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    Boeing Press Release: Boeing Completes 787 Dreamliner High-Speed Taxi Test

    EVERETT, Wash., Dec. 12 — Boeing (NYSE: BA) completed high-speed taxi tests on the first 787 Dreamliner today. This is the last in a series of functional tests planned in preparation for first flight.

    “Our pilots told me the airplane performed beautifully,” said Mike Delaney, vice president and chief project engineer for the 787. “We’re going through and analyzing the data to ensure we’re ready for first flight. From evaluations we’ve done so far, everything looks good.”

    During the testing, the airplane reached a top speed of approximately 130 knots (150 mph, 240 kph), and the pilots lifted the nose gear from the pavement. Video highlights of the taxi testing will be available by the end of the day Monday at www.boeing.com and www.newairplane.com.

    Taxi test is the last testing planned before first flight.

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    NJ: Safe Landing w/o Nose Gear


    Photo: A French-Army Socata TBM-700
    Of course this French Military craft is not the exact TBM-700 as in the incident in New Jersey, but who could resist Mick Bajcar gorgeous photograph?
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Mick Bajcar

    What: TBM-700 single engine turboprop en route from Nantucket Island in Massachusetts to Essex County
    Where: Essex County Airport
    When: 12/12/2009 6:00 pm
    Who: 4 passengers
    Why: While on approach to Essex County Airport, the turboprop developed a nose gear problem. The plane made several passes so that ATC could see the landing gear.

    Emergency crews were standing by.

    The plane landed without the gear extended, minimal damage
    and no human injury.

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    Air India Airbus AC


    Pictured: An Air India Airbus A320-231
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Wim Callaert

    What: Air India Airbus A320-200 en route from Kolkata to Chennai (India)
    Where: Kolkata
    When: Dec 11th 2009
    Who: 139 passengers
    Why: The flight had a successful take-off, but while en route, air conditioning problems developed. (This can also mean pressurization issues. Specifics were not indicated.)

    The flight returned to Kolkata and made a safe landing. A replacement plane was provided.

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    18 Survive Ditched Helicopter


    Pictured: A Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Sikorsky S-92A Helibus
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Ken Iwelumo

    What: helicopter en route to SeaBird Exploration’s seismic vessel Kondor Explorer
    Where: Agbami field offshore Nigeria
    When: Dec 11, 2009
    Who: 18 on board (16 crew, 2 pilots)
    Why: After the helicopter made a controlled “landing” and ditched into the sea, all 18 crew members aboard were rescued.

    No word has been released about why the helicopter ditched.

    The Agbami seismic project is run by Chevron.

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    Flapless Landing in Montreal


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Darryl Myers

    What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-135 en route from New York La to Montreal
    Where: Montreal
    When: Dec 10th 2009
    Who: 30 aboard
    Why: Prior to landing, the plane developed flap failure; the flight made a safe landing without flaps, the second such flap failure on that plane (Toronto) in a five day period.

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    Texas Piper Crash

    What: Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche en route from Amarillo to Port Mansfield
    Where: Port Mansfield
    When: Dec 10, 2009
    Who: 2 aboard; names not released at time of initial report
    Why: Two fishermen en route to a weekend fishing expedition were in the Piper that disappeared from radar at 10:30 Thursday night and crashed in Port Mansfield.

    The remains found of 48-year-old Robert James Robinett of Sunray, Texas were found in Gulf waters.

    Reportedly, the pilot was Harvey Kinikin of Amarillo. The plane is registered to James M. Scroggin of Arkansas.

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  • Aviation Safety: Oversight of FAA Safety Initiatives.

    FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt Thursday testified before the Senate aviation subcommittee.

    The hearing focused largely on Colgan Flight 3407 and flight fatigue.

    Senate Commerce Committee Chair John Rockefeller pushed for NextGen.

    NextGen is an umbrella term for the transformation of the United States’ national airspace system (NAS). NextGen represents an evolution from a ground-based system of air traffic control to a satellite-based system of air traffic management.

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    Turkey: Airbus Gear Fails to Retract


    Pictured: A Turkish Airlines Airbus A340
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Johan Knijn

    What: Turkish Airlines Airbus A340-300 en route from Istanbul Turkey to Beijing China
    Where: Istanbul
    When: Dec 11
    Who: not available
    Why: After takeoff, the airbus was unable retract the gear, and had to turn around and return to the airport to make an emergency landing. The flight’s initial takeoff had been delayed for a day, and after landing, it was another eight and a half hours before it was able to take off again.

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  • H.R. 4217 Passes

    The Senate passed H.R. 4217, the bill extending FAA programs and excise taxes through March 31, 2010.

