George’s Point of View

Did the FAA consider grounding the affected planes and avoiding the chance that all “three” could fail and the pilot could lose control of the airplane?

I’m not a pilot but come on, it’s just common sense.

Bravo for taking action, but, is it safe to keep the affected planes in the air?

Regarding the directive and a couple of loose valves:

“The unsafe condition is the possible loss of all three hydraulic systems, which could result in loss of control of the airplane. This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI. ”

——

An A330 operator experienced a low level of the Yellow hydraulic circuit due to a loose[ning] of check valve part number (P/N) CAR401. During the inspection on the other two hydraulic systems, the other three CAR401 check valves were also found to be loose with their lock wire broken in two instances.
A340 aeroplanes are also equipped with the same high pressure manifold check valves.
Investigations are on-going to determine the root cause of this event.
Additional cases of CAR401 check valve loosening have been experienced in service on aeroplanes having accumulated more than 1000 flight cycles (FC). The check valve fitted on the Yellow hydraulic system is more affected, probably due to additional system cycles induced by cargo door operation.
The loss of torque due to pressure cycles could contribute to check valve loosening, resulting in a leak and finally the loss of the associated hydraulic system and, in the worst case, of the three hydraulic systems of the aeroplane.
* * * * *

The unsafe condition is the possible loss of all three hydraulic systems, which could result in loss of control of the airplane. This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

Read the directive:

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TSA Partners With Flight Attendants on Security

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Association of Flight Attendants – CWA (AFA-CWA) today met with John Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), to discuss concerns about the enhanced screening processes and to consider establishing alternative screening systems for flight deck and cabin crew, including implementation of systems like CrewPASS at screening checkpoints.

At today’s meeting members of AFA-CWA secured a commitment from TSA Administrator John Pistole that the agency would partner with AFA-CWA on aviation security. Administrator Pistole pledged, during a November 17, 2010 Senate testimony, that one of his three primary goals for the agency is to strengthen TSA’s relationships with stakeholders and the traveling public.

“As first responders, the nation’s flight attendants hold a primary stake in aviation security and are the last line of defense,” said Veda Shook, incoming president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.

Alternative screenings, such as Crew Pass identify authorized and trusted crew members at security screening checkpoints.

The Crew Pass process utilizes established security clearances that each aviation employee clears as a condition of employment.

Congress has directed that alternate screening methods include all crew members, including both flight attendants and pilots.

“Alaska Airlines is in the process of working towards implementing an alternative system of security screening for flight attendants and pilots,” Shook explained. “The program highlights the importance of all crew members working as a security team for the safety of the crew and traveling public. Alaska Airlines program can serve as a model for the rest of the aviation industry.”

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NTSB SENDING TEAM TO CANADA TO ASSIST WITH INVESTIGATION OF RUNWAY EXCURSION ACCIDENT

The National Transportation Safety Board is dispatching a team of investigators to assist the Transportation Safety Board of Canada with its investigation of today’s airplane accident in Ottawa.

At about 2:30 p.m. EDT, a Trans States Airlines Embraer-145 regional jet operated as United Express flight 8050 (N847HK), overran runway 25 while landing at Ottawa International Airport. Preliminary reports indicate that there were several injuries among the 33 passengers and three crewmembers onboard. The flight originated from Washington Dulles International Airport.

NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman has designated Air Safety Investigator John Lovell as the U.S. Accredited Representative. The U.S. team will also include an NTSB flight operations specialist, an NTSB survival factors specialist, and technical advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration. The team will arrive in Ottawa on Thursday morning.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada
(http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/contactez-contact/index.asp) will
release all information on the progress of the
investigation.

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Continental Receives Top Honors in Business Travel News’ Annual Airline Survey

CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —

Continental Airlines received top honors in Business Travel News’ (BTN) Annual Airline Survey for the third consecutive year. The recognition marks the sixth time Continental finished first in the 13 years BTN has measured corporate travel buyer perceptions of airline performance in delivering service and maintaining preferred relationships.

“We are honored to once again receive this recognition, which reflects the hard work of my co-workers over the past year,” said worldwide sales senior vice president Dave Hilfman. “We’re going to look top to bottom in our approach to the market to ensure the new airline continues to do those things that are appreciated and recognized by our key corporate buyers.”

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Transportation Secretary LaHood, FAA Administrator Babbitt Visit Shut Down LaGuardia Worksite and Tell Congress Not to Fly Home for the August Recess Without Passing

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Randy Babbitt joined with local contractors and construction workers at LaGuardia Airport on Monday to demand that Congress pass an FAA bill before getting on airplanes to fly away for vacation.

Since Congress allowed the FAA’s last extension to expire on July 22, dozens of construction projects across the country have been issued “stop work orders,” including a $6 million project to demolish the decommissioned FAA Airport Traffic Control Tower at LaGuardia International Airport that employed 40 New York area workers. Other workers nationwide have similarly been forced to stop work on critical airport modernization projects, and nearly 4,000 FAA employees, many needed to oversee these projects, have been furloughed.

“Members of Congress should not get on a plane to fly home for vacation without passing an FAA bill and putting thousands of people back to work,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Congress needs to do its job for the good of these workers, for the good of our economy and for the good of America’s aviation system.”
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said, “Every day this goes on, we fall further behind. We need our 4,000 FAA employees and tens of thousands of construction workers back on the job so we can get critical projects moving again while it’s still construction season. Congress must act quickly before leaving for the August recess.”

