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Puma Gearbox Metal Shavings Conflict

The gearbox is a center of controversy in the investigation of the accident where the Bond Super Puma crashed off Peterhead, killing 16 men including two crew: Capt Paul Burnham, 31, of Methlick, Aberdeenshire, and co-pilot Richard Menzies, 24, of Droitwich Spa, who worked for Bond Offshore Helicopters, KCA Deutag employees Brian Barkley, 30, of Aberdeen; Vernon Elrick, 41, of Aberdeen; Leslie Taylor, 41, of Kintore, Aberdeenshire; Nairn Ferrier, 40, of Dundee; Gareth Hughes, 53, of Angus; David Rae, 63, of Dumfries; Raymond Doyle, 57, of Cumbernauld; James John Edwards, 33, of Liverpool; Nolan Goble, 34, of Norwich, and Mihails Zuravskis, 39, of Latvia; and non employees James Costello, 24, of Aberdeen, who was contracted to Production Services Network (PSN); Alex Dallas, 62, of Aberdeen, who worked for Sparrows Offshore Services; Warren Mitchell, 38, of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, who worked for Weatherford UK; and Stuart Wood, 27, of Aberdeen, who worked for Expro North Sea Ltd.

The inquiry blames the crash on gearbox failure, but for Bond and French company Eurocopter the question remains exactly where metal particles (evidence!) were found in the gearbox.

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    CIT, Boeing Announce Order for 38 Next-Generation 737 Airplanes

    Order Includes 737-800s and 737-900ERs

    NEW YORK and SEATTLE, Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT), and Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced that CIT Aerospace placed an order for 38 Next-Generation 737 airplanes and purchase rights for seven additional 737s.

    The order, with deliveries into 2017, includes 15 737-900ER (extended range) and 23 737-800 airplanes. It is the largest order placed by a leasing company for the 737-900ER, the largest and newest member of the Boeing Next-Generation 737 family. This is also the largest order placed by CIT for Boeing airplanes.

    “This order of Next-Generation Boeing aircraft reflects our efforts to maintain one of the youngest and most technologically advanced fleets in the industry,” said C. Jeffrey Knittel, president of Transportation Finance at CIT. “As a leading aircraft lessor, it is important that we continue to maintain a portfolio of operationally dependable and fuel-efficient aircraft for our customers.”

    “CIT’s choice of the Next Generation 737 shows its confidence in the product family and especially in its newest member, the 737-900ER, which features incredible economics and operational capability,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales & Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “CIT is one of the leading companies in global transportation finance, and clearly recognizes the value that the Next Generation 737 will bring to its airline customers. CIT will be receiving its 737s with the innovative Boeing Sky Interior and other performance improvements that will keep its airplanes at the leading edge of passenger comfort, efficient operations and reduced fuel consumption.”

    CIT owns or finances a fleet of more than 300 commercial aircraft. As of Sept. 30, 2010, CIT had 140 Boeing airplanes in its portfolio. With this new order, the company now has a total order book of 111 aircraft, of which 58 are Boeing.

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    National Airlines Authorized to Operate Passenger Charters Internationally

    YPSILANTI, Mich., Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — National Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Air Cargo Holdings, is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Transportation has granted new international passenger charter authority allowing National to expand its global reach.

    “This authority represents a very significant milestone in National’s two-track strategy to augment and modernize our already substantial international cargo carrying capacity with market-leading international passenger charter operations,” Steven Harrison, president, National Airlines said. “Ours is an ambitious plan, and I’m extremely proud of our team’s world-class performance in safely bringing it closer to fruition.”

    The United States Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary, Washington, D.C. issued a foreign charter certificate of public convenience and necessity to National Air Cargo Group, Inc. d/b/a National Airlines. This order authorizes National to engage in foreign charter air transportation of persons, property and mail in addition to the domestic and international all-cargo transportation offered for twenty-five years.

    The order was issued by Susan L. Kurland, Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, and approved by the White House.

