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EASA proposes a new set of harmonised European rules to avoid crew fatigue

EASA published today a Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA 2010-14) on flight and duty time limitations and rest requirements (FTL) for commercial air transport by aeroplanes. FTL rules aim at avoiding crew fatigue by introducing limitations to the way crews can be scheduled by airlines. This NPA proposes a number of safety improvements and areas for European harmonisation.

The European Parliament and the European Commission requested EASA to conduct a scientific and medical evaluation of the current regulation which allows national provisions in areas such as augmented flight crew, split duty, time zone crossing, reduced rest and standby, and to propose a set of fully harmonised rules. The new proposal is the result of the work of a rulemaking group that includes National Aviation Authorities, Airlines and Flight and Cabin Crew representatives.

This proposal is the first step in a fully transparent public consultation process. Comments will be reviewed and a Comment Response Document (CRD) will be available for public consultation. At the end of the consultation process, EASA will present a final Opinion to the European Commission that will then launch the final process for adoption by the European Parliament and European Council in April 2012.

http://easa.europa.eu/rulemaking/docs/npa/NPA%202010-14.pdf

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    NTSB INVESTIGATING OPERATIONAL ERROR NEAR NEW YORK

    The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating an operational error that occurred near New York City in January.

    The Safety Board was notified of a Traffic Collision and Alerting System (TCAS) resolution advisory that occurred due to a near midair collision involving American Airlines flight 951 on January 20, 2011, at about 10:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The American Airlines aircraft, a Boeing 777-200 (N7CA), had taken off from John F. Kennedy International Airport en route to Sao Paulo, Brazil and was flying southeast. A flight of two U.S. Air Force C-17s was heading northwest toward McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. There were no injuries in the incident.

    The NTSB has interviewed air traffic controllers on duty at the time of the incident, and is gathering information from American Airlines and the Air Force.

    The air traffic controllers talking to each of the aircraft received conflict alerts, and immediately provided traffic advisories and turned their aircraft to resolve the conflict. In addition, the American Airlines crew responded to directions provided by TCAS. Radar data indicate that the aircraft came within a mile of each other at their closest point. The incident occurred about 80 miles southeast of New York City.

    Betty Koschig has been designated the NTSB’s Investigator-in-Charge for this incident. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

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    Southwest Airlines Announces $100,000 Donation to National Wildlife Refuge Association

    DALLAS, Oct 18, 2010 —

    Today, Southwest Airlines announced that the airline reached its goal of donating $100,000 to the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) as a result of its “Help Us Help Them” giving program in which Southwest donated $1 for every EarlyBird Check-In(TM) purchased from Sept. 21, 2010 through Oct. 4, 2010. With the donation from Southwest Airlines, the National Wildlife Refuge Association will:

    • Work to permanently protect important wildlife habitat for Gulf Coast species like brown pelicans, seabirds, and sea turtles through land acquisition and conservation easements. This includes important beaches for nesting sea turtles, seabird nesting areas, and warm water springs for West Indian manatees;
    • Support habitat restoration work that will clean up soiled habitat and restore marshlands, beaches and uplands that are important for migratory birds, marine mammals and a spectrum of shellfish that are not just important for wildlife, but which serve as an engine of the Gulf Coast economy;
    • Build grassroots efforts to continue Gulf Coast recovery efforts over the long term by strengthening volunteer organizations and encouraging volunteer clean-up activities. This includes planting dune grass, cleaning up oil residue and damage, monitoring species recovery, and helping volunteers take action with their local and national representatives to keep fighting for the Gulf;
    • Advocate with decision-makers for increases in funding to restore the Gulf and provide needed support for our national wildlife refuges, cornerstones of wildlife conservation in America and premier destinations for people to enjoy wildlife.

    “This generous contribution by Southwest Airlines and its many loyal customers will make a difference for the incredible variety of wildlife that call the Gulf home,” said Evan Hirsche, President of the NWRA. “Pelicans, sea turtles, manatees and a great many other species impacted by the oil spill stand to benefit from Southwest’s commitment.”