    The current extension expires at the end of the 2009.

    The extension provides $2 billion in AIP contract authority for the first six months of the year.

    H.R.4217

    Title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, and for other purposes.

    Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15](introduced 12/8/2009)

    Cosponsors (6)

    Latest Major Action: 12/10/2009 Passed/agreed to in Senate.

    Status: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    View text of the legislation

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  • Air India to Cut (or Cut Cuts)

    The issue of performance payments is being reviewed after the (Indian) unions rejected a 50 per cent cut proposal.

    Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav is meeting with the committees reviewing the productivity-linked incentives, examining the PLI issue of pilots, engineers, officers and other technical and non-technical staff.

    The examination is part of an operational and financial turnaround plan pruning costs, increasing yields and making profits for Air India.

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  • SA Airlink Verges on Grounding

    After an Airlink plane overshot the runway at George Airport on Monday and landed near the N2 highway and 33 were evacuated, and an Airlink plane landed on a school grounds, killing the pilot and three others, Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele is awaiting a safety audit that will determine whether or not SA Airlink will be grounded.

    A recently retired senior SAA expert on airline flight safety is conducting a thorough and independent review of Airlink procedures and processes.

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  • 2009 Best Asia-Pacific Airline MRO MAS Engineering & Maintenance

    Malaysia Airlines Engineering & Maintenance won the 2009 Best Asia-Pacific Airline MRO.

    The award was tendered by Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance.

    The general manager was quoted as saying, “We are delighted to receive this award which is testament to the team’s focus on quality, safety and timely deliverables.”

    The company is exploring strategic partnerships with Pratt & Whitney and KRAUSS GmbH Aviation Technologies.

    Malaysia Airlines Engineering & Maintenance is looking to hire qualified aviation engineers.

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    Pantanal Aerospatiale Emergency Landing in Sao Paulo


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer BravoAlpha

    What: Pantanal Aerospatiale ATR-42-300 en route from Sao Paulo to Juiz de Fora Brazil
    Where: Congonhas
    When: Dec 8th 2009
    Who: not available
    Why: After takeoff, the flight returned to the airport, after developing smoke in the cabin. The plane landed safely.

    Maintenance traced the smoke to faulty lighting.

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    Jet Blue Birdstrike


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Justin Cederholm

    What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from San Juan Puerto Rico to Orlando, FL
    Where: Orlando
    When: Dec 8th 2009
    Who: not available
    Why: On approach to land, the Jetblue Airbus struck a bird. The flight landed safely, although the return flight to San Juan was delayed.

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    CA Training Flight Crash


    Pictured: A Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk II
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Andrés Contador

    What: Aviation Pacific Flight School Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk en route from Camarillo
    Where: Ojai, California near the Krotona Institute
    When: Dec 10, 2009
    Who: Flight instructor and student (2 on board)
    Why: An hour into a training flight, the plane crashed in a field.

    The pilot was not in communication with ATC. It is presumed that there were engine troubles, that the pilot was struggling to keep the plane in the air. Witnesses report at least two incidents during the flight were the plane was observed to lose power.

    A witness called 911 after seeing the plane fall right in front of him, right onto the roadway in front of his truck.”

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    Empresa Emergency Landing in Santo Domingo


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Ricardo Morales

    What: Empresa Aerocaribbean SA Boeing 737-200 en route from Caracas Venezuela to Santiago Cuba
    Where: Santo Domingo
    When: Dec 10th 2009
    Who: 90 passengers and 9 crew
    Why: While en route, the flight developed oil filter trouble in the right engine.

    Gushing black smoke, the plane made an emergency landing in Santo Domingo where maintenance took care of the problem. In six hours, passengers continued to their destination on the same plane.

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    Northeast Wing Strike


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Andy Egloff

    What: Northwest Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 en route from Charlotte NC to Minneapolis MN
    Where: Minneapolis
    When: Dec 9th 2009
    Who: not available
    Why: On landing, the plane scraped a wing tip on the runway. The flight otherwise landed safely

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    Hudson Midair Collision Lawsuit

    Five wrongful death lawsuits filed in Newark US District Court over the Hudson River Collision deaths of tourists Fabio Gallazzi, Giacomo Gallazzi, Tiziana Pedroni, Filippo Norelli and Michele Norelli allege the Federal Aviation Administration’s procedures for controlling Hudson River are out dated, and that the Teterboro supervisor was “grossly negligent, reckless and wanton” in leaving work to conduct personal business on government time and failing to monitor flight traffic.

    Pilot Steven Altman, who was flying the piper that collided with the helicopter was named in the suit, as well as Liberty Helicopters Inc. and the Meridian Consulting Corporation Inc. Multiple parties are held responsible.

