| |

Temperature rising in Spanish ATC

PRESS RELEASE-Safety bulletin 12 February 2010–IFALPA has been notified by its Spanish Member Association SEPLA that the negotiation of a new labour agreement between Spanish controllers and AENA (the ATM service provider) has taken an unexpected twist after the approval by the Spanish government of a “Urgent Royal Decree” which changes the previous agreement.

The Federation has no position on the state of the negotiations or the tactics employed in the dispute. However, the dispute does raise some safety concerns. Consequences may include increased tension in the controller’s work place, economic worries of ATC staff, unanticipated shortage of ATCOs and unexpected delays throughout Spanish airspace.
SEPLA recommend that aircrews exercise extreme caution when flying within the Spanish FIRs (this includes the Spanish mainland, Balearic and Canary Islands as well as delegated airspace) and to consider the following safety recommendations:

  • Increased vigilance of all ATC procedures
  • Adhere strictly to standard operating procedures, paying extra attention to communications mainly when entering congested
    airspace (TMAs for example)

  • Consider taking extra fuel for unexpected extended delays or diversions
  • Exercise special attention during all ground movements
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.

Similar Posts

  • South African Media Release:

    MEDIA RELEASE 12 May 2010
    AFRIQIYAH AIRWAYS A330 CRASH
    The South African Civil Aviation Authority has been informed of the aircraft accident that took
    place in Libya this morning. The Afriqiyah Airline aircraft took off from OR Tambo International
    airport on Tuesday 11 May at 19:30, and was scheduled to land in Tripoli on Wednesday
    morning 12 May at 04:30.
    The aircraft is an Airbus A330, which as far as we know had 93 passengers and 11 crew
    members on board. At this stage we cannot confirm the nationalities of the passengers who
    were on board.
    According to the Civil Aviation Regulations; the country of occurrence becomes the
    investigating body. Therefore the Libya Civil Aviation Authority will be investigating the accident.
    About the SACAA:
    The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) was established on 1 October 1998 following the enactment of
    the South African Civil Aviation Authority Act, No.40, in September of the same year. The SACAA promotes and
    maintains a safe, secure and sustainable civil aviation environment, by regulating and overseeing the functioning
    and development of the industry in an efficient, cost-effective, and customer-friendly manner according to
    international standards.
    For more information contact:
    Phindiwe Gwebu
    Senior Manager: Corporate Communications and Marketing
    South African Civil Aviation Authority
    Tel. + 27 11 545 1086
    Cell: + 27 83 461 6070
    Fax: + 27 11 545 1400
    Email: gwebup@caa.co.za
    Website: www.caa.co.za

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.

  • International SOS Evacuates 800 Clients From Egypt, Provides On-the-Ground Assistance in Wake of Turmoil

    CAIRO, Feb. 2, 2011 — International SOS, the world’s leading international healthcare, medical and security assistance and concierge services company, said it has evacuated over 800 people from Egypt today, who are primarily expatriate employees and families of International SOS clients, and students. Via seven flights, the passengers will be escorted to Frankfurt, Paris and Dubai, where International SOS reception teams are waiting to meet them. According to on the ground sources, operating flights in and out of Egypt has been very difficult, with significant delays and last minute cancellations.

    In the immediate wake of the uprising, International SOS activated a crisis management team at its London alarm center and began to coordinate operations with its Philadelphia, Frankfurt, Paris, Geneva, and Dubai alarm centers.

    This crisis team, whose initial members left within a few hours of the unrest, is made up of medical, security, aviation and logistics experts. In addition another team consisting of security specialists representing a joint venture from International SOS and Control Risks is working from Cairo, Alexandria, Asyut and Suez. The security specialists are providing real-time reports to assist members seeking information on colleagues in Egypt and on the ground conditions there. Missions are being planned and executed at the time of this release.

    “Some of our security specialists who were just in Tunisia are now in Egypt. They are able to deliver first-hand information and coordinate operations with our locally-based partners,” said Kevin Duffey, Managing Director of International SOS Assistance.

    International SOS estimates that calls to its alarm centers had increased by 180% over the past weekend. Our global team has handled calls from hundreds of clients. At the time of this release, 40 clients from private corporations, non-profit organizations, and universities have had over 800 travelers evacuated from Egypt.

