press release

  • FED EX flying again

    FedEx Express Resumes Operations at Charles de Gaulle Airport

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. – April 19, 2010 (9:00 p.m. CDT) FedEx Express has restarted its operations at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris with a flight leaving CDG for Memphis and seven flights leaving the U.S. for CDG. Additional freight from the Company’s Asia Pacific and Middle East regions are also being flown into CDG.

    Due to the fluid nature of the movement of the volcanic ash, the Company is still monitoring this situation very carefully and will continue to take advantage of any opportunity to fly into additional airports as they open. However, the Company cautions that it will take time to clear backlogs of cargo and customers should expect delays in shipments.

    As previously noted, FedEx Express is focused on prioritizing freight on a “first in/first out” basis and indicated it is not accepting deferred international freight at this time. FedEx is asking those customers who have shipments requiring special attention; i.e. temperature control, dry ice or perishables hold their shipments until the Company is able to resume its normal flight schedule.

    The Company’s Money Back Guarantee does not apply to delays of this nature that are beyond the control of FedEx Express.

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    NTSB TO HOLD A PUBLIC FORUM


    Washington, DC – The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a safety forum on professionalism in aviation beginning Tuesday, May 18, 2010. The three-day, en-banc forum will be chaired by NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman.

    “NTSB’s investigations into the midair collision over the Hudson River last August, the crash of Colgan Air flight 3407 in February 2009, and the October 2009 Northwest pilots’ overflight of their intended airport provided the impetus for this forum because all of them clearly demonstrated the hazards to aviation safety when pilots and air traffic controllers depart from standard operating procedures and established best practices,” Hersman said. “During the forum, we will gather information on the screening, selection and training of pilots and controllers and methods to reinforce professionalism and excellence.”

    Panelists participating in the forum will represent industry, government agencies, labor, academia, and professional associations. A technical panel composed of NTSB staff from the Offices of Aviation Safety and Research and Engineering, and the NTSB Board Members, who will make up the Board of Inquiry, will question the panelists.

    Dr. Tony Kern, an internationally recognized human factors and pilot performance expert, is the forum’s keynote speaker. The names of the participating panelists and the agenda will be provided in early May.

    The forum, titled “Professionalism in Aviation: Ensuring Excellence in Pilot and Air Traffic Controller Performance,” will be held at the NTSB’s Board Room and Conference Center, located at 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. The public can view the forum in person or by webcast on the NTSB’s web site.

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    IATA: Re-Think Volcano Measures


    IATA PRESS RELEASE SAYS: Re-Think Volcano Measures – Governments Must Base Decisions on Fact Not Theory

    Paris – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sharply criticized European governments for their lack of leadership in handling airspace restrictions in light of the Icelandic volcano eruption and urged a re-think of the decision-making process.

    “We are far enough into this crisis to express our dissatisfaction on how governments have managed it-with no risk assessment, no consultation, no coordination, and no leadership. This crisis is costing airlines at least $200 million a day in lost revenues and the European economy is suffering billions of dollars in lost business. In the face of such dire economic consequences, it is incredible that Europe’s transport ministers have taken five days to organize a teleconference,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

    “Governments must place greater urgency and focus on how and when we can safely re-open Europe’s skies. This means decisions based on risk-management, facts and utilizing operational procedures that maintain safety,” said Bisignani.

    IATA criticized Europe’s unique methodology of closing airspace based on theoretical modeling of the ash cloud. “This means that governments have not taken their responsibility to make clear decisions based on facts. Instead, it has been the air navigation service providers who announced that they would not provide service. And these decisions have been taken without adequately consulting the airlines. This is not an acceptable system particularly when the consequences for safety and the economy are so large,” said Bisignani.

    “Safety is our top priority. Airlines will not fly if it is not safe. I have consulted our member airlines that normally operate in the affected airspace. They report missed opportunities to fly safely. The European system results in blanket closures of airspace. I challenge governments to agree on ways to flexibly re-open airspace. Risk assessments should be able to help us re-open certain corridors, if not entire airspaces,” said Bisignani.

    To assist governments in assessing risk, airlines have conducted successful test flights in several European countries. The results have not shown any irregularities or safety issues. Airlines are also exploring various operational measures to maintain safe operations. These include day flights, restrictions to specific flight corridors, special climb and descent procedures, and more frequent detailed boroscopic engine inspections to detect damage.

    The scale of airspace closures currently seen in Europe is unprecedented. “We have seen volcanic activity in many parts of the world but rarely has it resulted in airspace closures—and never at this scale. When Mount St. Helens erupted in the US in 1980, we did not see large scale disruptions, because the decisions to open or close airspace were risk managed with no compromise on safety,” said Bisignani, who urged Eurocontrol to establish a volcano contingency centre capable of making coordinated decisions.

    Bisignani called for an urgent meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the specialized agency of the UN, to define government responsibility for the decisions to open or close airspace in a coordinated and effective way based on real data and special operating procedures.

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    Boeing 787-8 Freighter Begins Flight Test


    PALMDALE, Calif., April 19 — The second Boeing 747-8 Freighter, RC521, landed in Palmdale, Calif., today, marking the beginning of a planned transition of 747-8 Freighter testing to Southern California. The more than four-hour flight from Boeing Field in Seattle included testing on avionics and cruise performance.

