sorting hub discovered the package.

    For further information on the following cases, please contact Elizabeth Cory at 847-294-7849/-7427.

    • $65,000 against Flight Options, LLC of Cleveland, for allegedly offering a fiberboard box containing isopropyl alcohol, a flammable liquid, to UPS for transportation by air from Cleveland to Las Vegas, Sept. 9, 2009. The shipment was undeclared. UPS workers at the Louisville sorting hub discovered the leaking package.
    • $54,000 against the Hammelman Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, for allegedly offering a fiberboard box containing methanol, a flammable liquid, for transportation by air from Pompano Beach, Fla., to Dayton, March 23, 2010. The shipment was undeclared. UPS workers at the Louisville sorting hub discovered the leaking package.

    For further information on the following cases, please contact Kathleen Bergen at 404-305-5100.

    • $58,000 against Kemet Electronics Corporation of Simpsonville, S.C. for allegedly offering a fiberboard box containing silver paint, a flammable liquid, to UPS for transportation by air from Brownsville, Texas to Simpsonville, Aug. 20, 2009. The shipment was undeclared. UPS workers at the Louisville sorting hub discovered the leaking package.
    • $56,000 against MSI Aircraft MTC SVS International, GMBH of Ruesselsheim, Germany, for allegedly offering a fiberboard box containing a fuel control unit, to FedEx for transportation by air from Ruesselsheim to Miami, May 22, 2009. The shipment was undeclared. A fuel control unit containing jet fuel is considered a hazardous material. FedEx employees at Fort Lauderdale discovered the shipment was leaking.
    • $65,000 against Federal Express of Memphis, Tenn., for allegedly accepting a fiberboard box containing an unspecified toxic, corrosive liquid classified as a poison, for transportation by air from Oxford, Ala., to Chino Calif., April 1, 2010. An FAA hazardous materials special agent identified the mislabeled shipment before it could be loaded on an aircraft.
    • $54,000 against Vitacost.com of Lexington, N.C., for allegedly offering a fiberboard box containing a flammable liquid and non-hazardous material for transportation by air from Lexington to Boca Raton, Fla., Jan. 29, 2010. The shipment was undeclared. UPS workers at the Louisville sorting hub discovered the leaking package.
    • $91,000 against Cardinal Health of Madison, Miss., for allegedly offering a fiberboard box containing skin care products containing alcohol, a flammable liquid, to DHL for transportation by air from Madison to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sept. 11, 2009. The shipment was undeclared. DHL workers at the Cincinnati sorting hub discovered the leaking package.

    For information on the following case, please contact Lynn Lunsford at 817-222-4455.

    • $54,000 against PSS Medical of Lubbock, Texas for allegedly offering a fiberboard box containing ammonium nitrate, a corrosive material, to UPS for transportation by air from Lubbock to Las Cruces, N.M., Dec. 31, 2009. The shipment was undeclared. UPS workers at the Louisville sorting hub discovered the package while sorting packages for shipment and delivery.

    In all instances, the companies allegedly offered the hazardous material for transportation (or, in the case of Federal Express, accepted it) when it was not packaged, marked, classed, described, labeled or in condition for shipment as required by regulations.

    Companies have 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s notice of proposed civil penalty to respond to the agency.

  • Latest EASA Annual Safety Review shows continued high level of aviation safety

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published its Annual Safety Review for 2009. The review shows the high safety level has been maintained in commercial air transport operations of EASA Member States*.

    Commenting on the release of the review, EASA’s Executive Director, Patrick Goudou, said: “The results of the Annual Safety Review 2009 are an encouragement to continue our efforts to maintain and further improve aviation safety in Europe”.

    The year 2009 had one of the lowest numbers of fatal accidents involving aircraft operated by EASA Member States commercial air transport operators. During the year, there was a single fatal accident involving an Airbus A330 over the South Atlantic Ocean which resulted in 228 fatalities.

    The Annual Safety Review addresses all types of aircraft operations. For the first time, the review includes data from the European Central Repository for occurrences which is a project led by the European Commission to collect safety data at a European level.

    The Annual Safety Review also offers an overview of aviation safety measures taken by the Agency, including the progress of the European Strategic Safety Initiative (ESSI).

