NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman will take questions from the media after today’s investigative hearing on the crash of UPS Airlines Flight 1354, which crashed on approach to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport on Aug. 14, 2013.
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 at 5:45 p.m.EST
Location: Hearing Room A/B, next to the NTSB Boardroom where the hearing is taking place.
Address: 429 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20594
Participant: NTSB Board Chairman Hersman
A small plane crashed into a cornfield in Washington Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, on September 21.
The plane ended up in an upside down position near 1600 block of Route 100. According to a witness Tyler Moyer, “We heard the engine stall, and then it started back up… The farmer was still picking the corn. The farmer didn’t even notice it, and the dust was flying everywhere from the tractors and stuff,”
The pilot, who was the only one aboard, was injured and was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital.
The FAA and the NTSB are investigating the cause of crash.
NTSB STATEMENT ON ERRONEOUS CONFIRMATION OF CREW NAMES
July 12, 2013
WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board apologizes for inaccurate and offensive names that were mistakenly confirmed as those of the pilots of Asiana flight 214, which crashed at San Francisco International Airport on July 6.
Earlier today, in response to an inquiry from a media outlet, a summer intern acted outside the scope of his authority when he erroneously confirmed the names of the flight crew on the aircraft.
The NTSB does not release or confirm the names of crewmembers or people involved in transportation accidents to the media. We work hard to ensure that only appropriate factual information regarding an investigation is released and deeply regret today’s incident.
For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that the FAA and JetBlue have signed a NextGen agreement that will allow the airline to fly more precise, satellite-based flights from Boston and New York to Florida and the Caribbean beginning in 2012.
NextGen is the transformation of the U.S. national airspace system from a ground-based system of air traffic control to one based on satellites, which will enhance safety and reduce aviation congestion. Today’s NextGen announcement follows President Obama’s State of the Union Address last week, in which he stressed the importance of targeted investments to foster American innovation that will make our nation more competitive globally and strengthen our economy here at home.
“In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for targeted investments that harness American innovation to strengthen our nation,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “NextGen is a critical investment in the future of our transportation system, one that uses the latest technology to transform our airspace to make aviation safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly.”
Under the agreement, as many as 35 of JetBlue’s A320 aircraft will be equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) avionics over the next two years, enabling them to fly in two major routes off the East Coast even if traditional radar coverage is not available. The improved accuracy, integrity and reliability of aircraft surveillance under ADS-B will allow JetBlue to take advantage of these routes at all times since the satellite-based system tracks the precise position of aircraft.
The agreement will also allow JetBlue to fly a new route to the Caribbean, and could lead to the development of two new, shorter ADS-B-only routes to the Caribbean from Boston, New York and Washington. The FAA will collect valuable NextGen data by observing and conducting real-time operational evaluations of ADS-B on revenue flights.
“NextGen will help improve the travel experience for passengers and give airlines more flexibility to find the most efficient way to reach their destinations,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “This agreement will allow us to collect important data to further demonstrate the benefits of NextGen.”
“As the youngest major airline in the United States, with a majority of our operations in the Northeast – arguably the most congested airspace in the world – JetBlue enthusiastically joins the FAA in this effort to begin rebuilding the skyways,” said JetBlue Airways CEO Dave Barger. “Our investment today will yield dividends far into the future, not just for JetBlue but for all airlines. Our customers and crewmembers deserve our best efforts.”
The FAA has agreed to pay $4.2 million for the ADS-B avionics. JetBlue will provide flight operations, pilots, and aircraft maintenance and will pay for the cost of aircraft downtime while the ADS-B avionics are installed. JetBlue will also fund the necessary training for dispatchers and flight crews, including simulator time. The airline will demonstrate the cost savings of ADS-B technology and potentially equip the rest of its A320 fleet at its own expense with ADS-B avionics.
GILZE-RIJEN AIRBASE, Netherlands, June 16, 2010 — Boeing ] and The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) today made aviation history when a Boeing AH-64D Apache became the first rotorcraft in the world to fly using a blend of sustainable bio-kerosene and standard aviation jet fuel.
The 20-minute flight, conducted at Gilze-Rijen Airbase, home of the RNLAF’s combat rotorcraft squadrons, was witnessed by dozens of industry observers and defense journalists.
The sustainable biofuel used in the flight was produced using algae-based biomass and used cooking oil, and processed by UOP, LLC, a Honeywell company, into a Bio-Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (Bio-SPK), which has been used in previous commercial biofuel flights. In a series of preflight tests, the 50/50 bio-kerosene and traditional jet fuel blend met or exceeded the JP-8 fuel specifications for the Apache. No engine or airframe modifications were made prior to flight.
“This is a tremendous achievement for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Boeing, Honeywell, and the engine manufacturer GE Aviation in our efforts to develop sustainable aviation fuel solutions,” said Al Winn, vice president of Apache Programs for Boeing, who attended the demonstration. “Both Boeing’s commercial and military customers are pursuing alternatives to fossil fuels, sharing a vision that was demonstrated flawlessly by our Apache customer today.”