    “Taking the airplane to Palmdale is a big step,” said Mo Yahyavi, vice president and general manager of the 747 program. “The team is focused on ensuring a seamless transition into the next phase of the flight-test program as we prepare to expand testing of the 747-8 Freighter’s performance characteristics.”

    The airplane will be stationed in Palmdale for the majority of its scheduled flight-test program. The crew will conduct several tests on the airplane with fuel-mileage and engine-performance testing as key focus areas.

    “Palmdale provides an excellent test environment for the 747-8 Freighter,” said Andy Hammer, 747 test program manager. “It allows us to take full advantage of one of the world’s premier experimental test flight facilities and the excellent weather conditions to meet our flight-test requirements on the road to obtaining our amended type certification.”

    A contingent of employees has been stationed at Palmdale for the testing, including flight-test engineers and the support personnel who prepare the airplane for each day’s flights. In the coming weeks, the two other 747-8 airplanes in the flight-test fleet will join RC521 in Southern California.
    The entire flight-test program calls for the three airplanes to perform a total of about 3,700 hours of ground and air testing. The first 747-8 Freighter delivery to Cargolux is planned for the fourth quarter of this year.

  • Boeing: Press Release

    Boeing Statement on President’s Remarks and the Need for Immediate Development of a Heavy-lift Vehicle

    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., April 16, 2010 — Speaking at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 15, U.S. President Barack Obama unveiled proposed changes to the administration’s fiscal year 2011 budget submission for space exploration, including a crew rescue vehicle and a decision on a heavy-lift rocket in 2015. The Boeing Company responded today with the following statement:

    “The president’s enthusiasm for space exploration was encouraging. We are pleased that the president remains committed to human spaceflight. We remain convinced that America stands at an inflection point with regard to space: If we make the right decisions today, we have the opportunity to create a new Golden Age of Space. Our national leadership’s focus on this bodes well for our country and its highly experienced space industrial base.

    “Boeing has served as a major partner in humankind’s exploration of space since the beginning. Our talented people bring a mature understanding of NASA’s enduring needs; a practical, businesslike approach to innovation; and a commitment to mission assurance and the safety and success of our astronaut corps.

    “We are encouraged by the extension of the International Space Station program and look forward to enhancing scientific research onboard, upgrading the space station, and using it as a U.S. national laboratory. Benefits to be gained from extension of the space station include international cooperation; medical and pharmaceutical advancements; its use as a test bed for demonstrating Earth-observation capabilities and future exploration technologies; and the availability of a waypoint for future exploration missions.
    “Excellence in human spaceflight is an important part of the American identity and symbolizes global leadership on the highest of technological platforms. We are greatly concerned that by backing away from the challenges of human space exploration, the United States would relinquish its leadership of a mission that has inspired generations.

    “A bold national space program also supports the United States’ security and economy by fostering a domestic work force that is educated and skilled in science, technology, engineering and math. It encourages the growth of new technologies and emerging businesses, large and small.
    “We support the president’s call for increased investment in heavy-lift launch vehicle technology, but we believe the United States should be on a clear path to accelerate the development and production of this critical system, along with a deep-space capsule. Both of these vehicles are essential to any deep-space exploration mission. We have the technology and the people to commence development of these vehicles now. A plan that includes a heavy-lift vehicle would enable space exploration supported by humans, large-array telescopes and deep-space robotic missions. It could achieve maximum benefit from American tax dollars by drawing on the cutting-edge technology already being developed for the Constellation program.

    “Remaining at the forefront of human spaceflight is the only choice worthy of this great nation and to the long line of explorers and visionaries who brought us to where we are today.”

  • ERUPTION OF EYJAFJALLA VOLCANO IN ICELAND – ICAO SYSTEM EFFECTIVE IN ENSURING THE SAFETY OF AIR TRANSPORT

    ICAO Release-April 15, 2010-

    The International Airways Volcano Watch (IAVW) system, established by ICAO in coordination with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), proved effective in ensuring the safety of air transport following the eruption of the volcano Eyjafjalla in Iceland on 14 April 2010.

    No incidents or accidents have been reported due to volcanic ash. Disruptions in air traffic, however, are being experienced in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia.

    Since volcanic ash is composed of very abrasive silica materials, it can damage the airframe and flight surfaces, clog different systems, abrade cockpit windows and flame-out jet engines constituting a serious safety hazard. Volcanic ash can also have a serious effect on aerodromes located downwind of a volcanic ash plume since it contaminates runways, ground equipment and aircraft parked or taxiing around the aerodrome.

    The IAVW system is designed to detect and track the movement of volcanic ash in the atmosphere and to warn aircraft in flight about this hazard. The main components of the system are comprised of nine volcanic ash advisory centres responsible for the provision of information related to areas and flight levels affected by volcanic ash and its future movement. These centres are strategically distributed around the globe. They are Anchorage, Buenos Aires, Darwin, London, Montreal, Tokyo, Toulouse, Washington and Wellington. Another important component of the system is the role of area control centres of each State to warn aircraft in flight about the location of the volcanic ash. They work together with selected State Volcano Observatories and the corresponding MET watch offices that are tasked with disseminating the corresponding warnings which are called SIGMETs.