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    NTSB Safety Recommendation A-10-119

    National Transportation Safety Board
    Washington, DC 20594
    August 6, 2010

    NTSB Safety Recommendation A-10-119 and -120
    and Reiteration of NTSB Safety Recommendation A-04-63

    The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the European Aviation Safety Agency:

    Modify European Aviation Safety Agency Certification Specifications for Large Aeroplanes CS-25 to ensure safe handling qualities in the yaw axis throughout the flight envelope, including limits for rudder pedal sensitivity. (A-10-119)

    After the yaw axis certification standard recommended in Safety Recommendation A-10-119 has been established, review the designs of existing airplanes to determine if they meet the standard. For existing airplane designs that do not meet the standard, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) should determine if the airplanes would be adequately protected from the adverse effects of a potential aircraft-pilot coupling (APC) after rudder inputs at all airspeeds. If adequate protection does not exist, EASA should require modifications, as necessary, to provide the airplanes with increased protection from the adverse effects of a potential APC after rudder inputs at high airspeeds. (A-10-
    120)

    In addition, the National Transportation Safety Board reiterates the following recommendation to the European Aviation Safety Agency:

    Review the options for modifying the Airbus A300-600 and the Airbus A310 to provide increased protection from potentially hazardous rudder pedal inputs at high airspeeds and, on the basis of this review, require modifications to the A300-600 and A310 to provide increased protection from potentially hazardous rudder pedal inputs at high airspeeds. (A-04-63

  • IATA Press Release: Priorities for Indonesian Aviation

    Date: 4 August 2010

    Jakarta – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) outlined the priorities for Indonesia’s aviation industry. “Now is the time to plan and build for the future. With 240 million people living on thousands of islands and great world-class tourist attractions, the potential for aviation to grow and drive economic development is enormous. Coordinated government policies to ensure safety, cost-efficient and effective infrastructure and environmental sustainability are needed,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

    “Indonesia has a remarkable story to tell. The country weathered the global financial crisis better than most with a 4.5% GDP growth in 2009. And the turnaround at Garuda has been dramatic. While the world’s airlines were generating losses, Garuda’s passenger demand grew by 3% and they improved net profits by over 50% in 2009. Everyday brings new challenges and Garuda is well-placed to face them,” said Bisignani.

    “The good news for Indonesia is that Asia Pacific is expected to be the most profitable region this year,” said Bisignani. Asia Pacific is leading the recovery with forecast profits of $2.2 billion and strong traffic growth. June passenger and cargo traffic for the region grew at 15.5% and 29.8% respectively, above the global average.

    While in Jakarta, Bisignani met with Indonesian Vice President Prof. Dr Boediono, airlines and infrastructure operators and ASEAN leaders.

    IATA laid out three priorities for Indonesian aviation: safety; cost-efficient and effective infrastructure and environmental sustainability.

    Safety: “Safety is always the top priority. Safety issues require constant attention and commitment. There have been three non fatal accidents involving Indonesian airlines this year. And there were 5 accidents involving Indonesian operators in 2009, and 24 over the past 5 years. The situation is improving, but the damage done to Indonesia’s safety reputation will not be solved with short-term measures. A long-term strategic commitment is needed from both industry and government. I encourage the Indonesian government to make the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) a national requirement. It will ensure best practice in operational safety with global standards. And it will be a strong signal to the world that Indonesian aviation safety is moving in the right direction,” said Bisignani. Garuda and Mandala Airlines are the only two Indonesian airlines currently on the IOSA registry.

    IATA is also working with the Indonesian government to improve safety by sharing global best practices through safety seminars and by supporting Indonesia’s implementation of the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan.

    Infrastructure: Bisignani identified infrastructure as being critical to support Indonesia’s traffic growth. “With the completing of Terminal 3, Jakarta’s airport has the capacity to handle 38 million passengers a year. But passenger numbers are already topping 36.5 million with the government predicting 10% annual growth. Jakarta’s airport infrastructure will not be able to cope. There is no time to waste. Planning and implementation of the next stage of development is critical. It is very important that airport operators engage airlines in meaningful consultation to make the most of the current infrastructure and to plan for future developments,” said Bisignani.

    “We do not see the cost-efficiency improvements in Indonesian aviation infrastructure that we see in other parts of the region. We appreciate that the increases announced in 2001 have not been enforced. But to remain competitive, the focus must be on cost-reduction. I encouraged the government to challenge Angkasa Pura 1 and Angkasa Pura 2 to deliver greater cost-efficiency,” said Bisignani.

