Flight 447: Press release N° 4

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    FAA and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Reach Agreement on Airport Safety Violations

    WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) have reached a settlement agreement about aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) violations from December 2010 to June 2012 at four New York area airports owned and operated by the PANYNJ — John F. Kennedy, Teterboro, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International.

    “We expect all airports to comply with our safety regulations and to correct any deficiencies immediately,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “These violations were egregious, and they will not be tolerated.”

    Under the agreement, the PANYNJ agrees to pay a $3.5 million fine within 30 days. If there is a violation of the settlement agreement, the FAA will impose an additional fine of $1.5 million and will assess an additional $27,500 daily for each violation. In addition to the fine, the PANYNJ has agreed to take the following actions, with FAA approval, to address the underlying problems that led to systemic noncompliance with ARFF requirements at the four airports:

    • The Port Authority will create a dedicated ARFF force to carry out airport-related ARFF functions with no collateral police officer duties.
    • The staff will report directly to the Department of Aviation and be operational no later than March 31, 2014.
    • The Port Authority will hire an ARFF fire chief and facility captains as soon as possible, but no later than March 31, 2014.
    • The Port Authority will submit a curriculum for training to the FAA on or before December 31, 2013, which includes at least 75 hours of initial ARFF training and 40 hours of annual recurrent firefighting training in addition to Part 139 training, pertaining to an airport’s operational and safety standards and providing for such things as firefighting and rescue.
    • The ARFF personnel will work a 12-hour shift.
    • The Port Authority will amend the airport certification manuals for the four airports to include: an organizational chart; a process to maintain ARFF training records; and a description of ARFF operations, including shift assignments, personnel training records management, and Department of Aviation oversight.
    • The Port Authority will conduct monthly internal audits of ARFF training and shift assignments and annual external audits to ensure that all ARFF personnel assigned to a shift are trained.

    “We expect the Port Authority to have trained safety personnel to ensure the safety of the travelling public and airport personnel, just like we have at all airports in the United States,” said FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta.

    The FAA became aware of ARFF violations as a result of an annual airport certification safety inspection of JFK in December 2011. The FAA also discovered similar violations at Teterboro, which prompted a full review of training at LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International, and Stewart International Airports. The review of ARFF training revealed violations at LaGuardia and Newark, with no violations at Stewart.

    The FAA believes the settlement agreement provides the best long-term solution to ensure ARFF compliance, given the systemic nature of the PANYNJ airport problems.

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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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    Fact Sheet – Regulating and Licensing Commercial Space Transportation Activities

    Background

    The FAA is responsible for regulating and licensing U.S. private companies and individuals involved in commercial space transportation. To date, the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation has licensed over 200 successful launches.

    Licensing Requirements

    • An FAA license is required for any launch or reentry, or the operation of any launch or reentry site, as carried out by U.S. citizens anywhere in the world, or by any individual or entity within the United States.
    • An FAA license is not required for space activities the government carries out for the government, such as most NASA or Department of Defense launches.
    • Once the FAA determines a license application package is complete, the FAA has 180 days to complete an evaluation and issue or deny a license.
    • The FAA evaluation includes a review of: public safety issues; the activity’s environmental impact; any payload to be flown; any national security or foreign policy concerns, and whether or not the commercial space operator is appropriately insured.

    Experimental Permits

    • To help facilitate in the eventual licensing process, the FAA can issue experimental permits, rather than licenses, for the launch or reentry of reusable suborbital rockets.
    • Experimental permits are issued for research and development; demonstrating compliance with requirements leading to licensing; or crew training prior to obtaining a license.
    • No person may operate a reusable suborbital rocket under a permit for carrying any property or human being for compensation or hire.

    Oversight

    • When an FAA licensed space activity is scheduled, FAA safety inspectors will attend even if it takes place outside the United States.
    • The FAA has the authority to suspend or revoke any license or issue fines when a commercial space operator is not in compliance with statutory or regulatory requirements.
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    FAA: “Line Up and Wait” Training Now Available

    “Line Up and Wait” Training Now Available
    On Sept. 30, 2010, the familiar ATC instruction “taxi in position and hold” will become history. Instead, expect to hear “line up and wait” when ATC issues instruction for a pilot to taxi onto a departure runway and wait for takeoff clearance. Another procedure change that occurred on June 30, 2010, requires ATC to issue an explicit clearance to aircraft crossing any runway (active, inactive, and closed). To help pilots with these important procedure changes, FAA added an online training module to www.FAASafety.gov. The course is titled “Line Up and Wait: Taxi Authorization and Runway Clearance Guidance for Airmen,” and is listed in the Featured Courses portal on the FAASafety.gov home page.