    As the Official Airline of the NWRA, Southwest is proud to support the Association’s goal of conserving America’s wildlife heritage for future generations. To view photos of wildlife efforts and read a blog post, visit www.blogsouthwest.com.

    “We are honored and privileged to support the work of the NWRA, and we couldn’t think of a better way to contribute to their efforts in the Gulf and around their refuge system than by donating time and funds,” said Linda Rutherford, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Communication and Strategic Outreach. “We thank our Employees for giving their time to volunteer at refuges, and we thank our Customers for the wonderful response to our EarlyBird Check-In program during this giving period, which made the donation possible.”

    The National Wildlife Refuge Association is committed to building strategic relationships that further its goal to strengthen the ecological integrity of our national wildlife refuges and thus ensure a diverse spectrum of plants and wildlife well into the future.

    EarlyBird Check-In is a low-cost option (just $10 each way) that gives Southwest Airlines Customers the convenience of automatic flight checkin. EarlyBird Check-In Customers have a better opportunity to select a preferred seat and have greater access to overhead bin storage for carryon luggage than the general boarding Customers. The partnership with the NWRA also commemorates the program’s one-year anniversary.

    For more information about the EarlyBird Check-In giving program, visit www.southwest.com. To learn more about the National Wildlife Refuge Association, visit www.refugeassociation.org.

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    Aircraft Industries Purchases GE’s M601 and H80 Engines for L410 Aircraft

    –EVENDALE, OHIO– Aircraft Industries, a Czech-based aircraft manufacturer, signed a five-year sales agreement with GE Aviation for the purchase of M601 and H80 engines. The engine agreement is for the L410-UVP-E20 aircraft, a twin-engine commuter aircraft, with annual production of 10+ units.

    “GE is proud to enter into this strategic partnership with Aircraft Industries, our first H80 engine agreement for the commuter segment,” said Paul Theofan, president and managing executive of GE Aviation’s Business and General Aviation Turboprops. “Currently, the majority of L410 aircraft are flying in Russia, South America, and Africa, and we’re looking forward to growing the fleet in other regions with the GE H80-powered L410.”

    The H80 engine features significantly advanced hot-day takeoff performance and high-altitude cruise speeds, which will enable the L410 to operate in additional locations.

    Aircraft Industries plans to complete GE H80-powered L410 aircraft certification by mid-2012. Once introduced, the company will also offer an H80 engine replacement on already produced aicraft powered by M601 engines. The L410 aircraft first entered service in 1969, More than 1,100 units have been produced, and there are more than 450 aircraft in service today.

    Aircraft Industries, located in Kunovice, Czech Republic, and formerly known as LET Kunovice, specializes in the production of L410 aircraft. The company’s history dates back to the 1930’s, when it was founded as an aircraft repair shop, and all types of aircraft were repaired there after World War II. LET built a new plant in Kunovice in the 1950’s and designed its first general aviation category aircraft in 1957. Since then, Aircraft Industries has had a successful history in the manufacturing of crop spraying, jet training and glider aircraft, and of course, commuter aircraft, in which they now specialize.

    GE Aviation’s Business & General Aviation Turboprops has more than 1,600 M601 engines in service that have accumulated more than 17 million flight hours on 30 applications. The H80 engine continues flight testing on the Thrush 510G aircraft. It is undergoing certification testing and will power business and general aviation, utility and agriculture aircraft. The H80 engine combines the elegant, robust design of the M601 engine with GE’s 3-D aerodynamic design techniques and advanced materials to create a more powerful, fuel-efficient, durable engine compared with the M601 engine, with no recurrent fuel nozzle inspections and no hot section inspection. The H80 engine will also feature an extended service life of 3,600 flight-hours or 6,600 cycles between overhauls. The H80 will provide the option of a single- or dual-acting governor, allowing customers flexibility in propeller selection.

