Montreal – Press Release:The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the aviation safety performance for 2009 showing that the year’s accident rate for Western-built jet aircraft as the second lowest in aviation history. 

The 2009 global accident rate (measured in hull losses per million flights of Western-built jet aircraft) was 0.71. That is equal to one accident for every 1.4 million flights. This is a significant improvement of the 0.81 rate recorded in 2008 (one accident for 1.2 million flights).  The 2009 rate was the second lowest in aviation history, just above the 2006 rate of 0.65. Compared to 10 years ago, the accident rate has been cut 36% from the rate recorded in 2000.

In absolute numbers, 2009 saw the following results

• 2.3 billion people flew safely on 35 million flights (27 million jet, 8 million turboprop)
  
• 19 accidents involving western built jet aircraft compared to 22 in 2008
  
• 90 accidents (all aircraft types, Eastern and Western built) compared to 109 in 2008
  
• 18 fatal accidents (all aircraft types) compared to 23 in 2008
  
• 685 fatalities compared to 502 in 2008

“Safety is the industry’s number one priority. Even in a decade during which airlines lost an average of US$5 billion per year, we still managed to improve our safety record. Last year, 2.3 billion people flew safely. But every fatality is a human tragedy that reminds us of the ultimate goal of zero accidents and zero fatalities,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

IATA member airlines outperformed the industry average with a Western-built jet hull accident rate of 0.62. That rate is equal to one accident for every 1.6 million flights. “In 2009 IATA marked an important milestone in aviation safety. From April 1, all IATA members were on the registry of the IATA Operational Safety Audit – a testimony to our commitment to the highest global standards for operational safety. IOSA is the global standard. Today 332 carriers are on the registry, including IATA’s 231 members,” said Bisignani.

There are significant regional differences in the accident rate.

• North Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) had zero western-built jet hull losses in 2009
  
• North America (0.41) and Europe (0.45) performed better than the global average of 0.71
  
• Asia-Pacific’s accident rate worsened to 0.86 in 2009 (compared to 0.58 in 2008) with three accidents involving carriers from the region.
  
• The Middle East and North Africa region saw its accident rate rise to 3.32 (compared to 1.89 in 2008) with four accidents involving carriers from the region.
  
• Africa had an accident rate of 9.94, significantly higher than their 2008 rate of 2.12. Africa has once again the worst rate of the world.  There were five Western-built jet hull losses with African carriers in 2009. African carriers are 2% of global traffic, but 26% of global western-built jet hull losses.

An analysis of the causes of the 2009 accidents focuses on three main areas:

• Runway excursions continue to be a challenge and accounted for 26% of all accidents in 2009.  However, the total number of runway excursions dropped by 18% (23 vs 28 in 2008). IATA released its Runway Excursion Risk Reduction Toolkit in 2009, with an updated version to be produced later this year. The toolkit is incorporated with IATA’s broad ranging safety data tools in the IATA Global Safety Information Center (GSIC), a customizable website which will enable users to extract relevant safety information through a single application and enable them to perform performance benchmark and conduct trend analysis and risk management.
  
• Ground damage accounted for 10% of all accidents in 2009. To improve safety and reduce this US$4 billion annual industry cost, IATA introduced the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO). Built on similar principles to IOSA, ISAGO is the industry’s first global standard for the oversight and auditing of ground handling companies. The first audits took place in 2008. To date a total of 149 audits have been conducted.
  
•  While runway excursions and ground damage were the main categories of accidents, pilot handling was noted as a contributing factor in 30% of all accidents. IATA’s Training & Qualification Initiative (ITQI) is pushing for harmonizing a competency-based approach focused on training real skills while addressing threats presented by accident/incident reports and flight data collection and reporting. IATA will also work through ICAO to develop a Fatigue Risk Management System as part of the Safety Management System. This will be a new process to systematically manage crew fatigue taking into account changes in aircraft capabilities and airline operations.

These initiatives are consistent with IATA’s comprehensive Six-point Safety Program which focuses on infrastructure safety, safety data management and analysis, operations, Safety Management Systems, maintenance and auditing.