    National Airlines is currently undergoing FAA certification for Boeing 757-200 passenger operations. When complete, National intends to offer worldwide passenger charter services with its B757-200 aircraft. The newly outfitted modern cabin has 152 extended comfort coach seats and 12 business class seats. This effort represents the next step of National’s ambitious business plan whereby it is augmenting its DC-8 fleet with 747-400 freighter operations, 757-200 passenger operations and 757 -200 Combi (10 pallet positions and 46 passengers) worldwide. National’s a-la-carte catering choices provide flexible business or leisure cuisine to our guests intent on personal and responsive long range, intercontinental charter service.

    The world just became a smaller place. National is ready and able to complete any mission, anytime, anywhere.

    About National Air Cargo:
    Since 1991, National Air Cargo has provided high quality and efficient freight forwarding services for many military and industrial customers. The company offers airlift operations with appropriate aircraft with payload options ranging from four tons to 250 tons to countries throughout the world. For more information please visit www.nationalaircargo.com.

    About National Airlines:
    Founded in 1985, National Airlines currently operates three long range intercontinental 45 ton capacity jet freighters. National Airlines is based in Ypsilanti, MI and operates scheduled and on demand cargo charter services.

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    Boeing PR: Boeing Joins Fuselage Sections for First 747-8 Intercontinental

    EVERETT, Wash., Oct. 15 — Boeing moved closer this week toward completing assembly of the first 747-8 Intercontinental as mechanics in Everett, Wash., loaded the forward and aft fuselage sections to join with the wing and center section.

    The 747-8 fuselage is 250 feet 2 inches (76.3 meters) long, which is 18 feet 4 inches (5.6 meters) longer than the 747-400. The stretch provides space for 51 additional seats to accommodate 467 passengers in a typical three-class configuration and offers 26 percent more cargo volume.

    "Final body join is an important milestone for the 747 program," said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of Airplane Programs in Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "It is a major step toward completing the structural integration and building out our all-new interior. We now have the first real look at the size and distinctive shape of the 747-8 Intercontinental. This is going to be a superb airplane for our customers both from an aesthetic and a performance perspective."

    The 747-8 is the new high-capacity 747 that will give airlines the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large airplane while providing enhanced environmental performance. The airplane also features a 787 Dreamliner-inspired interior that will offer passengers a greater feeling of space and comfort.

    The 747 program has orders for 109 747-8 Freighter and Intercontinental airplanes. Thirty-three of those are for the 747-8 Intercontinental, with orders coming from Lufthansa, Korean Air and eight VIP customers. The first 747-8 Intercontinental delivery is scheduled for late 2011 to a VIP customer.

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    NTSB TO HOLD PUBLIC FORUM ON CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY IN AUTOMOBILES AND ON AIRPLANES

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2010
    SB-10-35

    Washington, DC – The National Transportation Safety Board will address the safety of children traveling in airplanes or in cars when it holds a public forum on child passenger safety on Thursday, December 9, 2010.

    “American families are on the go, and children today are frequent travelers almost from the time they are born,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. “Much more should be done to reduce fatalities and injuries of our smallest travelers, whether they are in a jumbo jet or their family’s car.”

    The forum will be geared to providing parents and care givers information they can use immediately to protect their children while traveling. The forum will explore current education and other safety advocacy efforts by non-profit groups and government, as well as the continuing problem of nonuse of child seats and seat belts by a significant portion of the traveling public.

    Safety experts from the transportation industry, trade associations, unions, advocacy groups, and federal government will be asked to discuss the best approaches for keeping children safe while flying and riding in cars, how to increase the use of child seats and seat belts, and the importance of government data collection on the issue of nonuse.

    The NTSB has issued 33 safety recommendations addressing child passenger safety; 12 of these safety recommendations have been or currently are on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements.

    The forum, titled “Child Passenger Safety in the Air and in Automobiles”, will be held at the NTSB’s Board Room and Conference Center, located at 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. Parents, care givers, and others interested in child safety are encouraged to view the forum in person or by webcast on the NTSB’s website, www.ntsb.gov. Additional information about the forum can be found at www.ntsb.gov/children.

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  • Flight 447: Press release N° 5

    Paris, 01 June 2009 – 18:13 local time
    Press release N° 5
    Versão brasileira abaixo

    Air France is now able to confirm the nationalities of the passengers who were on board flight AF 447 on 31 May 2009, which disappeared between Rio de Janeiro and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. This list of nationalities is based on the information provided by the Brazilian Authorities.