    “We have been able to utilize our pre-established network in Egypt to provide transportation, security and medical care for our clients,” said Kevin. “During severe political upheaval and other situations that may impact travel, companies need to look after their employees who are abroad. Crisis plans as well as systems to track and communicate with their travelers are crucial in helping organizations fulfill their duty of care.”

    Additionally, International SOS and Control Risks have activated TravelTracker, a proprietary system to help identify members in the affected areas, and have responded to calls at International SOS’ 28 alarm centers around the world.

    About International SOS
    International SOS (http://www.internationalsos.com) is the world’s leading international healthcare, medical and security assistance and concierge services company. Operating in over 70 countries, International SOS provides integrated medical, clinical, security, and customer care solutions to organizations with international operations. A global team of over 8,000 employees led by 970 full-time physicians and 200 security specialists provides services including planning, preventative programs, in-country expertise and emergency response to 69 percent of the

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • |

    Boeing, Comair Limited Announce Next-Generation 737 Order

    Airline company in South Africa selects 737-800 for fleet modernization
    Comair purchases Maintenance Performance Toolbox

    JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 2, 2011 — Boeing and Comair Limited today announced an order for eight Next-Generation 737-800s complete with the innovative new Boeing Sky Interior. Comair will use its new 737s to update the fleet of Comair’s low-fare airline, kulula.com. The airplanes are valued at approximately $646 million at current list prices. The order previously was attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s orders and deliveries website.
    Launched in 2001 as South Africa’s first low-fare carrier, kulula.com currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of ten 737s, including three leased 737-800s. Comair also operates as a franchise partner of British Airways, with thirteen 737 airplanes flying domestically in South Africa and regionally in Southern Africa.

    “The purchase of new Boeing 737-800s is historic for our company and gives all our 1,800 staff a great feeling of pride,” said Gidon Novick, joint CEO of Comair Ltd. “The new fleet is an essential part of our efficiency drive, which will not only give us a cost leadership position in our industry, but also provide our customers with exceptional levels of reliability and comfort with the spacious new interior.”

    In addition to its 737-800 order, Comair is purchasing the Maintenance Performance Toolbox from Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. The Maintenance Performance Toolbox improves an airline’s fleet efficiency by integrating manufacturer and customer documentation, use of intelligent graphics, cross-document searching and linking aircraft fault data to specific maintenance actions. It also provides a comprehensive structural repair history for each airplane while reducing the time needed to find tail-specific technical information in time-critical situations, such as line maintenance troubleshooting and dispatch.

    “Comair is an amazing success story, as this airline company has posted operating profits each year since it was founded in 1946,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Today’s order demonstrates the value the 737-800 has already brought to its fleet and the confidence Comair has in this airplane.”

    Today’s 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. Boeing’s performance improvement package, now being certified, will boost Comair’s fuel efficiency a further 2 percent through aerodynamic and engine changes.
    Among the airlines that recently transported thousands of fans and football players throughout South Africa for the World Cup, Comair operates nearly 800 flights each week on its South African and regional routes.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • | | | |

    Respond now to NTSB ISSUING FINAL RULE IN RESPONSE TO PILOT’S BILL OF RIGHTS

    The National Transportation Safety Board announced today that it has issued a Final Rule to implement several changes to its Rules of Practice applicable to aviation certificate enforcement appeals. This final rule responds to public comments received by the NTSB as a result of an interim final rule (IFR) it issued last October. The NTSB issued the IFR after the enactment of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights legislation and it became effective upon its publication in the Federal Register on October 16, 2012.

    Under the Pilot’s Bill of Rights: (1) the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must disclose its enforcement investigative report (EIR) to the FAA certificate holder in an aviation certificate enforcement case; (2) NTSB administrative law judges must apply the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Evidence in enforcement cases; and (3) litigants now have the option of appealing the NTSB’s final orders to either a Federal district court or a Federal court of appeals. The IFR implemented these Pilot’s Bill of Rights requirements. Under the IFR, an FAA certificate holder is permitted to submit a motion to dismiss an FAA complaint if the FAA fails to disclose releasable portions of its EIR. The NTSB received 10 comments in response to the IFR. The Final Rule describes these comments in detail, as most of the comments provided substantive feedback and suggestions.