“Safety is a constant challenge. Having made aviation the safest way to travel, further improvements will come only with careful data analysis. We must understand the underlying safety risk trends, not just from the handful of accidents each year, but by bringing together and analyzing data from millions of safe flights. The IATA Global Safety Information Center was launched in December 2009 for just that purpose. Going forward our goal is to work with other organizations and governments involved in aviation safety to add to the database and drive even more improvements,” Said Bisignani.

http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/2010-02-18-01.htm

OAKEY, Queensland, Feb. 26, 2010 Boeing has signed an AU$44 million change proposal with the Commonwealth of Australia to increase the scope of the Army Aviation Training and Training Support (AATTS) contract.

Awarded the contract in 2007, Boeing subsidiary Boeing Defence Australia has been supporting the Australian Army’s Black Hawk and Kiowa helicopters with pilot, aircrew and technician training, operational fleet maintenance, and support services at the Army Aviation Training Centre in Oakey.

Following detailed operational reviews, the Commonwealth and Boeing Defence Australia changed the scope of the AATTS contract to reflect the Army’s current and future aircrew training requirements. Under the updated contract, Boeing Defence Australia is additionally responsible for delivering:

• The Initial Army Pilot Helicopter Qualification Course, using the B-206 Kiowa
• 85 percent of S-70A-9 Black Hawk pilot training
• CH-47 Chinook helicopter instructor and technician training.

The $44 million agreement also includes the Commonwealth’s first one-year extension of AATTS, continuing the contract until September 2013. The original AATTS contract includes five one-year extension options.
“The Commonwealth’s decision to both increase the scope of AATTS and extend the contract until 2013 reinforces Boeing Defence Australia’s position as the preeminent ab-initio [‘from the beginning’] training provider to the Australian Defence Force,” said Mark Brownsey, Boeing Defence Australia senior manager for Global Services & Support — Training Operations.
“To date, Boeing Defence Australia has exceeded all Australian Army training and maintenance requirements, including standing up the entire program on time, completing 100 percent of training courses on schedule, supporting close to 7,000 training sorties annually, and providing maintenance support to the Australian Defence Force Kiowa fleet, which recently achieved more than 50,000 flight hours,” said Matthew Sibree, Boeing Defence Australia AATTS project manager. “To ensure AATTS continues on time and on budget, 20 additional employees will be hired on to the 160-strong team to ensure we meet our customer’s expectations.”

The updated AATTS contract will further strengthen Boeing Defence Australia’s training capability while ensuring the Australian Army maintains a constant supply of qualified helicopter pilots, aircrew and technicians to conduct complex helicopter missions in support of domestic and global operations.

Boeing Defence Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company and a business unit of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, is a leading Australian aerospace enterprise. With a world-class team of nearly 2,000 employees at 13 locations throughout Australia and two international sites, Boeing Defence Australia supports some of the largest and most complex defense projects in Australia.

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.

NTSB CHAIRMAN TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS ON THE CRASH OF COLGAN AIR FLIGHT 3407

Washington, DC – National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman testified in the U.S. Senate today about the status of aviation safety a year after the crash of Continental Flight 3407 near Buffalo, New York on February 12, 2009. The flight was operated by Colgan Air. The crash resulted in 50 fatalities, including all of the passengers, the flight crew, and one person on the ground.

The NTSB issued its final report on the investigation of the accident following a public board meeting on February 2. Chairman Hersman provided a summary of the investigation that led to the Board’s final report and a determination that the probable cause of the accident was the captain’s inappropriate response to an aerodynamic stall from which the airplane did not recover.

At the hearing before the Subcommittee on Aviation of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Hersman noted that the Safety Board’s final report makes 25 new recommendations to the FAA and reiterates 3 previously issued recommendations. The recommendations cover a wide range of safety issues that were factors in this accident, including pilot training and fatigue. Just last week, the NTSB updated its 2010 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Issues to better emphasize these 2 safety concerns, Hersman noted.

“If we are serious about aviation safety, we must establish a system that minimizes pilot fatigue and ensures that flight crews report to work rested and fit for duty,” said Chairman Hersman. “We must also have a system in which we are steadfastly confident that all of our commercial pilots are proficient and well-trained.”

NTSB CHAIRMAN TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS ON THE CRASH OF
COLGAN AIR FLIGHT 3407

Washington, DC – National Transportation Safety Board
Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman testified in the U.S. Senate
today about the status of aviation safety a year after the
crash of Continental Flight 3407 near Buffalo, New York on
February 12, 2009. The flight was operated by Colgan Air.
The crash resulted in 50 fatalities, including all of the
passengers, the flight crew, and one person on the ground.