  • NTSB Safety Recommendation

    The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the
    Federal Aviation Administration:

    Require Honeywell to revise the software logic within the MK
    XXII Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System so that a
    fault in the radio altimeter system would not prevent the
    look-ahead feature from functioning without notification to
    the pilot. (A-10-60)

    Once Honeywell revises the MK XXII Enhanced Ground Proximity
    Warning System (EGPWS) software logic (as described in
    Safety Recommendation A-10-60), require all operators using
    the Honeywell MK XXII EGPWS to install the revised software.
    (A-10-61)

  • NTSB Safety Recommendation

    The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the
    Federal Aviation Administration:

    Provide pilots and maintenance personnel with information
    that (1) transport-category aircraft tires can lose up to 5
    percent pressure per day, (2) it may take only a few days
    for such tires to reach an underinflation level below what
    the aircraft maintenance manual specifies for tire
    replacement, and (3) the underinflation level that would
    require tire replacement is not visually detectable. (A-10-
    46)

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    Boeing Names 14 Companies 2009 Suppliers of the Year

    SEATTLE, April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) tonight honored 14 companies as winners of its 2009 Supplier of the Year award.

    The winners, chosen from among the company’s more than 12,000 active suppliers worldwide, are located in Germany, India, Japan and the United States. They were judged on quality, delivery performance, cost, environmental initiatives, customer service and technical expertise. Four are small businesses as defined by the U.S. government.
    The winners, and the categories, are:

    • AZX International Corp. (Huntington Beach, Calif.) – Aerospace support
    • Bridgestone Corp. (Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan) – Electro, hydraulic and mechanical standards
    • Cytec Engineered Materials Inc. (Greenville, Texas) – Common aerospace commodities
    • Deharde-Maschinenbau H. Hoffmann GmbH (Varel, Germany) – International
    • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach, Fla.) – Academia
    • Frontier Electronics Systems Corp. (Stillwater, Okla.) – Avionics
    • GE Commercial Engine Operations (Evendale, Ohio) – Propulsion
    • GM Nameplate Inc. (Seattle) – Interiors
    • Hamilton Sundstrand, Electric Systems – 787 Team (Rockford, Ill.) – The Pathfinder Award, a new award recognizing outstanding efforts and significant strides in performance
    • Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (Bangalore, India) – The Alliance Award, a new award recognizing unique capabilities and services that are instrumental to a new Boeing product
    • OfficeMax Inc. (Naperville, Ill.) – Non-production
    • San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind (San Antonio) – Diversity
    • The Toolroom Inc. (Owensville, Mo.) – Outside manufacturing
    • Honeywell’s UOP (Des Plaines, Ill.) for technology

    “Boeing and our suppliers are more interconnected now than ever before – combining our talents and capabilities to create the most innovative products and services for our customers and the aerospace industry worldwide,” said Ray Conner, Boeing enterprise leader of Supplier Management and vice president and general manager of Supply Chain Management and Operations for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
    “Every supplier – small and large – is critical to our success, and it is important to recognize these suppliers for demonstrating industry-leading standards of quality, efficiency and performance.”

    Before being chosen a Supplier of the Year, each company was named as one of the 486 recipients of a Boeing Performance Excellence Award. For information on the 2009 awards, visit the Boeing Supplier Performance Awards Web site.

  • Virginia, NASA keep eyes on skies for air quality


    Virginia, NASA keep eyes on skies for air quality

    HAMPTON, Va. – Air quality in the skies above Hampton Roads will be monitored daily under a new partnership between NASA’s Langley Research Center and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

    The agreement relocates the state agency’s air-quality measurement operation to Langley following closure of the Hampton organization where it had been located, the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind. The DEQ’s new site is expected to open in May, said Margaret Pippin, the scientist coordinating the move at Langley.

    “This site will bring together the partnership of NASA, DEQ, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a coordinated effort to assess the relationship between space-based observations and surface observations of air quality,” Pippin said.

    The federal and state agencies are both interested in generating a comprehensive data record of pollution from industrial processes and vehicles.

    The DEQ station will be located at Langley’s Chemistry and Physics of the Boundary Layer Experiment site (CAPABLE), which will measure ozone and nitrogen dioxide. The DEQ will measure ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.

    The partnership will be mutually beneficial, said Pippin. The DEQ will have a bigger pool of data and a larger location to add to its statewide network of air-quality monitoring sites. And NASA scientists will be able to use the combined measurements to enhance a future satellite mission to measure air quality from space.

    Since the early 1970s, the DEQ has worked with the EPA to uphold the standards of U.S. Clean Air Act. That includes taking widespread air quality measurements in Virginia and keeping a data record.

    NASA Langley’s Science Directorate has a legacy in atmospheric science as well, leading early discoveries about the ozone hole and improving knowledge of human-created pollution on air quality and the atmosphere.
    Last week at the new Langley site, NASA and DEQ began monitoring what the U.S. EPA calls “criteria pollutants.” These are the emissions from factories, power plants and cars that can damage human health, plants, the environment and infrastructure. They include ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and other airborne particulates.

    “For NASA Langley and the DEQ, I see this as a win-win situation where we can work together, share air-quality data and monitoring information and learn from each other,” said Tom Jennings of the DEQ Office of Air Quality Monitoring.
    The DEQ’s transition to Langley will occur over the next two months and result in two identical environmental shelters positioned in a mirror image to one another – one for NASA’s instruments and the other for DEQ’s.