    In considering the IFR comments, the NTSB determined it should include a proposal to extend the EIR availability requirement in the Pilot’s Bill of Rights to emergency enforcement cases. As a result, the NTSB is also publishing a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in conjunction with publication of the Final Rule in the Federal Register.


    Both the Final Rule and NPRM are available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-19/pdf/2013-22634.pdf (Final Rule) and http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-19/pdf/2013-22633.pdf (NPRM). The public may submit comments to the NPRM, concerning the proposal to require the FAA to make available the EIR in emergency enforcement cases, via www.regulations.gov, Docket No. NTSB-GC-2011-0001, or via postal mail or facsimile, addressed to the NTSB Office of General Counsel. Comments should be submitted no later than October 21, 2013. The Final Rule is immediately effective.

    See the bill below

    In George’s Point of View

    Time to take note of the final rule. The public can submit their opinion at http://www.regulations.gov, Docket No. NTSB-GC-2011-0001, or via postal mail or facsimile, addressed to the NTSB Office of General Counsel.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • |

    Updated Boeing Statement on 787 Dreamliner ZA002 Incident

    EVERETT, Wash., Nov. 11, 2010 Boeing continues to investigate Monday’s incident on ZA002. We have determined that a failure in the P100 panel led to a fire involving an insulation blanket. The insulation self-extinguished once the fault in the P100 panel cleared. The P100 panel on ZA002 has been removed and a replacement unit is being shipped to Laredo. The insulation material near the unit also has been removed.

    Damage to the ZA002 P100 panel is significant. Initial inspections, however, do not show extensive damage to the surrounding structure or other systems. We have not completed our inspections of that area of the airplane.

    The P100 panel is one of several power panels in the aft electronics bay. It receives power from the left engine and distributes it to an array of systems. In the event of a failure of the P100 panel, backup power sources – including power from the right engine, the Ram Air Turbine, the auxiliary power unit or the battery – are designed to automatically engage to ensure that those systems needed for continued safe operation of the airplane are powered.

    The backup systems engaged during the incident and the crew retained positive control of the airplane at all times and had the information it needed to perform a safe landing.

    Molten metal has been observed near the P100 panel, which is not unexpected in the presence of high heat. The presence of this material does not reveal anything meaningful to the investigation.

    Inspection of the surrounding area will take several days and is ongoing. It is too early to determine if there is significant damage to any structure or adjacent systems.

    As part of our investigation, we will conduct a detailed inspection of the panel and insulation material to determine if they enhance our understanding of the incident.

    We continue to evaluate data to understand this incident. At the same time, we are working through a repair plan. In addition, we are determining the appropriate steps required to return the rest of the flight test fleet to flying status.

    Boeing will continue to provide updates as new understanding is gained.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • | | | | | | | | | | |

    About Close Calls

    After making note of the Oct 31 near miss in Oslo, I remembered this 100 foot close call of two Boeing 747’s over Scotland. This occurred in late June, when a Lufthansa pilot was climbing, and a British Airways flight were 24.3nm apart on converging courses. A STCA (Short Germ Conflict Alert)

    The Oslo near miss could have been prevented if the repetition protocol have been observed.

    The Scotland near miss had two planes
    (DLH418 Lufthansa Boeing 747-830, D-ABYC Frankfurt (FRA) – Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD))

    and

    (BAW87 British Airways Boeing 747-436, G-BNLM London-Heathrow (LHR) – Vancouver (YVR))

    on a collision course 100 feet Vertical/3.9 nm Horizontal and 1100 feet Vertical/2.8nm from impact. The study of the event concluded that actions of both the pilots and the controller contributed but that the pilots avoiding ATC instructions caused the proximity issue.

    The added pressure of reporting incidents such as these should help pilots and air traffic control to avoid similar events in the future. It will do so ONLY if adequate attention is paid to the mistakes, if alternative/better responses are deter mend, if the resulting studies are closely attended, and if protocol is adjusted to reduce the possibility of such problems re-occurring. On some level, the protocol worked, because these incidents were not collisions. However, they were closer than they should be. All I can say about this event is that it is a good thing that mistakes are reported.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.