    Environment: The aviation industry has agreed to three targets: (1) improving fuel efficiency by 1.5% a year to 2020; (2) capping emissions with carbon neutral growth from 2020, (3), cutting emissions in half by 2050 compared to 2005 levels. “All growth must be environmentally sustainable. I encourage the Indonesian government to support aviation’s aggressive and responsible approach to climate change,” said Bisignani.

    “We need a global approach for aviation, not local excuses for governments to gain access to new sources of taxes. We must also take a strong stand against regional schemes like the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. I hope Indonesia will be a strong voice against Europe’s unfair and ineffective plans,” said Bisignani.

    Bisignani praised Garuda for taking the lead in implementing the IATA industry standard carbon offset program – an industry-wide management service that delivers best practice, standard methodologies and quality control. He also suggested that Indonesia explore the possibilities of producing biofuels source crops such as camelina, jatropha, and algae.

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    NTSB TO OFFER TRAINING ON EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INVOLVED IN MAJOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS

    National Transportation Safety Board
    Washington, DC 20594

    August 5, 2010

    The National Transportation Safety Board is devoting two
    days at its Training Center to offer guidance to aviation
    public affairs professionals on how to most effectively
    manage emergency communications following a major aircraft
    accident or incident.

    The training will be offered on October 7-8, 2010, at the
    NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, Virginia, (near Washington,
    D.C.) and is aimed at communications professionals working
    with airports, airlines and corporations with aviation
    departments.

    Representatives from the NTSB Office of Public Affairs will
    explain the process by which investigation-related
    information is verified and released to the news media and
    the family members of those affected by a major accident.

    Members of the national news media will be there to discuss
    how previous accidents have been covered and to talk about
    how social media is changing how breaking news is
    disseminated and consumed. Airport and airline
    communications professionals will provide case studies on
    how communications during previous aircraft incidents and
    accidents were handled.

    Those interested in learning more should see the complete
    description of the training, registration information, and
    cost to attend at:
    http://www.ntsb.gov/TC/CourseInfo/PA302_2010.htm

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    Comair Machinists withdraw from FAA’s ASAP

    Delta Air Lines regional subsidiary of Machinists at Comair have withdrawn from the ASAP program, a 2008 initiative between the machinists union, Comair and the FAA was designed to identify potential aircraft maintenance-related safety issues and develop corrective action.

    However, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) describe the ambitious program as dysfuntional, as Comair’s anti-collaborative procedure is to take action against union members who submitted voluntary reports.

    The official press release is below:

    Machinists Withdraw From Comair ASAP Program

    Mon. August 02, 2010
    The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 142 today announced it has withdrawn from the maintenance Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) at Delta Air Lines’ regional subsidiary Comair.

    “We have discussed the problems with this dysfunctional program with both Comair and the FAA for months.” said IAM District 142 President Tom Higginbotham. “We no longer have any faith that this program will ever be managed according to the regulations.”

    The ASAP program, a joint initiative between the Machinists Union, Comair and the FAA in place since 2008, was designed to identify potential aircraft maintenance-related safety issues and develop corrective actions to improve air transportation safety. The program is dependant upon technicians submitting reports which are then reviewed by an Event Review Committee (ERC) comprised of FAA, Comair and Machinists Union representatives. The ERC then identifies any problems or systemic issues and develop corrective solutions to prevent a future reoccurrence.

    The ASAP program is designed to take place without the reporting technician having to fear any punitive or disciplinary actions. Comair has taken actions against Machinist Union members who have submitted voluntary reports, contrary to the letter and spirit of the FAA’s ASAP program. Additionally, Comair has failed to provide a collaborative environment needed for an effective program to work.

    “We should not have to wait for an accident to occur before addressing safety issues,” said Higginbotham. “We are disappointed that Comair failed to take this program, which is effective and runs well at over 35 other carriers, seriously.”

    IAM District 142 represents 530 Comair Mechanic and Related employees in Cincinnati, OH; Boston, MA; New York, NY; Greensboro and Raleigh-Durham, NC and Detroit, MI. More information about the IAM at Comair is available at www.iamdl142.org.
    :

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    Boeing Relocating C-130 AMP, B-1 Program to Oklahoma City

    LONG BEACH, Calif., Aug. 2, 2010 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced it will relocate the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) and B-1 Program from Long Beach to Oklahoma City. The move will begin with C-130 AMP starting in the first quarter of 2011 and conclude by the end of 2012 with the move of the B-1 Program.