    The partnership was formalized in what is called a Space Act Agreement, which was signed last week. The agreement calls for a five-year partnership at the Langley site.

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    Spain: Boeing Completes Chinook

    Boeing Completes Chinook Industrial Cooperation Program in Spain

    MADRID, April 13, 2010 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has successfully completed its industrial cooperation program for the third phase of the CH-47D Chinook rotorcraft upgrades performed for the Spanish Army’s Airmobile Force, FAMET. Boeing finished the industrial cooperation program on schedule while exceeding the $80 million requirement, demonstrating the company’s continued success in meeting its commitments.

    Over the 10-year program, Boeing completed 75 projects with 20 Spanish companies and institutions. All projects were coordinated through Isdefe, the company that negotiates and manages industrial cooperation agreements on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Defense’s Armament and Material General Directorate.

    “In cooperation with Isdefe, Boeing is bringing high-value opportunities to Spanish industry,” said Gwen Kopsie, director of International Industrial Participation for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “Spanish companies of all sizes were an integral part of the global supply base that brought state-of-the-art upgrades to the Spanish Army’s Chinook fleet. Many more Spanish companies also benefited from Boeing’s advanced technology transfer and training programs.”

    Boeing also supports Isdefe’s efforts to develop Spanish industry through a $13 million industrial cooperation program for the Harpoon advanced weapon control system. That program is on track for completion in 2012.
    “Boeing has been a partner to Spain for more than 75 years, serving the needs of both its commercial airplane customers and Spain’s military,” said Pedro Argüelles, president of Boeing Spain. “Today, Boeing’s presence in Spain remains strong thanks to our collaboration with airlines, government, academic institutions and industry. Through our Research & Technology Center in Madrid, we work with our partners in Spain to develop solutions for the environmental, safety and reliability, and air-traffic-control needs of today and tomorrow.”

    Boeing has successfully implemented industrial participation programs totaling more than US$41 billion in nearly 40 countries over the past 30 years.

    The Chinook is a true multi-role, vertical-lift platform. The primary Chinook mission is transport of artillery, troops, ammunition, fuel and supplies within military theaters of operation. CH-47s also have performed humanitarian-support, disaster-relief, rescue, firefighting and nation-building missions on six continents in all climates and conditions. The Chinook is currently in service with more than 18 countries worldwide.

    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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    NTSB RELEASES 2009 AVIATION ACCIDENT STATST


    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2010

    NTSB RELEASES 2009 AVIATION ACCIDENT STATISTICS; ON-DEMAND ACCIDENTS AT LOWEST LEVEL IN LAST 20 YEARS

    Washington, D.C. – The National Transportation Safety Board today released preliminary aviation accident statistics for 2009 showing an overall decrease in U. S. civil aviation accidents that includes general aviation and on-demand Part 135 operations. In fact, on-demand Part 135 operations had the lowest number of accidents and fatal accidents for that type of air operation in the last 2 decades.

    The total number of U.S. civil aviation accidents decreased from 1,658 in 2008 to 1,551 in 2009. Total fatalities also showed a decrease from 566 to 534. The majority of these fatalities occurred in general aviation and scheduled Part 121 operations.

    General aviation accidents decreased from 1,566 in 2008 to 1,474 in 2009. There were 272 fatal general aviation accidents, down from 275 the year before. However, the accident rate increased to 7.20 per 100,000 flight hours in 2009 from 6.86 in 2008, due to the decrease in the number total of flight hours. Although fatalities decreased from 494 to 474, the fatal accident rate increased to from 1.21 to 1.33.

    Last year, one fatal accident occurred involving a scheduled Part 121 operator. On February 12, 2009, a Colgan Air, Inc., Bombardier DHC-8- 400, operating as Continental Connection flight 3407, crashed outside of Buffalo , New York, resulting in 50 fatalities.

    On-demand Part 135 operations reported 47 accidents in 2009, a decrease from 58 in 2008. Fatalities also decreased from 69 in 2008 to 17 in 2009. The accident rate decreased to 1.63 per 100,000 flight hours in 2009 from 1.81 in 2008.

    Tables 1-12 providing additional statistics are available at: http://www.ntsb.gov/aviation/Stats.htm

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    FAA Expands Air Traffic Education Program

    April 12–The Federal Aviation Administration announced today five new colleges and universities will be part of the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI). This is the third year the FAA has added schools to the AT-CTI program bringing the total number of schools participating to 36.

    The FAA AT-CTI program was first established in 1990 at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. The program helps recruit candidates for terminal and en route air traffic controller positions.

    Twenty-one institutions submitted applications early last year to join AT-CTI. The applications were evaluated based on the school’s organizational foundation and resources, organization credibility, air traffic basic curriculum and facilities.

    The five schools joining the program are: Sacramento City College, (Sacramento, CA), Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics (Melbourne, FL), Texas State Technical College (Waco, TX), Western Michigan University (Battle Creek, MI), and Hesston College (Hesston, KS).

    CTI institutions are not given federal funds to teach air traffic control courses, however the FAA does provide curriculum and instructor notes on air traffic basics. The institutions independently incorporate the material into their aviation programs.

