WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a civil penalty of $246,450 against Woodward, Inc., a Santa Clarita, Calif.-based aircraft repair station, and its subsidiary HRT for allegedly violating FAA drug and alcohol testing regulations.
The FAA alleges Woodward HRT failed to conduct required drug tests and receive verified negative drug test results before transferring or hiring 12 people to perform safety-sensitive aircraft maintenance work.
The FAA also alleges the company failed to include six individuals in its random drug and alcohol testing pool.
Other alleged violations include failing to administer a return-to-duty drug test to one employee after he completed a substance abuse treatment program. The company’s testing firm also allegedly used an expired intoximeter bottle to perform calibration checks on a breath-testing device.
The FAA discovered the alleged violations during an inspection of Woodward’s required drug and alcohol testing program April 9-13, 2012. The alleged violations took place between August 2010 and March 2012.
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Office Closures Due to Inclement Weather
Due to inclement weather, the following FAA regional offices are closed for normal business today, Wednesday, January 12, 2011:
Eastern Region office in Jamaica, New York
New England Region office in Burlington, Massachusetts
Southern Region office in College Park, Georgia
Employees and contractors who work in those offices should follow local procedures to obtain more information.
NTSB TO MEET ON GROUND FIRE ABOARD CARGO AIRPLANE IN SAN FRANCISCO
The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public Board meeting Tuesday, June 30, at 9:30 a.m., in its Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C.
There is one item on the agenda. The Board will consider a final report on the following accident:
* On January 28, 2008, at about 10:15 pm, an ABX Air Boeing 767-200, N799AX, operating as flight 1611 from San Francisco International Airport, experienced a ground fire before engine startup. The captain and the first officer evacuated the airplane through the cockpit windows and were not injured, but the airplane was substantially damaged.
A live and archived webcast of the proceedings will be available on the Board’s website at www.ntsb.gov. 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 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.
Directions to the NTSB Board Room: Front door located on Lower 10th Street, directly below L’Enfant Plaza. From Metro, exit L’Enfant Plaza station at 9th and D Streets escalator, walk through shopping mall, at the CVS store (on the left), take escalator (on the right) down one level. The Board room will be to your left.
NTSB Media Contact: Peter Knudson (202) 314-6100
peter.knudson@ntsb.gov
Src: http://ntsb.gov
Boeing Delivers Air Austral’s First Next-Generation 737-800
SEATTLE, Dec. 20, 2010 — Boeing delivered a Next-Generation 737-800 to Air Austral, as part of the airline’s modernization plan for its medium-haul fleet. The airplane is the first of two the airline ordered to replace one 737-300 and one 737-500 in its fleet. The new airplane continues the Boeing-Air Austral relationship that began 20 years ago with the 737 Classic. The delivery ceremony was attended by Gerard Etheve, president of the directory and chief executive officer of Air Austral. The airline is headquartered in St. Denis, Reunion, a French Department island located east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
AFA-CWA Files Interference Charges Against Delta Air Lines Management
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) today filed formal interference charges with the National Mediation Board (NMB) against Delta Air Lines management alleging unlawful conduct during the recent flight attendant representation election.
Delta management compromised the secrecy of the ballot by urging flight attendants to vote on company-controlled work computers that could track whether they clicked on the NMB’s internet voting site. In addition, hundreds of Delta/Northwest flight attendants have reported coercive and unfair methods used by management to influence the results of the recent union election.
Feedback includes reports of the company’s anti-AFA literature, excessive supervisor surveillance and meddling, and repeated supervisor phone calls to flight attendant homes telling them to vote.
“Delta and Northwest flight attendants deserve the opportunity to freely participate in an election without being intimidated by management and heavy-handed efforts to keep them from gaining a voice,” said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. “Delta management launched the largest anti-union campaign in history and spared no expense in attempting to destroy the collective bargaining rights that Northwest flight attendants have worked to maintain for over 60 years. We now call on the NMB to conduct an exhaustive investigation of these charges and hold Delta executives accountable for their actions.”
If the NMB finds sufficient evidence that election interference occurred, it can order a new election that will allow flight attendants to decide representation in a free and fair manner. On November 3, the NMB counted 9,216 votes in favor of union representation for Delta flight attendants and 9,544 votes against.