    Both programs are part of the Maintenance, Modifications & Upgrades (MM&U) division of the Global Services & Support (GS&S) business unit of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The programs now employ approximately 800 people in Southern California. About 550 positions will be relocated to Oklahoma City. The remaining positions will be reduced from the programs over the next two years as contracts are fulfilled.

    MM&U Vice President and General Manager Mark Bass said relocating the programs will help Boeing provide a more competitive cost structure for customers.

    “Making a decision like this is never easy, but as we reviewed our anticipated operating costs for the next several years, it became clear that Boeing needs to take major actions on these programs in order to remain affordable for our customers,” Bass said. “We remain committed to maintaining the excellent record of performance that our employees deliver for our U.S. Air Force B-1 and C-130 AMP customers during this transition.”

    During the move, some employees will be relocated, while other positions will be posted and hired locally in Oklahoma City. Company managers are determining which employees will be offered relocation to Oklahoma City. Boeing will provide assistance for workers who do not make the transition, including help in searching for other potential positions within the company.
    “We will communicate openly and often with our employees throughout this process,” Bass said.

    C-130 AMP brings commonality to the C-130 fleet by offering flexibility in assigning aircrew, regardless of the model design type, and reducing aircraft operating costs while addressing obsolescence and providing for future capability growth. The program recently was approved by the Air Force for low-rate initial production.

    The Boeing B-1 Program is modernizing the B-1 Lancer bomber to further enhance its conventional munitions capability. Multiple upgrades are being tested this year to improve the bomber’s capabilities.

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    NASA AND ESA’S FIRST JOINT MISSION TO MARS SELECTS INSTRUMENTS

    WASHINGTON — NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have embarked on a joint program to explore Mars in the coming decades and selected the five science instruments for the first mission.

    The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, scheduled to launch in 2016, is the first of three joint robotic missions to the Red Planet. It will study the chemical makeup of the Martian atmosphere with a 1000-fold increase in sensitivity over previous Mars orbiters. The mission will focus on trace gases, including methane, which could be potentially geochemical or biological in origin and be indicators for the existence of life on Mars. The mission also will serve as an additional communications relay for Mars surface missions beginning in 2018.

    “Independently, NASA and ESA have made amazing discoveries up to this point,” said Ed Weiler, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “Working together, we’ll reduce duplication of effort, expand our capabilities and see results
    neither ever could have achieved alone.”

    NASA and ESA invited scientists worldwide to propose the spacecraft’s instruments. The five selected were from 19 proposals submitted in January. Both agencies evaluated the submissions and chose those with the best science value and lowest risk.

    The selection of the instruments begins the first phase of the new NASA-ESA alliance for future ventures to Mars. The instruments and the principal investigators are:

    — Mars Atmosphere Trace Molecule Occultation Spectrometer — A spectrometer designed to detect very low concentrations of the molecular components of the Martian atmosphere: Paul Wennberg, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena Calif.
    — High Resolution Solar Occultation and Nadir Spectrometer — A spectrometer designed to detect traces of the components of the Martian atmosphere and to map where they are on the surface: Ann C. Vandaele, Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, Brussels, Belgium.
    — ExoMars Climate Sounder — An infrared radiometer that provides daily global data on dust, water vapor and other materials to provide the context for data analysis from the spectrometers: John Schofield, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif.
    — High Resolution Color Stereo Imager — A camera that provides four-color stereo imaging at a resolution of two million pixels over an 8.5 km swath: Alfred McEwen, University of Arizona.
    — Mars Atmospheric Global Imaging Experiment — A wide-angle, multi-spectral camera to provide global images of Mars in support of the other instruments: Bruce Cantor, Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego, Calif.

    The science teams on all the instruments have broad international participation from Europe and the United States, with important hardware contributions from Canada and Switzerland.

    “To fully explore Mars, we want to marshal all the talents we can on Earth,” said David Southwood, ESA director for Science and Robotic Exploration. “Now NASA and ESA are combining forces for the joint ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission. Mapping methane allows us to investigate further that most important of questions: Is Mars a living planet, and if not, can or will it become so in the future?”

    NASA and ESA share a common interest in conducting robotic missions to the Red Planet for scientific purposes and to prepare for possible human visits. After a series of extensive discussions, the science heads of both agencies agreed on a plan of cooperation during a July 2009 meeting in Plymouth, England, later confirmed by ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden in a statement of intent that was signed in November.