    2 American
    1 Argentinian
    1 Austrian
    1 Belgian
    58 Brazilian
    5 British
    1 Canadian
    9 Chinese
    1 Croatian
    1 Danish
    1 Dutch
    1 Estonian
    1 Filipino
    61 French
    1 Gambian
    26 German
    4 Hungarian
    3 Irish
    1 Icelandic
    9 Italian
    5 Lebanese
    2 Moroccan
    3 Norwegian
    2 Polish
    1 Romanian
    1 Russian
    3 Slovakian
    1 South African
    2 Spanish
    1 Swedish
    6 Swiss
    1 Turkish
    Air France expresses its deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the passengers and crew who were on board this flight.

    Air France is doing its utmost to provide support to relatives and friends: counselling with physicians and psychologists as well as specially trained Air France volunteers has been set up at the airports of Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 and Rio de Janeiro.

    Air France has also established a special toll-free number for the attention of relatives and friends of passengers who may have been on board. They can use this number to obtain information on whether or not a member of their family or friends was on board.

    Phone number reserved for relatives and friends

    0800 800 812 in France,
    0800 881 20 20 in Brazil,
    and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from all other countries.

    Air France will release further information as soon as it is available.

    NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for relatives and close friends.

    Português

    Air France confirma as nacionalidades dos passageiros que se encontravam a bordo do voo AF 447 do dia 31 de maio 2009, desaparecido entre o Rio de Janeiro e Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Esta lista foi constituída tendo como base informações fornecidas por autoridades brasileiras.

    · 1 Sul-africano
    26 Alemães
    2 Norte-americanos
    1 Argentino
    1 Austríaco
    1 Belga
    58 Brasileiros
    5 Britânicos
    1 Canadense
    9 Chineses
    1 Croata
    1 Dinamarquês
    2 Espanhóis
    1 Estoniano
    61 Franceses
    1 Gambiano
    4 Húngaros
    3 Irlandeses
    1 Islandeses
    9 Italianos
    5 Libaneses
    2 Marroquinos
    1 Holandeses
    3 Noruegueses
    1 Filipinos
    2 Poloneses
    1 Romeno
    1 Russo
    3 Eslovacos
    1 Sueco
    6 Suiços
    1 Turco
    A Air France dirige suas sinceras condolências às famílias e aos parentes dos passageiros e membros da tripulação.

    A Air France está concentrando todos os seus esforços em dar suporte às famílias e parentes: uma assistência psicológica foi instalada no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 e no aeroporto do Rio de Janeiro. Ela é composta de médicos e psicólogos, assim como voluntários da empresa, especialmente treinados para estas situações.

    A empresa também colocou à disposição um número de telefone toll free especial de atendimento às famílias dos passageiros. Ela informa, conforme solicitação, de uma eventual presença a bordo de um familiar.

    Números de telefone reservados às famílias
    0800 881 20 20 para o Brasil,
    0800 800 812 para a França,
    e 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países

    Air France comunicará outras informações assim que elas estiverem disponíveis.

    NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias.

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    NTSB INVESTIGATING OPERATIONAL ERROR NEAR NEW YORK

    The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating an operational error that occurred near New York City in January.

    The Safety Board was notified of a Traffic Collision and Alerting System (TCAS) resolution advisory that occurred due to a near midair collision involving American Airlines flight 951 on January 20, 2011, at about 10:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The American Airlines aircraft, a Boeing 777-200 (N7CA), had taken off from John F. Kennedy International Airport en route to Sao Paulo, Brazil and was flying southeast. A flight of two U.S. Air Force C-17s was heading northwest toward McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. There were no injuries in the incident.

    The NTSB has interviewed air traffic controllers on duty at the time of the incident, and is gathering information from American Airlines and the Air Force.

    The air traffic controllers talking to each of the aircraft received conflict alerts, and immediately provided traffic advisories and turned their aircraft to resolve the conflict. In addition, the American Airlines crew responded to directions provided by TCAS. Radar data indicate that the aircraft came within a mile of each other at their closest point. The incident occurred about 80 miles southeast of New York City.

    Betty Koschig has been designated the NTSB’s Investigator-in-Charge for this incident. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

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