    The AT-CTI curriculum provides appropriate education, experience, and training which meet the basic requirements for the terminal and en route air traffic occupations. As a result, AT-CTI graduates may be permitted to bypass the initial five-week air traffic basics training when they report to the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.

    No jobs are promised to students, but from fiscal years 2005 until 2009 over 3,000, or 41 percent, of the air traffic controllers hired graduated from an AT-CTI school.

    AT-CTI programs are currently available at these institutions: Aims Community College (Colorado), Arizona State University, Broward Community College (Florida), Community College of Baltimore County (Maryland), Community College of Beaver County (Pennsylvania), Daniel Webster College (New Hampshire), Dowling College (New York), Eastern New Mexico University, Embry Riddle–Daytona Beach (Florida), Embry Riddle–Prescott (Arizona), Florida Community College of Jacksonville, Green River Community College (Washington), Hampton University (Virginia), Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Mount San Antonio (California), Jacksonville University (Florida), Kent State University (Ohio), LeTourneau University (Texas), Lewis University (Illinois), Metropolitan State College of Denver (Colorado), Miami Dade County College (Florida), Middle Georgia College, Middle Tennessee State University, Minneapolis Community and Technical College (Minnesota), Purdue University (Indiana), St. Cloud University (Minnesota), Tulsa Community College (Oklahoma), University of Alaska, University of North Dakota, University of Oklahoma, and Vaughn College of Aeronautics (New York).

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    Boeing Appoints Antoine Balas Communications Director for France

    PARIS, April 12, 2010 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] has appointed Antoine Balas as Director of Corporate Communications for France. He will be responsible for developing the company’s communications strategies and engaging with key stakeholders in the French market.

    “France is a major customer and a strong partner for Boeing. Our industrial partnerships in France have been bolstered with the launch of the 787 Dreamliner”, said Yves Galland, president of Boeing France. “We are very pleased to welcome Antoine, who will work closely with the international teams to enhance the company’s reputation and help to grow our business in the country”.
    Balas, 39, has a 15-year career in corporate communications. From 1996 to 2004, he held various European positions within Honeywell International, including Communications Manager for the Aerospace organization in Europe. In 2004, he joined the French automotive supplier Valeo as Group Internal Communications Manager. In his last position at Valeo, he led Corporate Communications and Media Relations. He holds a degree in International Trade and a degree in Communications and Public Relations from ISERP.

    Since the opening of its Paris office in 2003, under the leadership of Yves Galland, Boeing has significantly increased its partnerships with French suppliers, creating the “Boeing French Team”. In France, more than 100 suppliers collaborate on Boeing programs.

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    NTSB RELEASES 2009 AVIATION ACCIDENT STATISTICS

    ON-DEMAND ACCIDENTS AT LOWEST LEVEL IN LAST 20 YEARS

    Washington, D.C. – The National Transportation Safety Board
    today released preliminary aviation accident statistics for
    2009 showing an overall decrease in U. S. civil aviation
    accidents that includes general aviation and on-demand Part
    135 operations. In fact, on-demand Part 135 operations had
    the lowest number of accidents and fatal accidents for that
    type of air operation in the last 2 decades.

    The total number of U.S. civil aviation accidents decreased
    from 1,658 in 2008 to 1,551 in 2009. Total fatalities also
    showed a decrease from 566 to 534. The majority of these
    fatalities occurred in general aviation and scheduled Part
    121 operations.

    General aviation accidents decreased from 1,566 in 2008 to
    1,474 in 2009. There were 272 fatal general aviation
    accidents, down from 275 the year before. However, the
    accident rate increased to 7.20 per 100,000 flight hours in
    2009 from 6.86 in 2008, due to the decrease in the number
    total of flight hours. Although fatalities decreased from
    494 to 474, the fatal accident rate increased to from 1.21
    to 1.33.

    Last year, one fatal accident occurred involving a scheduled
    Part 121 operator. On February 12, 2009, a Colgan Air,
    Inc., Bombardier DHC-8- 400, operating as Continental
    Connection flight 3407, crashed outside of Buffalo , New
    York, resulting in 50 fatalities.

    On-demand Part 135 operations reported 47 accidents in 2009,
    a decrease from 58 in 2008. Fatalities also decreased from
    69 in 2008 to 17 in 2009. The accident rate decreased to
    1.63 per 100,000 flight hours in 2009 from 1.81 in 2008.

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    Boeing Confirms Success on 787 Wing, Fuselage Ultimate Load Test


    EVERETT, Wash., April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) announced today that all test requirements were successfully met during the 787 Dreamliner’s ultimate load wing and fuselage bending test. This follows a thorough analysis of the results from a test on the 787 static test airframe.
    “Successfully completing this test is a critical step in the certification of the 787. This is further validation that the 787 performs as expected, even in the most extreme circumstances,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
    On March 28, loads were applied to the test unit to replicate 150 percent of the most extreme forces the airplane is ever expected to experience while in service. The wings were flexed upward by approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters) during the test and the fuselage was pressurized to 150 percent of its maximum normal operating condition.
    In evaluating the success criteria for the test, Boeing specialists have been poring over the thousands of data points collected during the test to ensure that all parts of the airplane performed as expected.
    “The airframe performed as designed and retained the required structural integrity. These results continue to validate the design of the 787 as we move toward certification,” explained Fancher.