    The plan consists of two Mars cooperative missions in 2016 and 2018, and a later joint sample return mission. The 2016 mission features the European-built ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, a European-built small lander demonstrator, a primarily-U.S. international science payload, and NASA-provided launch vehicle and communications components. ESA member states will provide additional instrument support.

    The 2018 mission consists of a European rover with a drilling capability, a NASA rover capable of caching selected samples for potential future return to Earth, a NASA landing system, and a NASA launch vehicle. These activities are designed to serve as the foundation of a cooperative program to increase science returns and move the agencies toward a joint Mars sample return mission in the 2020s.

    NASA’s Mars Exploration Program seeks to characterize and understand Mars as a dynamic system, including its present and past environment, climate cycles, geology and potential for life. JPL manages the program and development of the NASA-supplied instruments for the 2016 orbiter for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

    For information about NASA’s Mars programs, visit:

    http://www.nasa.gov/mars

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    NASA HOLDS MEDIA TELECONFERENCE TO PREVIEW MAJOR HURRICANE STUDY

    WASHINGTON — NASA will hold a media teleconference on Thursday, Aug.
    5, at 3 p.m. EDT to discuss its upcoming airborne research campaign
    into hurricane behavior.

    The Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes mission, or GRIP, will
    study how hurricanes are created and why they can intensify rapidly.
    The mission involves three NASA research aircraft based in Florida,
    Texas, and California, and observations from several NASA satellites.
    GRIP will run from Aug. 15 to Sept. 25.

    The teleconference panelists are:
    – Ramesh Kakar, weather focus area lead, NASA Headquarters, Washington

    – Scott Braun, hurricane modeler/research meteorologist, NASA’s
    Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
    – Gerald Heymsfield, cloud radar expert/research meteorologist,
    Goddard
    – Ed Zipser, professor of meteorology, University of Utah, Salt Lake
    City

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    Washington Headquarters Press Release: Mexico

    For Immediate Release
    July 30, 2010
    Contact: Sasha Johnson or Laura Brown
    Phone: sasha.j.johnson@faa.gov or laura.j.brown@faa.gov

    FAA Finds Mexico Does Not Meet ICAO Safety Standards

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that Mexico is not in compliance with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), following an assessment of the country’s civil aviation authority. As a result, the United States is downgrading Mexico from a Category 1 to Category 2 rating.

    As part of the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, the agency assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that operate or have applied to fly to the United States and makes that information available to the public. The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations. With the IASA Category 2 rating, Mexican air carriers cannot establish new service to the United States, although they are allowed to maintain existing service.

    While Mexico has been responsive to the FAA’s findings and has made significant improvements in recent months, it was unable to fully comply with all of the international safety standards. However, under the leadership of Director General Hector Gonzalez Weeks, Mexico continues to make progress. The FAA is committed to working closely with the Mexican government and providing technical assistance to help Mexico regain its Category 1 rating.

    A Category 1 rating means the country’s civil aviation authority complies with ICAO standards. A Category 2 rating means a country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with international standards, or that its civil aviation authority – equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters – is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping or inspection procedures.

    Countries with air carriers that fly to the United States must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO, the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

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    NTSB SAFETY RECOMMENDATION

    National Transportation Safety Board
    Washington, DC 20594
    July 30, 2010

    The National Transportation Safety Board makes the following recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration:

    Conduct research into and document the effects of mountain wave and downslope conditions at airports, such as Denver International Airport, that are located downwind of
    mountainous terrain (including, for example, airports in or near Colorado Springs, Colorado; Anchorage, Alaska; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Reno, Nevada), identify potential
    mountain-wave-related hazards to ground operations at those airports, and disseminate the results to pilots and airport air traffic control personnel to allow for more informed
    runway selection decisions. (A-10-105)

    Archive all low-level windshear alert system (LLWAS) data obtained from Denver International Airport and other airports that experience similar wind conditions and make these data available for additional research and the potential future development of an improved LLWAS algorithm for crosswind and gusty wind alerts on air traffic control tower ribbon display terminals. (A-10-106)

    Modify Federal Aviation Administration Order 7110.65 to require air traffic controllers at airports with multiple sources of wind information to provide pilots with the maximum wind component, including gusts, that the flight could encounter. (A-10-107)