“It wasn’t easy telling my construction workers we’ve been shut down because of a fiscal situation in Washington,” said Luca Toscano, Vice President of Paul J. Scariano Inc. and contractor on the LaGuardia airport project. “Some of these guys just got back to work after a long time, and their benefits have all expired. So for them this is like running into a brick wall, and they’re asking me, ‘How do we explain this to our families?’ I don’t know what to say to them.”

“No doubt there are important policy questions that need to be resolved with the aviation legislation,” said Stephen E. Sandherr chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America. “But construction workers shouldn’t have to suffer because Washington hasn’t figured out a way to work out its differences.”

“Because Congress has failed to pass an FAA extension, New York has lost access to millions of dollars for airport construction projects that would employ hundreds of construction workers. These have been tough times for the construction industry and workers have been hardest hit. For the sake of workers across the country who have already lost a week’s pay because of Congress’ inaction, we need an extension now,” said Paul Fernandes, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York Chief of Staff.

Without a reauthorization, the FAA is unable to get roughly $2.5 billion out the door for airport projects in all 50 states that could put thousands of people to work in good paying jobs. In addition to the nearly 4,000 FAA employees in 35 states, and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico who have been furloughed and forced to go without pay, Associated General Contractors (AGC) estimates that 70,000 construction workers and workers in related fields have been affected.

The FAA’s previous extension expired at midnight on Friday, July 22. Since then, more than 200 “stop work orders” have been issued for airport construction projects and contracts around the country. While the flying public will be unaffected and safety will not be compromised, stopping work on these projects will significantly increase the ultimate costs of construction for taxpayers and could delay important programs.

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FAA Proposes Safety Management Systems for Airlines

For Immediate Release
November 4, 2010

WASHINGTON – In a continuing effort to take the U.S. aviation system to the next level of safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed to require Safety Management Systems (SMS) for most commercial airlines.
Safety management systems give operators a set of business processes and management tools to examine data from everyday operations, isolate trends that may be precursors to incidents or accidents, and develop and carry out appropriate risk mitigation strategies. They are a formal approach to managing an organization’s safety through four key components – safety policy, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion.

“Safety is our top priority,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This program can help airlines identify possible safety problems and correct them before they lead to accidents.”

“We need a holistic approach to safety that allows us to spot trends in aviation and make necessary changes to help avoid incidents and accidents,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “Safety Management Systems are a critical piece of a successful safety culture.”

The requirements of the SMS proposal would define “what” is expected rather than “how” the requirement is to be met. This allows for development and implementation of an SMS that matches the size, complexity and business models of diverse organizations in ways appropriate to their unique systems and operating environments.

Under the proposed rule, scheduled air carriers and a few others operating under Part 121 of federal aviation regulations would be required to implement an SMS within three years. The carriers would have to submit their SMS implementation plans to the FAA within six months of the final rule’s effective date. The plan would be required to show how the airline intends to comply with the rule within the three-year implementation period. An SMS would not take the place of regular FAA oversight, inspection and audits to ensure compliance with existing regulations

The FAA began exploring system safety-based oversight concepts in the mid- to late- 1990s. During that time, the agency concluded system safety has to be practiced by operators, repair stations, flight schools, other aviation service providers and the agency itself. In 2006, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) required that all member countries implement SMS standards for operators and approved maintenance organizations.

The FAA’s own Air Traffic Organization has already begun implementing an SMS, and the agency recently issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require FAA-certified airports to establish SMS for all airfield and ramp areas.

The estimated cost of this proposed rule for U.S. air carriers is $390 million, with estimated benefits of $470 million. The proposal conforms to ICAO SMS provisions.

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Northrop Grumman Provides Air Traffic Surveillance Sys for Greek Airport

LONDON – March 2, 2011 – Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Europe-based air traffic management subsidiary, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems, is providing its Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System ( for Greece’s Thessaloniki International Airport.

Under the contract awarded by Greek consultants ATESE following an international competitive tender process, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems will deliver its NOVA 9000 A-SMGCS system for operation by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA). The company has previously supplied a similar system for Athens International Airport.

“The NOVA 9000 A-SMGCS is widely accepted as a state-of-the-art system; we know it well and have been operating it for many years at our main airport in Athens. We and the controllers in Thessaloniki, look forward to its commissioning before this 2011 winter season”, said D6 director of Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority.

The air traffic control system has successfully undergone system and sensor testing in Norway, Denmark and Czech Republic. Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems will deliver A-SMGCS to manage the tracking of aircraft and vehicles on the ground and using surveillance systems based on radar and multilateration, it will monitor aircraft at the airport’s two crossing runways. The system will assist the efficient management of air traffic particularly in periods of high volume and during adverse weather conditions.

“We are pleased that our A-SMGCS capability has been recognised as the system of choice by airport operators”, said Eldar Hauge, managing director for Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems in Norway. “This win maintains our position as a leading supplier of A-SMGCS across Europe.”

With a 50-year legacy in air traffic management systems ranging from individual airport installations to countrywide, multiple-site turnkey integrated system solutions, Northrop Grumman’s state-of-the-art air traffic management systems are operationally controlling air traffic in numerous countries around the world including recent major programmes in: France, Norway, Brazil, Qatar, Oman, Canada, India, Poland, UAE, U.S. and the U.K., in both civil and military applications.

Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems, based in Oslo and Horten, Norway, and in Peterborough, U.K., supplies communication, navigation and surveillance systems for air-space operations worldwide.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

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