“Today is an important milestone for the more intensive usage of sustainable bio-kerosene in aviation,” said Eimert van Middelkoop, Minister of Defense of the Netherlands.
The RNLAF biofuel flight test program encompasses seven flights that will highlight the technical feasibility of flying rotorcraft using renewable fuels that do not reduce the availability of food crops or water. The Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands, which authorized the flight test program, has publicly stated its commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint of military aircraft.
“This program also will help stimulate market development for aviation biofuel within the Netherlands that can help improve the environmental performance of commercial and military aviation,” said Jan Närlinge, president of Boeing Northern Europe.
Boeing is engaged in sustainable biofuel research around the world and supported the Apache flight and the RNLAF through preflight planning, testing and technical consultation based on a strong body of biofuel experience. The company supplied technical support to a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines biofuel flight aboard a Boeing 747 in November 2009, and also to the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet biofuel flight on Earth Day this year. Boeing also supported four previous biofuel flights using varying fixed-wing commercial aircraft and engine types.
Extensive laboratory testing by fuel processors, feedstock providers and engine manufacturers has further shown that aviation biofuels meet or exceed the high performance and quality standards specified for military and commercial jet fuels.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.
SEATTLE, Dec. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Another new Boeing (NYSE: BA) Next-Generation 737-800 with the new Boeing Sky Interior took to the skies over Seattle today, as Continental Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc., became the first U.S.-based carrier to fly with the new interior. Continental’s jet features the new United Airlines livery.
Wednesday’s flight marks completion of 13 deliveries to the first five launch customers for the innovative 737 Boeing Sky Interior. The airplane also marks a new record for 737 yearly deliveries of 376. The previous record was 372 deliveries in 2009.
“We are proud to be the first carrier in North America to introduce the brand-new Boeing Sky Interior to our customers,” said Ron Baur, United fleet vice president. “The new lighting and sculpted side panels give the 737 a modern and more spacious look, while providing increased overhead storage space.”
The 737 Boeing Sky Interior is part of Boeing’s strategy to continuously improve the 737 for both airlines and passengers by making it more efficient and economical to operate and maintain and more comfortable for passengers. Today’s Next-Generation 737 operators fly 737s that are 5 percent more fuel-efficient than the first Next-Generation 737s delivered in 1998, and another 2 percent improvement is on the way.
In mid-November, another 737-800, also in the new United Airlines livery, successfully completed an early flight test to begin certification of the aerodynamic and engine changes that will result in the 2 percent improvement. Testing and certification will continue through April 2011. Boeing is phasing into production the performance improvement package, beginning in mid-2011 through early 2012.
One percent of the savings comes from reducing resistance as air flows around the airplane. The upper and lower anti-collision lights change from round to a more aerodynamic, elongated teardrop shape. Wheel-well fairings are re-contoured to smooth the air flow near the main landing gear. A redesign of the environmental control system, exhaust vent and streamlined wing slat and spoiler trailing edges round out the aerodynamic changes.
CFM is introducing the new CFM56-7BE engine enhancement program to coincide with Boeing’s airframe changes. Low- and high-pressure turbine modifications will result in a 1 percent reduction in fuel consumption. In addition, Boeing is optimizing the engine’s primary nozzle and plug. Together, the changes result in cooler-running engines that may provide up to 4 percent lower maintenance costs.
The CFM56-7BE engine is currently undergoing a 10,000 cycle endurance test at Snecma facilities in Villaroche, France. The test should be complete in early 2011. These tests simulate conditions far more extreme than would be experienced in commercial service to validate the reliability and durability of the hardware.
-West Chester, Ohio– Jean-Paul Ebanga has assumed the role of president and chief executive officer of CFM International.
CFM International (CFM), the 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran group) and General Electric Company, is headquartered in West Chester, Ohio, near Cincinnati. The two parent companies have extended the 36-year-old partnership agreement to the year 2040.
Mr. Ebanga is replacing Eric Bachelet, who had served as CFM president and CEO since September 2005. Mr. Bachelet has accepted the position of Safran executive vice president of Research and Technology.
Mr. Ebanga joined Snecma in 1988 after leaving Royal Philips. His assignments at Snecma have included leadership positions in electronics, systems and aircraft engines.
In 2001, Mr. Ebanga was named vice president and general manager of Snecma Control Systems. He was subsequently appointed vice president of Snecma’s Commercial Engine Division.
Most recently, Mr. Ebanga served as chairman and CEO of PowerJet, a joint company between Snecma and Saturn (Russia). He had held that position since 2007.
Mr. Ebanga is a graduate of the ENSEM Graduate School of Engineering in France
CFM has delivered a total of more than 21,600 CFM56 engines to date, making it one of the most successful aircraft engine suppliers in history. Through December 2010, the company had received firm orders for a total of 27,500 engines.