    Review the required documentation for all low-level windshear alert system (LLWAS)-equipped air traffic control towers to ensure that a letter to airmen has been published
    and is easily accessible describing the location and designation of the remote sensors, the capabilities and limitations of the system, and the availability of current LLWAS remote sensor wind information on the request of a pilot, in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration Order 7210.3. (A-10-108)

    Require air traffic control towers to locally develop and implement written runway selection programs that proactively consider current and developing wind conditions and include clearly defined crosswind components, including wind gusts, when considering operational advantage with respect to runway selection. (A-10-109)

    Gather data on surface winds at a sample of major U.S. airports (including Denver International Airport) when high wind conditions and significant gusts are present and use these data to develop realistic, gusty crosswind profiles for use in pilot simulator training programs. (A-10-110)

    Require 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121, 135, and 91K operators to incorporate the realistic, gusty crosswind profiles developed as a result of Safety Recommendation A- 10-110 into their pilot simulator training programs. (A-10-111)

    Once realistic, gusty crosswind profiles as asked for in Safety Recommendation A-10-110 are developed, develop a standard methodology, including pilot-in-the-loop testing, for transport-category airplane manufacturers to establish empirically based, type-specific maximum-gusting-crosswind limitations for transport-category airplanes that account for wind gusts. (A-10-112)

    Once a methodology as asked for in Safety Recommendation A- 10-112 has been developed, require manufacturers of transport-category airplanes to develop type-specific, maximum-crosswind takeoff limitations that account for wind gusts. (A-10-113)

    Until the actions described in Safety Recommendation A-10-113 are accomplished, require manufacturers of transport- category airplanes to provide operators with interim crosswind takeoff guidelines that account for wind gusts. (A-10-114)

    Work with U.S. airline operators to review and analyze operational flight data to identify factors that contribute to encounters with excessive winds and use this information to develop and implement additional strategies for reducing the likelihood of wind-related runway excursions. (A-10-115)

    Require cockpit crew seats installed in newly manufactured airplanes that were type certificated before 1988 to meet the crashworthiness standards contained in 14 Code of Federal Regulations 25.562. (A-10-116)

    Require operators to perform periodic inspections on the Burns Aerospace model 2501-5 jumpseats for fatigue cracks within the jumpseat structure and replace the jumpseat if fatigue cracks are found. (A-10-117)

    Require that operators of transport-category airplanes that use galley latches or latch plates secured solely by adhesives that may degrade over time modify the latches to include mechanical fasteners. (A-10-118)

  • IATA July Press Release

    Demand Continues Recovery in June

    Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced international scheduled traffic statistics for June which showed continued strong demand growth as the industry recovers from the impact of the global financial crisis. Compared to June 2009, international passenger demand was up 11.9% while international scheduled freight traffic showed a 26.5% improvement.

    Capacity increased only slightly above demand improvements during the month, keeping load factors in line with historical highs at 79.8% for passenger traffic and 53.8% for freight.

    “The industry continues to recover faster than expected, but with sharp regional differences. Europe is recovering at half the speed of Asia with passenger growth of 7.8% compared to the 15.5% growth in Asia-Pacific,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

    Outside of Europe, all regions reported double-digit growth in passenger traffic. “The question is how long can the industry maintain the double-digit momentum. Business confidence remains high and there is no indication that the recovery will stall any time soon. But, with government stimulus packages tailing off and restocking largely completed, we do expect some slowing over the months ahead,” said Bisignani.

    International Passenger Demand

    After a dip in April due to the volcanic ash crisis centered in Europe, international passenger demand has returned to its upward growth trend. Passenger volumes are now 1-2% above the pre-recession peak in the first quarter of 2008.
    Middle Eastern carriers continue to post the fastest growth—up 18.0% compared to June 2009. This is based on a strong regional economy and the ability to attract long-haul traffic through the region’s hubs.
    Asia-Pacific carriers recorded the most significant demand improvement at 15.5%. China continues to be the region’s growth engine.
    North American carriers posted growth of 10.8%, comparable to the 10.9% recorded for May 2010. Strong growth and the industry-leading load factor of 86.6% are contributing to strong second quarter financial results being announced by the region’s carriers.
    European carriers reported 7.8% growth, down slightly from the 8.3% recorded in May. While annualized growth of 6.2% is in line with the industry average, it is clear that the recovery in Europe is lagging behind the rest of the world.
    Latin American carriers showed a 14.7% increase in passenger traffic compared to June 2009. This reflects a more normal growth rate than the 23.6% recorded in May when results were heavily skewed by the Influenza A(H1N1) crisis which centered on the region in May last year.
    African carriers posted a 21.3% increase in traffic in June, positively impacted by activities surrounding the FIFA World Cup.
    International Freight Demand