    The course provides a good review of safe taxi operations, ATC procedures and phraseology, and pilot responsibilities. It also reviews best practices for avoiding runway incursions, such as knowing and understanding the meaning of the runway hold markings. Some three-fourths of runway incursions result from a failure to comply with this marking.

    Additional details on both procedure changes are available in the Aeronautical Informational Manual (AIM) and Pilot/Controller Glossary, located under the Air Traffic section of www.faa.gov. You can also reference more specific information on line up and wait with FAA Notice JO 7110.536.

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    FAA Certifies Enhanced Vision System on Boeing Business Jet

    ATLANTA, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) Business Jets today announced that the Rockwell Collins Enhanced Vision System (EVS) was certified last week by the Federal Aviation Administration on a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), an Air National Guard C-40. The Rockwell Collins EVS is available to current and future BBJ operators as a post-production modification.

    The EVS capability enhances situational awareness for pilots during approach, landing, taxi and takeoff by presenting an image of the external environment on the Head-up Guidance System (HGS) and head-down displays.

    The system uses an infrared sensor to improve the pilots’ view of the runway in various conditions including bad weather. This aids pilots to avoid terrain and clearly identify the runway, including any obstructions, early in the approach. It also assists pilots with “black hole” approaches to airports not equipped with precision landing aids and with landing and maneuvering at unfamiliar airports.

    “I had the pleasure of flying several of the flights during the EVS development flight-test program with the Air National Guard and the Rockwell Collins team. That experience gave me the chance to see the EVS advantages first hand,” said Steve Taylor, Boeing Business Jets president.

    “Given the variety of destinations visited by most BBJ operators, the improved situational awareness that EVS provides can be a great advantage,” said Taylor.

    “The truly collaborative effort between Rockwell Collins, Boeing, the Air National Guard and the entire development team has made EVS a reality for BBJ owners and operators who have been eagerly awaiting this capability,” said David Austin, senior director, HGS for Rockwell Collins.

    Installation of the EVS system on BBJs requires that the airplanes receive an upgrade to the HGS 4000, a modified radome, and the infrared camera.

    The EVS system will be demonstrated on the Air National Guard BBJ at DeKalb Peachtree Airport during the National Business Aviation Association convention, Oct. 19-22, 2010.

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    Akron-Canton Airport Commissions Runway 5/23

    The Largest Capital Improvement Project in Airport History

    REEN, Ohio, Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — What does ten years and $60 million get you? How about a dream runway at the Akron-Canton Airport (CAK). At 11:20 a.m. this morning, we will commission the single largest capital project in airport history, the extension and safety upgrade of runway 5/23. The mammoth project is the centerpiece of the airport’s comprehensive capital improvement program — CAK 2018. More than 120 guests will witness the inaugural departure of an AirTran Airways Boeing 737 jet after a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony on the runway.

    “This is a very special day at the Akron-Canton Airport,” said Rick McQueen, president and CEO. “This runway signifies more than just new pavement, it provides a path forward; to new destinations and new opportunities for decades to come. The improved 5/23 truly is our crown jewel and a vital piece of aviation infrastructure for the region.”

    The improvements to Runway 5/23 include an additional 800 feet of runway length and a vital safety upgrade on the end of Runway 5. The project was born in 2000 as part of a nationwide Runway Safety Area improvement mandate. After careful consideration and a needs justification, the airport and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decided to include the extension; adding to the project’s impact and regional significance. After various federal approvals, construction began in late 2005. The total runway project cost $60 million. Most of the funding to support the Runway 5/23 project came from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program funds. The airport contributed five percent of the total project cost out of operating revenue. No bonds or other financing tools were used to finance the project.

    5/23 Project
    Overview:

    August 2000: FAA determines both ends of 5/23 require runway safety area upgrade.
    April 2004: Runway Safety Area Study that outlined the most effective method to accomplish the upgrade and justify the extension is completed.
    December 2004: Environmental Assessment approved by the FAA.
    October 2005: First grant was received and work began in October.
    March 2006-Oct 2009: Earthwork to extend south end of runway.
    March 2010: FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt delivers our last grant ($16 million).
    November 2010: Runway commissioned and open for business.

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