    Video of the static test can be found below:

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    CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA RUNWAY OVERRUN

    NTSB TO OPEN PUBLIC DOCKET ON JANUARY 2010 CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA RUNWAY OVERRUN

    As part of the Safety Board’s investigation into the runway overrun at Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia, the NTSB will open the public accident docket on Thursday, April 8, 2010.

    On January 19, 2010, PSA Airlines d.b.a. US Airways Express flight 2495, a Bombardier CL600-2B19, registration N246PS, rejected the takeoff and ran off the end of the runway at Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia. The airplane stopped in the engineered materials arresting system (EMAS).

    There were no injuries to the 31 passengers or 3 crew members onboard and the airplane received minor damage. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 and its intended destination was Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina.

    The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has assigned an Accredited Representative to assist the investigation under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13 as the State of the Manufacturer of the airplane.

    The information being released is factual in nature and does not provide any analysis. It will include investigative group factual reports, photographs, and other documents from the investigation. 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.

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    NTSB Release: Maintenance Causes 2008 Crash

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    April 6, 2010
    SB-10-10

    POOR MAINTENANCE STARTED ACCIDENT CHAIN THAT RESULTED IN HIGH-SPEED RUNWAY EXCURSION THAT KILLED FOUR IN 2008, NTSB DETERMINES

    Washington, DC – A chartered business jet crashed at a South Carolina airport 18 months ago because of the operator’s inadequate maintenance of the airplane’s tires and the decision by the captain to attempt a high-speed rejected takeoff, which went against standard operating procedures and training, the NTSB determined today.

    On September 19, 2008, at 11:53 p.m. EDT, a Bombardier Learjet Model 60 (N999LJ) operated by Global Exec Aviation and destined for Van Nuys, California, overran runway 11 during a rejected takeoff at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. After the airplane left the departure end of runway 11, it struck airport lights, crashed through a perimeter fence, crossed a roadway and came to rest on a berm. The captain, the first officer, and two passengers were killed; two other passengers were seriously injured.

    The investigation revealed that prior to the accident the aircraft was operated while the main landing gear tires were severely underinflated because of Global Exec Aviation’s inadequate maintenance. The underinflation compromised the integrity of the tires, which led to the failure of all four of the airplane’s main landing gear tires during the takeoff roll.

    Shortly after the first tire failed, which occurred about 1.5 seconds after the airplane passed the maximum speed at which the takeoff attempt could be safely aborted, the first officer indicated that the takeoff should be continued but the captain decided to reject the takeoff and deployed the airplane’s thrust reversers. Pilots are trained to avoid attempting to reject a takeoff at high-speed unless the pilot concludes that the airplane is unable to fly; the investigation found no evidence that the accident airplane was uncontrollable or unable to become airborne.

    The tire failure during the takeoff roll damaged a sensor, which caused the airplane’s thrust reversers to return to the stowed position. While the captain was trying to stop the airplane by commanding reverse thrust, forward thrust was being provided at near-takeoff power because the thrust reversers were stowed. The Safety Board determined that the inadvertent forward thrust contributed to the severity of the accident.

    The Safety Board also found that neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor Learjet adequately reviewed the Airplane’s design after a similar uncommanded forward thrust accident that occurred during landing in Alabama in 2001. While the modifications put into place after the Alabama accident provided additional protection against uncommanded forward thrust upon landing, no such protection was provided for a rejected takeoff.

    “This accident chain started with something as basic as inadequate tire inflation and ended in tragedy,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. “This entirely avoidable crash should reinforce to everyone in the aviation community that there are no small maintenance items because every time a plane takes off, lives are on the line.”

    The safety recommendations that the NTSB made to the Federal Aviation Administration as a result of this investigation are: provide pilots and maintenance personnel with information on the hazards associated with tire underinflation, including the required intervals for tire pressure checks, and allow pilots to perform pressure checks in air taxi operations to ensure that tires remain safely inflated at all times; require tire pressure monitoring systems for all transport category airplanes; identify and correct deficiencies in both Learjet’s thrust reverser system safety analysis and the FAA’s design certification process to ensure that hazards encountered in all phases of flight are mitigated; require that simulator training for pilots who conduct turbojet operations include opportunities to practice responding to events other than engine failures near takeoff speeds; require that pilots who fly air taxi turbojet operations have a minimum level of pilot operating experience in an airplane type before acting as pilot-in- command in that type; and require that airplane tire testing criteria reflect the loads that may be imposed on tires both during normal operating conditions and after the loss of one tire.

  • |

    Boeing Press Release:Training Class

    Boeing Completes First 787 Dreamliner Maintenance Training Class

    EVERETT, Wash., April 6 — Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced that it has completed the first maintenance training class for the 787 Dreamliner. The class consisted of 10 mechanics from 787 launch customer ANA (All Nippon Airways) and two regulators from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB).

    The mechanics, who completed the training last week, are the first of 150 ANA mechanics to be trained by Boeing over the next seven months. They spent more than 30 days learning how to maintain the world’s most advanced commercial jetliner, including 20 days of theoretical training, two days of engine runs and taxi testing, five days of practical training and five days of troubleshooting exercises. To conclude the training, students conducted component identification exams on production airplanes, as well as troubleshooting exams in the full flight simulator.