    International freight demand grew 26.5% in June 2010, down from the 34.0% recorded in May 2010. May was exceptionally high as some interrupted traffic from April’s ash crisis shifted to May. Volumes remain 6% above the pre-recession peak in early 2008.
    Freight demand continues to follow economic recovery and trade patterns with airlines in Asia-Pacific (+29.8%), Middle East (+39.6%), Latin America (+44.9%) and Africa (+54.0%) growing the fastest.
    Carriers in North America (+24.2%) occupy the middle ground.
    Europe (15.3%) is growing at half the rate of the fastest growing regions based on slower economic growth. This trend is particularly evident in Europe which is the only region still 5-6% below the pre-recession peak. The low value of the Euro will be a help to the region’s exporters and eventually drive up freight volumes.
    “We remain cautiously optimistic. A clear indication of the growing confidence is the over 400 aircraft orders announced at the Farnborough Air Show. This is good news that will bring environmental benefits through improved fuel efficiency. But it will also make the challenge of matching capacity to demand much more difficult,” said Bisignani.

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    Spread Your Wings and Fly Away Safely

    Spread Your Wings and Fly Away SafelyThe FAA Safety Team is out in full force at the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. You can find the FAA Safety Team—also known as the FAASTeam—in the FAA Aviation Safety Center, right next to the FAA control tower.

    At the booth you can learn more about the improvements to the www.FAASafety.gov website, sign up for the WINGS pilot proficiency program, and find out about FAA’s aviation maintenance technician awards program. This is a great opportunity to talk with dedicated safety professionals whose number one job is to make general aviation as safe as possible.

    You can also check out the rest of the FAA Aviation Safety Center and see displays on all things aviation. The safety education forums held at the Safety Center cover such topics as “Aeronautical Decision Making,” “Surface Safety,” and “VFR Charts, Little Known Facts.”

    See you there. For more information on EAA AirVenture, go to www.airventure.org.

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    Boeing Statement on C-17 Globemaster III Airlifter Crash at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska


    ST. LOUIS, July 29, 2010 — A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III airlifter crashed on the evening of July 28 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Four crewmembers are reported to have been killed in the crash. The Boeing Company today released the following statement:

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the four crewmembers who were lost aboard the Pacific Air Forces C-17 that crashed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, last night. Boeing stands ready to provide technical assistance to the U.S. Air Force with the investigation into this tragedy.”

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    Boeing Press Release: Boeing Completes Acquisition of Narus

    ST. LOUIS, July 29, 2010 — Boeing today announced it has completed its acquisition of Narus, a leading provider of real-time network traffic and analytics software used to protect against cyber attacks and persistent threats aimed at large Internet Protocol networks.

    Narus, headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., will operate within Boeing’s Network & Space Systems business as a wholly owned subsidiary.
    Terms of the transaction, announced on July 7, are not being disclosed.
    A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.

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    FAA Marks the Opening of Recovery Act Funded Airfield Upgrade at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport

    FAA Marks the Opening of Recovery Act Funded Airfield Upgrade at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration celebrated the opening of an airfield upgrade at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport paid for with $3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funds.

    “Airports are critical to our nation’s economy,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Recovery Act dollars are helping to make needed safety enhancements and upgrades at airports all across the country.”

    Recovery Act money helped Chattanooga Airport complete this project. The new aircraft parking area will help relieve congestion at the airport.

    Under ARRA, $1.1 billion has been made available to over 360 projects at airports nationwide. Because of low construction bids on projects, Recovery Act dollars were available for additional projects. ARRA grants have been distributed to airports that support not only passenger and cargo service, but general aviation as well.

    “Every air passenger’s trip begins and ends at an airport. Recovery Act dollars are helping airports of all sizes maintain and improve their critical infrastructure,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

    Recovery Act grants are being used at both urban and rural airports to pay for a variety of different projects including facility construction, safety enhancements and the rehabilitation of runways, taxiways and other infrastructure.

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    FAA Press Release: Continental Airlines

    FAA Proposes $230,000 Civil Penalty against Continental Airlines

    FORT WORTH, Texas — The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a civil penalty of $230,000 against Continental Airlines Inc., of Houston for allegedly operating a Boeing 767 on 22 revenue flights when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.

