FAA Proposes $572,150 in Civil Penalties Against Atlas Air, Inc.

NEW YORK — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed to assess $572,150 in civil penalties against Atlas Air, Inc., of Purchase, NY, a scheduled air cargo airline, for alleged violations of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

The FAA alleges that Atlas Air incorrectly installed a replacement cockpit window on a Boeing 747F, and then operated the aircraft on 49 flights between April 4 and April 27, 2009, when it was not in compliance with those regulations.

The FAA said Atlas Air replaced one of the windows at the first officer’s position, but failed to use the methods, techniques and practices specified in the manufacturer’s maintenance manual or alternate procedures accepted by the FAA for the B-747F. The airline then approved the aircraft for return to service. As a result, the replacement window suffered pressurization leaks while in flight according to multiple reports made by crews operating or maintaining the aircraft. The FAA has proposed a penalty of $506,150 for those violations.

In a second instance, the FAA alleges that on May 14 and 15, 2009, Atlas Air operated a Boeing 747 on international flights from Huntsville, AL, to Glasgow, Scotland, Luxembourg City and back to Huntsville without a required outboard engine pylon access panel door. The FAA said Atlas Air improperly fabricated a panel cover from aluminum sheet metal and affixed it with speed tape over the access door opening. On each of these flights, the panel came off the aircraft enroute and a new panel was fabricated and installed in the same manner at each subsequent stop. The FAA has proposed a civil penalty of $66,000 for those violations.

Atlas Air has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letters to respond to the agency.

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    Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne X-51A WaveRider Team Vies for Collier Trophy

    WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is among seven nominees competing for one of the most prestigious awards in aerospace, the National Aeronautic Association’s (NAA) Robert J. Collier Trophy. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is being nominated as part of the team that powered the hypersonic X-51A WaveRider vehicle last May in the longest-ever supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) powered flight. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

    The other X-51A team members are the U.S. Air Force, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and The Boeing Company. The Collier Trophy winner will be announced March 15 at NAA’s Spring Awards Luncheon.

    The Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne scramjet engine is the world’s first air breathing hydrocarbon-fueled and -cooled propulsion system capable of powering vehicles at hypersonic speeds. The X-51A WaveRider demonstrated a number of critical “firsts” and achievements during its 3:30 minutes of flight, including scramjet ignition, stabilized combustion and thermal balance, and acceleration.

    “This historic flight has quite literally changed the course of aviation history, to the point where we can now be confident that scramjet power will be practical for transporting humans and payloads across the globe and into space at 6,000 mph, while also giving the U.S. military an effective tool to respond rapidly to threats,” said Steve Bouley, Vice President, Launch Vehicle & Hypersonic Systems, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. “The X-51A team would be an appropriate recipient of the 100th presentation of the Collier Trophy, named for a renaissance man whose interest in aviation did so much to encourage breakthroughs such as that demonstrated by the X-51A WaveRider.”
    Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a part of Pratt & Whitney, is a preferred provider of high-value propulsion, power, energy and innovative system solutions used in a wide variety of government and commercial applications, including the main engines for the space shuttle, Atlas and Delta launch vehicles, missile defense systems and advanced hypersonic engines. For more information about Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, go to www.prattwhitneyrocketdyne.com. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is headquartered in Canoga Park, Calif., and has facilities in Huntsville, Ala.; Kennedy Space Center, Fla.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Stennis Space Center, Miss.

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  • Flight 447: First Press Release

    Versão brasileira abaixo

    Air France regrets to announce that it has lost contact with flight AF 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, expected to arrive this morning at 11:15 local time.

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    216 passengers are on board.

    There are 12 crew members on board: 3 pilots and 9 cabin crew.

    The following toll-free number is available in France: 0800 800 812,
    and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 outside France.

    Air France fully shares the anxiety and distress of the families of the passengers concerned. The families are been taken care of in a specially reserved area at Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 airport.

    Português

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    A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no do Galeão.