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    Pilots urged to keep Port Lincoln Australia skies safe

    CASA Media Release – Friday 11 February 2011
    Pilots urged to keep Port Lincoln skies safe

    Port Lincoln pilots are being urged to attend an important air safety workshop next week.

    The workshop will give local pilots special training to improve their flying and safety skills.

    The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is holding the workshop to help make the skies over Port Lincoln even safer.

    Safety issues to be covered at the workshop include aviation weather and avoiding airspace infringements. There will also be the opportunity for pilots to ask questions and raise issues about local flying.

    CASA’s Peter Gibson says the workshop is part of a national regional air safety campaign.

    “Giving pilots from Port Lincoln extra training will lift their safety skills to even higher levels,” Mr Gibson says.

    “All pilots receive comprehensive training but this workshop means they will be even better equipped to fly safely at all times and deal with emergencies.

    “Port Lincoln has a good air safety record but accidents do happen and everyone in aviation must work hard to keep local skies safe.”

    The workshop is being held at the Port Lincoln Aero Club on Wednesday 16 February 2011, starting at 6:00pm.

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    Press Release: KLM Makes Upset Training Mandatory

    KLM, Holland’s flag carrier, has signed a deal with Arizona-based APS Emergency Maneuver Training to provide upset recovery training to ab initio pilots training at the airline’s flight school in Mesa. KLM has done its pilot training in sunny Mesa for 65 years at Falcon Field and APS is at neighboring Phoenix-Mesa Gateway. As technology mitigates many of the risk factors associated with airline flying, in-flight loss of control has emerged as the leading cause of airline crashes, according to a study released by Boeing last year. APS teaches pilots of all experience levels what to do when their world is turned upside down.

    Although recognition and prevention of unstable flight conditions is (or should be) a fundamental part of flight training, there are times when even the most careful and well-prepared pilot can find himself hanging from the harness thanks to weather, wake turbulence or other factors. APS teaches pilots how to put earth and sky back in their appropriate places without breaking the airplane, and the only way to do that is to intentionally upset aircraft. APS uses Extra 300s. KLM spokesman Robert van den Heuvel said KLM has made upset recovery a mandatory part of ab initio training for all its academy cadets and the deal with APS is a multi-year one.

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    FAA Proposes $580,000 Civil Penalty Against Hillsboro Aviation

    Washington Headquarters Press Release

    For Immediate Release
    August 16, 2010

    FAA Proposes $580,000 Civil Penalty Against Hillsboro Aviation

    SEATTLE — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $580,000 civil penalty against Hillsboro Aviation, Inc., of Hillsboro, Ore., for allegedly performing improper repairs, deliberately falsifying maintenance records and operating a helicopter in a reckless manner.

    The FAA alleges that Hillsboro mechanics used incorrect parts and an unqualified individual to make repairs to a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter. The FAA also alleges the company made no record in the aircraft maintenance logs of work performed, and deliberately falsified maintenance documents claiming an airworthiness directive had been completed when the work had not been done.

    In all, the company operated the helicopter on at least 103 flights when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations between June 29 and Sept. 9, 2008. At least four of these operations were conducted under Part 135 (Commuter and On-Demand Operations) of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

    The FAA also alleges that Hillsboro mechanics failed to perform the required inspections after specified flight intervals on another Jet Ranger helicopter when the aircraft returned to service after maintenance. Hillsboro operated the aircraft on at least 430 flights, including at least 349 revenue flights under Part 135 between Jan. 13 and Sept. 7, 2008.

    The third violation involved the operation of another Jet Ranger on a passenger-carrying flight, July 8, 2008. The pilot flew under the Interstate 5 and 205 highway bridges over the Columbia River in Portland, Ore. The FAA alleged the flight endangered the lives and property of others, because it was conducted within 500 feet of a structure, and at a low altitude where a safe emergency landing might not have been possible.

    Hillsboro Aviation has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

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