    To support the all-new 787, Boeing Training & Flight Services, a division of Commercial Aviation Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, has developed an all-digital, Internet-based teaching system for maintenance training, along with training tools that connect real-time to a virtual airplane and airplane systems.

    “Getting our mechanics trained and prepared is essential to being ready to take delivery of the airplane later this year,” said Michihide Kono, vice president of Engineering and Maintenance for ANA. “This is an important milestone for our ANA team and we are delighted to see the continued progress on the program.”

    The curriculum is designed to focus on performance-based training that incorporates real-world simulated maintenance scenarios for a more immersive training experience.

    “The use of personal tablet computers, interactive computer-based training, three-dimensional images and desktop simulation makes it possible to deliver training more efficiently,” said Sherry Carbary, vice president of Boeing Training & Flight Services, Commercial Aviation Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Our team is committed to providing our customers with the resources and tools they need to be successful.”

    The 787 comes with digital tools and databases that replace volumes of printed materials. The graphic and textual database has point-and-click features for more details, allowing mechanics to navigate through documents quickly to get the information they need to do their jobs.

    “This milestone is another important step along the way to being service-ready,” said Mike Fleming, director of 787 Services and Support, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Our goal is to make entry into service a seamless experience for our customers.”

    Fifty-seven customers around the world have ordered 866 787s since the program was launched in April 2004, making the Dreamliner the fastest-selling new commercial jetliner in history. Delivery of the first 787 is planned for the fourth quarter of 2010.

  • ICAO Consensus

    STRONG CONSENSUS REACHED AT ICAO SAFETY CONFERENCE ON WAYS TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    PIO 04/10

    MONTREAL, 1 April 2010 – A High-Level Safety Conference which concluded today established a strong mandate for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to create a strategy to further reduce the global accident rate, through the sharing of safety-related information among Member States and the air transport industry.

    More than 600 participants at the four-day event, attended by Ministers and Directors General of Civil Aviation from 150 Member countries as well as industry representatives, recommended that ICAO create a global safety information exchange to enable analysis of key safety indicators. This will guide future strategic decisions related to the evolution of today’s air transportation system. The Conference called upon ICAO to facilitate the collection, analysis and dissemination of safety information provided by States and industry partners, throughout the international aviation community.

    The Conference further recommended that ICAO develop processes to give the general public access to relevant safety information, thereby allowing them to make an informed decision about the safety of air transportation and to further ensure that such information is used solely to improve aviation safety and not for retribution or the purpose of gaining economic advantage.

    “We have traditionally focused our efforts on accident reports as a means to improve safety. This new approach will help us to better identify and deal with safety threats before they result in accidents”, said Roberto Kobeh González, President of the Council of ICAO.

    “Regulators and industry must come to manage safety-critical information in the same way that they view accidents. Both must become triggers for action in preventing accidents,” he added.

    On Tuesday, ICAO, the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA), the Commission of the European Union (EC) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) signed a Declaration of Intent on the development of a global safety information exchange agreement.

    In the months to come, the parties will establish an operational framework for the information exchange. It will address technical, confidentiality, legal and policy implications, as well as the relevance and timing of information collected.

    “ICAO has long promoted the concept of information sharing on a global scale so as to connect the various databases of regulators and industry. The recommendation from the Conference and the Declaration of Intent represent a breakthrough in achieving our objective of better utilizing data to reduce the accident rate globally and in specific regions and States around the world,” Mr. Kobeh emphasized.

    On the question of black boxes, the Conference recommended that ICAO look into technical enhancements that would improve the ability to locate and recover the units, such as longer time periods for signals, better resistance to crashes and floatability.

    “While the electronic transmission of information during flights is progressively improving, black boxes will remain absolutely indispensable for years to come as the primary source of technical data in cases of accidents or incidents,” Mr. Kobeh said.

    The Conference also called on States and industry to ensure improved communication and surveillance of flights over oceanic and remote areas through the use of all available technologies.

    Reaffirming the fundamental mission of ICAO to ensure the safety of international civil aviation, the Conference endorsed the creation of a new Annex to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, one dedicated exclusively to safety management principles.

    Recommendations from the Conference will be submitted to the Council of ICAO for consideration in the coming weeks.

  • |

    NTSB Meets

    NTSB TO MEET ON BUSINESS JET RUNWAY EXCURSION ACCIDENT THAT KILLED FOUR AND INJURED TWO IN SOUTH CAROLINA

    The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public Board meeting on its investigation into an accident in which a chartered business jet crashed during a rejected takeoff in Columbia, South Carolina, 18 months ago.

    The purpose of the meeting will be to determine the probable cause of the accident and to consider proposed safety recommendations to reduce the likelihood of future such mishaps.

    On September 19, 2008, at 11:53 p.m. EDT, a Bombardier Learjet Model 60 (N999LJ) operated by Global Exec Aviation and destined for Van Nuys, California, overran runway 11 during a rejected takeoff at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. The captain, the first officer, and two passengers were killed; two other passengers were seriously injured.

  • Boeing Contribution

    Boeing Contribution to Shuttle Mission Includes Troubleshooting, Payload Prep

    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., April 2, 2010 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been providing NASA with a wide variety of hardware and services — including troubleshooting a stuck valve — to ensure Space Shuttle Discovery launches as scheduled on April 5.