The NTSB issued its final report on the investigation of the
accident following a public board meeting on February 2.
Chairman Hersman provided a summary of the investigation
that led to the Board’s final report and a determination
that the probable cause of the accident was the captain’s
inappropriate response to an aerodynamic stall from which
the airplane did not recover.

At the hearing before the Subcommittee on Aviation of the
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation,
Hersman noted that the Safety Board’s final report makes 25
new recommendations to the FAA and reiterates 3 previously
issued recommendations. The recommendations cover a wide
range of safety issues that were factors in this accident,
including pilot training and fatigue. Just last week, the
NTSB updated its 2010 Most Wanted List of Transportation
Safety Issues to better emphasize these 2 safety concerns,
Hersman noted.

“If we are serious about aviation safety, we must establish
a system that minimizes pilot fatigue and ensures that
flight crews report to work rested and fit for duty,” said
Chairman Hersman. “We must also have a system in which we
are steadfastly confident that all of our commercial pilots
are proficient and well-trained.”

FAA Proposes $1.2 Million Civil Penalty for GE Caledonian
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA has proposed a civil penalty of $1,225,000 for GE Caledonian, an FAA-certificated foreign repair station based in Scotland, for improper maintenance procedures involving 101 engines over a three and one-half year period.

“We hold certificated foreign repair stations to the same high standards as the repair stations here in the U.S.,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “When necessary, we will issue civil penalties and ensure that companies take corrective action.”

Between January 2005 and May 2008, GE Caledonian used a procedure to remove the thrust pins from the forward engine mounts of 101 CF6 engines that was different than the one required by the manufacturer’s maintenance manuals. When it removed the thrust pins, GE Caledonian welded the locking screw to the thrust pin instead of drilling and tapping a hole in the thrust pin, as required in the manual.

“Our safety regulations are the core of our aviation system and we take them seriously,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

GE Caledonian has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.

Boeing’s ZA004 Joins 787 Flight-Test Program
EVERETT, Wash., Feb. 24 – A third airplane has joined the Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner flight-test program. ZA004, the fourth flight-test airplane to be built, took off at 11:43 a.m. local time from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. The program plan called for ZA004 to fly before ZA003 because the data ZA004 is collecting is needed more quickly both for certification and development of the 787-9.
Captains Heather Ross and Craig Bomben completed a three-hour-and-two-minute flight at 2:45 p.m., landing at Boeing Field in Seattle. Flight-test personnel were also on board to monitor airplane performance.

“Airplane No. 4 operated flawlessly today,” Ross said after landing. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us but I can’t imagine a better start to the flight test program for this airplane.”
Ross will serve as chief pilot for ZA004. This airplane will be used to accomplish the following types of tests: aerodynamics, high-speed performance, propulsion performance, flight loads, community noise and extended operations (ETOPS) and other test conditions.
During today’s flight, the airplane reached an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,144 m) and an airspeed of 255 knots, or about 293 miles (472 km) per hour. As the testing of the 787 fleet progresses, the airplane will fly at its expected in-service maximum altitude of 40,000 feet (12,192 m) and speed of Mach 0.85.

“We are continuing to make good progress on the flight test program,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The team is staying focused and disciplined in keeping the priority on safety and execution of the plan.

NTSB CHAIRMAN HERSMAN TESTIFIES ON AIRCRAFT ICING

NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman today, in testimony
before the House Aviation Subcommittee, Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, discussed the dangers of
aircraft flying in icing conditions and highlighted
longstanding Safety Board recommendations that have yet to
be adopted by the Federal Aviation Administration to address
the issue.

Reducing the dangers of flying in icing conditions has been
on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety
Improvements since 1997. Last week, the NTSB voted to keep
the issue area, along with its four open recommendations to
the FAA, on the 2010 Most Wanted List with a “red”
classification. The red classification indicates an
unacceptable response by the FAA.

“Although the NTSB relies on others to implement these
recommendations, we have worked to educate the pilot
community about some of the hazards associated with icing
conditions through our Safety Alerts,” Hersman said.