Blue Grass Airport Awarded Federal Aviation Administration Airport Safety Mark of Distinction Award
LEXINGTON, Ky., Jan. 26, 2011 — Blue Grass Airport has been presented with the Airport Safety Mark of Distinction Award by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Awarded at the FAA Southern Region 2011 Airport Safety and Certification Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on January 24, the airport received this honor for construction of its new general aviation runway and associated taxiways and for the development of an airport operations department.
The FAA developed this award to promote safety among the FAA Southern Region certificated airports and to recognize actions and efforts involving an airport that deserves praise for its demonstrated effect on the advancement of safety.
“It is a tremendous honor for our airport to receive such a distinguished award,” said Eric Frankl, executive director at Blue Grass Airport. “I am proud of our operations and public safety staff as well as our maintenance staff for all of their hard work in making a number of changes over the past year. Providing a safe airfield environment for our airlines and passengers is our first priority.”
In August 2010, the airport hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new general aviation runway, Runway 9-27. This 4,000 foot runway is used by private and corporate general aviation aircraft and enhances safety during crosswind conditions. General aviation activity accounts for approximately 65% of the total operations at Blue Grass Airport.
In addition to the new runway, Blue Grass Airport has created a strong operations team over the past year that coordinates all safety and operational activities with external agencies. This includes working with the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, airlines, general aviation, tenants and other organizations.
“We are thankful for the partnership we have with the FAA, and we will continue to work together to ensure we are providing a safe and convenient airport,” Frankl added.
Blue Grass Airport, located in Lexington, Kentucky, is served by seven major airlines providing convenient non-stop service to 15 major hub cities and connecting service to hundreds of destinations worldwide.
President of Boeing Korea Announced
CHICAGO, April 27, 2010 — The Boeing Company today named Pat Gaines as president of Boeing Korea, effective June 4.
In a move designed to continue the company’s success in Korea, Gaines will succeed Bill Oberlin, who will retire in July after 25 years with Boeing.
Gaines will lead Boeing’s enterprise-wide business in Korea, while strengthening the company’s local presence and finding new ways to pursue growth and productivity initiatives.
“Pat’s leadership experience in global business and operations align directly with our ongoing efforts to increase our presence and collaboration with customers, partners, communities and employees in Korea. In this regard he will be able to build on the solid foundation established by the excellent work Bill Oberlin has done in Korea,” said Shep Hill, president of Boeing International and Senior Vice President, Business Development and Strategy.
Gaines, a 23-year company veteran, joins Boeing Korea following a position in Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Seattle, where he served as vice president of Customer Support for Asia-Pacific. He has extensive experience in global operations and led the efforts that established the joint venture between FlightSafety International and Boeing, now known as Boeing Training and Flight Services.
Oberlin came to Korea in 2002 as president of Boeing Korea. He joined Boeing in 1985 and was credited with sales of key Boeing products, such as CH-47 Chinook helicopters, F-15Ks and AEW&C Peace Eye aircraft, as well as commercial airplanes and related services to airline customers in Korea.
Oberlin was recognized in Korea for his contributions to the local business community as chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (2003-2004 and 2007-2008) and as an executive member of the U.S.-Korea Business Council. He was an active proponent of the Korea-U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows qualified Korean nationals to travel to the U.S. visa free. Oberlin also worked to support the pending Free Trade Agreement between Korea and the U.S. In 2008, he was appointed to serve on the National Competitiveness Improvement Committee under the President of the Republic of Korea.
“Bill played a significant role in strengthening our presence and stakeholder relationships in the Republic of Korea. His representation of the company has been characterized by outstanding leadership, unquestioned integrity and demonstrated results,” added Hill. “Korea is an important market for Boeing and presents many opportunities for Boeing and Korea to work together in ways to advance our common interests. We have a solid business plan and a long-term view of the market, and we look forward to continuing the legacy of a true partnership between Boeing and our customers and partners in Korea.”
Gaines served in the U.S. military as an airborne ranger and a warrant officer pilot. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated with honors and a degree in Engineering.
Boeing shares a successful 50-year relationship with Korea. In 1988, Boeing opened an office in Seoul to work closely with Korean customers and partners. Today, more than 160 Boeing employees work across the country.