    One of two helium isolation valves in the shuttle’s starboard Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pod failed in the open position on March 13 during helium tank preparations prior to OMS pod propellant loading. High-pressure helium is used to push propellants from storage tanks into small rocket motors used for routine orbital maneuvers.

    “As the original equipment manufacturer for the space shuttle and a major subcontractor on the program, Boeing engineers were a part of a NASA-led problem resolution team that analyzed the complex data and provided recommendations,” said John Mulholland, Boeing Space Shuttle Program vice president and program manager. “The team concluded that given the redundancy in the system, the space shuttle is safe to fly with the valve in this configuration.”

    Shuttle mission STS-131 will transport four experiment racks to the International Space Station (ISS), along with one systems rack, seven resupply stowage platforms, and four resupply stowage racks. Boeing engineers in Huntsville, Ala., designed and built two of the four experiment racks — the Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) Rack 7 and the Window Observational Research Facility (WORF).

    EXPRESS Rack 7 is a multipurpose payload rack system that will store and support science experiments aboard the ISS. Experiments can be easily integrated into the system, which includes structural interfaces, power, command/data, video, cooling, nitrogen, vacuum exhaust, and other items needed to operate experiments in space.
    The WORF fits over the U.S. Destiny lab window and will maximize the use of the window via attachments for cameras, camcorders, and other instruments to capture imagery of the Earth and space.

    The mission also will deliver an Ammonia Tank Assembly (ATA) that Boeing refurbished at Kennedy Space Center. The ATA works in conjunction with the station’s External Active Thermal Control System to help cool the exterior and interior components of the ISS.

    The Boeing Checkout, Assembly and Payload Processing Services (CAPPS) team prepared the entire mission payload for launch. The services and support Boeing provides under its CAPPS contract include planning for and receiving payloads, maintaining associated ground support systems, integrating payloads with the space shuttle, launch support, and space shuttle post-landing payload activities.
    Boeing is the prime contractor to NASA for the ISS. In addition to designing and building all the major U.S. elements, Boeing also is responsible for ensuring the successful integration of new hardware and software — including components from international partners — as well as for providing sustaining engineering work for the ISS.

  • |

    FAA Proposes New Policy on Antidepressants for Pilots

    For Immediate Release
    April 2, 2010

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that it will consider the special issuance of a medical certificate to pilots who are taking medication for mild to moderate depression, conditions that now bar them from all flying duties.

    On a case-by-case basis beginning April 5, pilots who take one of four antidepressant medications – Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Citalopram (Celexa), or Escitalopram (Lexapro) – will be allowed to fly if they have been satisfactorily treated on the medication for at least 12 months. The FAA will not take civil enforcement action against pilots who take advantage of a six-month opportunity to share any previously non-disclosed diagnosis of depression or the use of these antidepressants.

    “I’m encouraging pilots who are suffering from depression or using antidepressants to report their medical condition to the FAA,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “We need to change the culture and remove the stigma associated with depression. Pilots should be able to get the medical treatment they need so they can safely perform their duties.”

    The FAA’s policy is consistent with recommendations from the Aerospace Medical Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Air Line Pilots Association and the International Civil Aviation Organization. The Civil Aviation Authority of Australia, Transport Canada and the U.S Army already allow some pilots to fly using antidepressant medications.

    Psychiatrists and Aviation Medical Examiners who have specialized training under the Human Intervention and Motivation Study (HIMS) program will help the FAA evaluate and monitor pilots under this new policy. The HIMS program was established 40 years ago and has been highly effective for the assessment, treatment, and medical certification of pilots who need help with alcohol and drug issues.

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    EU Banned List updated: Official Press Release

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • |

    Press Release: NTSB TO MEET

    National Transportation Safety Board
    Washington, DC 20594

    April 1, 2010
    NTSB TO MEET ON BUSINESS JET RUNWAY EXCURSION ACCIDENT THAT
    KILLED FOUR AND INJURED TWO IN SOUTH CAROLINA

    The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public
    Board meeting on its investigation into an accident in which
    a chartered business jet crashed during a rejected takeoff
    in Columbia, South Carolina, 18 months ago.

    The purpose of the meeting will be to determine the probable
    cause of the accident and to consider proposed safety
    recommendations to reduce the likelihood of future such
    mishaps.

    On September 19, 2008, at 11:53 p.m. EDT, a Bombardier
    Learjet Model 60 (N999LJ) operated by Global Exec Aviation
    and destined for Van Nuys, California, overran runway 11
    during a rejected takeoff at Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
    The captain, the first officer, and two passengers were
    killed; two other passengers were seriously injured.

    The meeting will be held in Washington on Tuesday, April 6,
    20010, at 9:30 a.m. ET, in the NTSB Board Room and
    Conference Center at 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W.

    A live and archived webcast of the proceedings will be
    available on the Board’s website at
    http://www.ntsb.gov/Events/Boardmeeting.htm. Technical
    support details are available under “Board Meetings.” To
    report any problems, please call 703-993-3100 and ask for
    Webcast Technical Support.

    A summary of the Board’s final report, which will include
    its findings, probable cause and safety recommendations,
    will appear on the website shortly after the conclusion of
    the meeting. The entire report will appear on the website
    several weeks later.