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    Cessna Closing Plants in Ohio

    Although one plant opened in Columbus in 2008 and had originally projected work for 5 years, three Cessna plants in Columbus will be closing in 6 to 24 months. Cessna broke the news to the last 315 employees in the Columbus plant.

    Any work ongoing will be relegated to plants in Independence, Kan., and Mexico.

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    Press Release: Alternative Aviation Fuels — Not Just an FAA Priority

    December 9 – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) welcomes the announcement by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack of more than $600 million in awards to advanced biofuel projects. At least four grant recipients are working on technologies to produce fuels including renewable jet fuels. A number of the awardees also have a long standing relationship with the FAA co-sponsored Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) which coordinates public and private sector efforts to develop sustainable alternative jet fuels to help the aviation sector address energy and climate change challenges. .

    “Renewable jet fuels are critical to building the cleaner, more sustainable Next Generation commercial aviation system in the United States,” said Nancy LoBue, FAA Acting Assistant Administrator for Aviation Policy, Planning and Environment. “This Administration is committed to establishing domestic renewable jet fuel production, address energy security, improve the environment and also create jobs in rural America.”

    CAAFI seeks to enhance energy resources and environmental sustainability for aviation through alternative jet fuels. The initiative is a coalition of the U.S. commercial aviation community that acts as a focal point for engaging the emerging alternative fuels industry. It enables its diverse stakeholders to build relationships, share and collect needed data, identify resources, and direct research, development and deployment of alternative fuels.

    CAAFI’s sponsors include the FAA office of Environment and Energy and three trade associations: Airports Council International of North America (ACI-NA) representing commercial airports, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) representing U.S. manufacturers, and the Air Transport Association representing U.S. airlines. CAAFI stakeholders are drawn from all elements of the international commercial aviation industry, fuel suppliers, universities, and multiple U.S. government agencies.

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    Transaero Sensor Error


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Mirko Krogmann

    What: A Transaero Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Atyrau to Almaty
    Where: Kzyl-Orda
    When: Dec 8th 2009
    Who: 81 passengers and 9 crew
    Why: While en route, the crew detected a faulty fuel flow sensor and diverted to Kzyl-Orda for repairs, after which passengers resumed the flight on the same plane.

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    Heroic Tragic Firefighting Copter Crash: NSW


    Click to view full size photo at jetphotos.net
    Contact photographer Matthew Southwell

    What: NSW Rural Fire Service Bell B206L-1 LongRanger II performing bushfire surveillance
    Where: 5km SE of Dorrigo, on the mid-north coast, NSW Australia
    When: Dec 9. 2009 11:30 am
    Who: Pilot and passenger
    Why: While conducting bushfire surveillance while fighting a fire, the helicopter went down in the rainforest. The passenger, a 41-year-old National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger died. He had been a ranger for 12 years.

    In Dorrigo Hospital, the pilot is fighting for his life, after sustaining critical chest, head and back injuries. He will be airlifted to a major hospital later on Wednesday

    The pilot has over 3000 flying hours. This is the third serious firefighting helicopter incident in the past 48 hours.

    1,500 firefighters continue to fight the fire caused by dry conditions and lightning strikes. Unrelated to the helicopter crash, other individuals have been injured in the fire.

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    Porter Airlines Emergency Landing in Toronto


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Yuda

    What: Porter Airlines de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Montreal to Toronto
    Where: Toronto
    When: Dec 3rd 2009
    Who: 52 on board
    Why: On approach to Toronto, about ten minutes before landing, the crew received indication of a technical problem.

    The flight made a safe landing with emergency standing by.

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    Airbus Gear Disagree Message


    Pictured: A Vladivostok Avia Airbus A330-301
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Konstantin Tyurpeko

    What: Vladivostok Avia Airbus A330-300 en route from Vladivostok to Moscow
    Where: Khabarovsk
    When: Dec 9th 2009
    Who: 163 on board
    Why: After take-off the gear retracted (but rec’d a gear disagree message that the gear would not retract.) The flight diverted to Khabarovsk and landed safely.

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    Air France hydraulics failure at Sao Paulo


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Sergey Kustov

    What: Air France Boeing 777-200 en route from Paris France to Sao Paulo
    Where: Sao Paulo
    When: Dec 9th 2009
    Who: 259 passengers and 16 crew
    Why: While on approach to Sao Paulo, the plane experienced a hydraulics failure. The crew requested the longest available runway and made a safe landing.

    Passengers debarked normally.

    George’s Point of View

    Maintenance is so important.

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