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  • Emergency: Honeywell Bendix Navigation Issue


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    NTSB Meets

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    Dassault Falcon Focuses on the Growing Market in India as the Company Strengthens its Position in Emerging Markets Worldwide

    BANGALORE, India, February 4, 2011 — Dassault Falcon is presenting its Falcon fleet of large cabin, long range business jets at Aero India 2011, starting on February 9th in Bangalore. The Falcon range of aircraft will be on display alongside the Dassault Rafale fighter, which will perform in the air display. Dassault Falcon’s share of the Indian market is strong and growing as the benefits of business aviation are recognized by an increasing number of Indian companies and private owners. Private investment in India’s aviation infrastructure and support by the Indian authorities are making this dynamic market even more attractive.

    Dassault Falcon currently has over 60% share of the Indian market for large cabin/long range aircraft and is rapidly consolidating its position with an increase in local customer support and parts services. An Authorized Service Center is also under consideration, in addition to the existing Dassault liaison office in New Delhi which serves both the Indian military and Falcon operators.
    More than 20 Falcon aircraft are currently operating from airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Another 15 aircraft are on order for delivery to Indian customers within the next two years. Almost half of the new aircraft orders are for the Dassault flagship Falcon 7X, the first business jet certified with a fully-digital flight control system.

    In 2010, Dassault Falcon reinforced its position in key markets such as India and South America – where the company has the largest market share in its segments – and Asia, specifically China, where aircraft sales are growing quickly. In India, Dassault built its reputation for advanced technology and efficient aircraft from its first military sales. Today, the Indian military operates 50 Mirage fighters. In the business aviation sector, Dassault Falcon’s success has been driven by new models with exceptional performance, comfort and fuel economy such as the Falcon 2000LX and the Falcon 7X.

    “We have been encouraged about the potential for long term growth in business aviation in India,” said John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon. “Business jets are now seen in the region as a powerful tool to enable quick and convenient access to customers within the country, and worldwide. The dramatic growth of the economy and the experience of travelling on commercial airlines have all contributed to the expansion of the market over the last few years. The worldwide crisis did not impact our regional sales as severely, and the second half of 2010 was much active for us.”

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    To support its growing fleet in India and the increased number of transient airplanes, Falcon Customer Service has based a Customer Service Manager and opened a spares distribution center with DHL in Mumbai. Dassault Falcon has already authorized service centers nearby in Dubai, Jeddah and Singapore.

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    Dassault Falcon is responsible for selling and supporting Falcon business jets throughout the world. It is part of Dassault Aviation, a leading aerospace company with a presence in over 70 countries across five continents. Dassault Aviation produces the Rafale fighter jet as well as the complete line of Falcon business jets. The company has assembly and production plants in both France and the United States and service facilities on multiple continents. It employs a total workforce of over 12,000. Since the rollout of the first Falcon 20 in 1963, 2,000 Falcon jets have been delivered to 67 countries worldwide. The family of Falcon jets currently in production includes the tri-jets-the Falcon 900EX, 900LX, and the 7X-as well as the twin-engine 2000LX.

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    Press Release – FAA Issues First-Ever Spaceport Grants to Strengthen Commercial Space Activities

    For Immediate Release
    September 30, 2010

    WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a new grant program designed to fund projects that develop and expand commercial space transportation infrastructure. The Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching Grants will be awarded to four separate projects located in Alaska, California, Florida, and New Mexico.

    “The Obama administration is committed to making sure the United States remains the world leader in space development and exploration,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “This new grant program underscores that commitment, and will help ensure that the commercial space industry can meet our current and future space transportation needs.”

    In June of this year the Obama administration unveiled a new National Space Policy that recognizes opportunities and advancements in commercial space capabilities. The 2010 policy lays out more specific ways for the government to make use of commercial capabilities.

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    The United States’ space program has three sectors – civil, military and commercial. The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation is responsible for licensing, regulating and promoting the commercial-sector space industry. Since the office was created in 1984, the FAA has issued licenses for more than 200 launches, licensed the operation of eight FAA-approved launch sites known as spaceports, and has helped ensure that no loss of life or serious injury has been associated with these efforts.

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