In 1981, the NTSB published a report titled “Aircraft Icing
Avoidance and Protection” and recommended the FAA review
icing certification criteria. The special study followed a
series of icing-related accidents where aircraft operating
in icing conditions and the varying consequences that ice
accretion had on different types of aircraft raised concern,

In the 1990s the NTSB re-examined the issue of airframe
structural icing and concluded that the icing certification
process continues to be inadequate. The Board also became
concerned about airplanes that fly in supercooled large
droplet conditions and that used pneumatic boots to deice
the aircraft in flight. In the last decade, the Board has
investigated more than 50 accidents involving aircraft
icing, resulting in over 200 fatalities and it continues to
investigate accidents where icing is a factor.

In the last few years, the FAA has addressed some of the
recommendations related to icing by issuing a number of
final and proposed regulations. However, not all of the
NTSB’s recommendations on icing have been addressed.

NTSB Advisory : NTSB NTSB TRANSFERS CONTROL OF INVESTIGATION OF AUSTIN PLANE CRASH TO FBI

The National Transportation Safety Board has transferred control of the investigation into yesterday’s crash of a small aircraft into an office building in Austin, Texas to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On the morning of February 18, 2010, a Piper PA-28 struck a 7-story building housing federal offices in Austin, Texas. The NTSB immediately initiated an investigation and dispatched a team of investigators to the scene. Information developed about the circumstances of the crash since that time point toward an intentional act rather than an accident.

Last night, NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman consulted with the United States Attorney General, Eric Holder. They agreed that given the apparent criminal nature of the event, the primacy of this investigation should be transferred to the FBI. NTSB investigators will remain at the scene to assist the FBI.

RELEASE : 10-010

NASA and Industry Join Forces for Virginia Aerospace Day

RICHMOND, Va. — Aerospace is the economic engine that can propel Virginia’s economy to new levels.

NASA leaders from Langley Research Center in Hampton and Wallops Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore will join aerospace industry representatives statewide to bring this message to Virginia General Assembly members on AeroSpace Days 2010, Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 3-4, in Richmond.

Aerospace is a $5.4 billion industry that stimulates innovation and creates high-tech jobs. Virginia has more than 350 aerospace company locations and employs over 26,000 people, generating a direct economic output of $5.6 billion. NASA facilities in Virginia generate over a billion dollars and more than 10,000 jobs. Additionally, NASA revenues translate into approximately $64 million in federal taxes and almost $14 million in state and local taxes.

Reporters are invited to attend a news conference featuring NASA Langley Center Director Lesa Roe and Virginia Department of Aviation Director Randy Burdette Thursday, Feb. 4, at 10:30 a.m. at the General Assembly, 4 West Conference Room, 9th and Broad Streets, Richmond.

Astronaut Susan Kilrain, shuttle pilot who has logged over 470 hours in space, will be on hand to discuss NASA’s long-term exploration goals.

Throughout the morning, Langley education experts will demonstrate NASA’s Digital Learning Network (DLN), an electronic education capability that links students and teachers with NASA experts across the nation. In addition, General Assembly members will meet with students in their home districts via the DLN.

Finally reporters are invited to attend the legislative session at noon where Virginia’s aerospace community will be recognized.

The issue of lifting the call ban will be a topic at a Feb 19 governmental commission meeting.

They plan on allowing the use of an onboard antenna which creates a local GSM network rather than the standard phone which can disrupt pilot equipment.

OnAir and Norway’s Telenor Mobile Aviation offer mobile calls on Delta, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates Airlines and Ryanair.

The State-owned Russian Rossiya Airline is going to be merging with Aeroflot. Aeroflot is already more than 50% government owned.

DOT 26-10
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Contact: Sasha Johnson
Tel.: 202-689-4464

DOT Tentatively Grants Delta/US Airways Slot Waiver

The Department of Transportation announced today that it has tentatively decided to grant the waiver requested by Delta Air Lines and US Airways to allow the carriers to proceed with their proposed slot swap transaction at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA). The proposed waiver is contingent on the requirement that the airlines sell some of their slot interests to carriers with no or limited service at the two airports in order to lessen the harm to consumers that might otherwise result from the applicants’ increased dominance at DCA and LGA.

DOT issued a notice today that describes in detail the transaction, the Department’s tentative findings and its proposals to remedy potential harm to consumers. The notice provides 30 days for the public to comment on the transaction and the Department’s tentative findings before the Department issues a final decision.

##

Because there’s a 30 day interim for public comment before a final decision, today’s news has variations from Airlines balk after DOT says they can swap slots to Delta and US Airways threaten to abandon slot swap.