    The FAA alleges that on Aug. 12, 2008, Continental replaced the nose landing gear wheel and tire assembly on a B-767, but failed to install the required axle washer despite warnings in the maintenance manual and on the tire assembly itself. The warning said failing to install the washer could lead to failure of the wheel bearing.

    FAA inspectors discovered the violation during a records check and noted three identical earlier violations.

    Continental has 30 days from receipt of the civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.

  • Air Methods Press Release

    Air Methods Corporation Confirms Fatal Accident in Arizona
    07/28/10
    DENVER, Jul 28, 2010
    Air Methods Corporation reported that a Eurocopter AS350 helicopter based in Douglas, Arizona crashed Wednesday afternoon at approximately 1:40 p.m. MST in Tucson, Arizona. The paramedic, flight nurse, and pilot on board the aircraft received fatal injuries. No patients were on board the aircraft at the time of the accident. The aircraft was operated in support of the company’s LifeNet Arizona program.

    Company officials are en route to the area. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the accident with full cooperation and support from the Company.

    “This is a sad day for all of us at Air Methods and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of our employees who perished while on duty,” said Aaron Todd, chief executive officer of Air Methods Corporation.
    This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com
    SOURCE: Air Methods Corporation
    CONTACT: Air Methods Corporation
    Aaron D. Todd, Chief Executive Officer
    (303) 792-7413

    Medevac Crash

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    Nasa Press Release: NASA SELECTS SOUNDING ROCKETS OPERATIONS CONTRACTOR

    WASHINGTON — NASA selected Orbital Sciences Corp.’s, Technical Services Division in Greenbelt, Md., for the agency’s Sounding Rockets Operations contract. The total value of this indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity cost-plus incentive fee contract is $310 million. The period of performance is five years.

    Orbital Sciences will coordinate and implement NASA’s overall Sounding Rockets Program and provide services and supplies as necessary to complete individual missions and projects. Services include designing, fabricating, integrating, and performing flight qualification testing of sub-orbital payloads; providing launch
    vehicles and associated hardware; and conducting various activities associated with subsequent mission launch operations.

    Additional services to be provided under the contract may also include special engineering and technical support, education and outreach activities, and environmental studies.

    The majority of the work will be done at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, which manages the agency’s sounding rocket program.

  • FAA RELEASE: The FAA is Working to Keep U.S. Runways Safe

    July 28 – Pilots can fly into Wittman Regional Airport this week for the EAA AirVenture Fly-In knowing that the FAA is working to keep U.S. runways safe.

    The U.S. aviation system continues to see a decrease in the number and severity of surface incidents and runway incursions. The FAA recorded a 50 percent decrease in the number of serious runway incursions in fiscal year 2009, compared to the previous year. Considering the amount of activity on U.S. runways — the many takeoffs and landings and the movement of vehicles and people across runways — this is great progress. But there is always more we can do. The FAA’s Runway Safety Program continues to work closely with domestic and international aviation stakeholders to keep improving runway safety and to reduce the number of incursions.

    The Next Generation Air Transportation System or NextGen already is playing a role in runway safety. Technology such as ADS-B, ASDE-X, and Runway Status Lights will continue to make runways even safer.

    The FAA is also keenly focused on working with general aviation pilots on runway safety issues, because GA pilots are involved in nearly 80 percent of runway incursions. The agency is working with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) to reach its more than 400,000 member pilots and flight instructors. It also has launched national runway safety promotional campaigns aimed at pilots and vehicle drivers. One is called “If You Cross the Line, You’ve Crossed the Line,” highlighting the dangers of unsafe taxiing or driving. The FAA and AOPA also have created online courses to educate pilots on runway safety.

    In 2007, after 25 serious incursions, the FAA launched a Call to Action with aviation leaders from airlines, airports, air traffic control and pilot unions, and aerospace manufacturers to address runway safety issues. As a result, the FAA agreed to expedite the installation of new technology at airports, the airlines developed better surface training programs for pilots, and the airports agreed to speed up improvements in signage and markings.

    The FAA also hosted the first International Runway Safety Summit with participants from 17 countries. In large part, the summit focused on improving communication between pilots and controllers, a significant factor in international runway safety. Soon after that, the FAA implemented new phraseology to align with International Civil Aviation Organization standards