29 OCT 2007 _______________________________________ *SAS re-grounds Q400s after third main-gear failure *SAS removes Dash 8 Q400 from service permanently *POGO Jet Ready To Do Initial Hiring In Early 2008 *Flight diverted to Dallas after passenger incident *Former FAA administrator Jane Garvey joins Bombardier board *Virgin co-pilot in alcohol arrest *Air Europa B-737 Accident (Poland) *No injuries as jet making emergency landing skids off A.C. runway *************************************** SAS re-grounds Q400s after third main-gear failure Scandinavian Airlines is to ground its Bombardier Q400 turboprop fleet again after another of its aircraft suffered a main landing-gear failure today, the carrier’s third gear-related accident in just seven weeks. Flight SK2867 had been operating from Bergen in Norway to the carrier’s hub at Copenhagen, says the carrier, when its crew reported problems with the main gear. While initial information suggested the gear collapsed on landing, video images of the final approach appear to show that the right-hand main gear failed to deploy, and that the Q400 touched down on its left main gear and nose-wheel only. The aircraft, scheduled to arrive at Copenhagen at 15:35, landed at 16:55. Scandinavian Airlines says there were 40 passengers and four crew members on board. There are no indications of injuries. Scandinavian Airlines has identified the Q400 as a seven-year old example registered LN-RDI. The aircraft has accumulated around 15,000 cycles according to Flight’s ACAS database, which lists the owner as USK Grampus. The airline says that, following the accident, all Q400s will be grounded “until further notice”. SAS Group, the carrier’s parent company, grounded all Q400s in its airlines’ fleets after two Scandinavian Airlines Q400s were involved in virtually identical gear-collapse incidents on 9 and 12 September. In both cases the right-hand gear collapsed on landing, and subsequent investigation revealed corrosion in the undercarriage actuators. During the grounding, which lasted several weeks, SAS Group replaced the affected parts on its entire Q400 fleet. SAS Group put the Q400s back into service only three weeks ago. Copenhagen airports operator Kobenhavns Lufthavne says that today’s accident has left only one runway operational at the Danish hub and is warning that traffic disruption is likely as a result. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ***** Status: Preliminary - official Date: 27 OCT 2007 Time: 16:55 Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-8-402 Q400 Operator: Scandinavian Airlines System - SAS Registration: LN-RDI C/n / msn: 4024 First flight: 2000 Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 40 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 44 Airplane damage: Substantial Location: København-Kastrup Airport (CPH) (Denmark) Phase: Landing Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Bergen-Flesland Airport (BGO/ENBR), Norway Destination airport: København-Kastrup Airport (CPH/EKCH), Denmark Flightnumber: 2867 Narrative: SAS Flight 2867 departed Bergen (BGO), Norway on a flight to Copenhagen (CPH), Denmark. Approaching Copenhangen, the crew of the Dash 8-400 plane reported "problems with main landing gear." An emergency landing was carried out on runway 04R with the right hand main landing gear retracted. The airplane came to rest with the right wing on the ground. A SAS press release stated that "All Dash 8-400 aircraft within the SAS Group will be grounded until further notice. " The entire SAS fleet of DHC-8-400 planes had been grounded earlier following two similar accidents on September 9 and 12. Following an extensive inspection program and parts replacement, SAS began returning planes to service as of October 4, 2007. All aircraft were back in service on October 14. ***************** SAS removes Dash 8 Q400 from service permanently Following recent accidents involving aircraft involving the Dash 8 Q400 type, SAS`s management, following an unscheduled meeting of the Board of Directors, has decided to immediately discontinue the use of this type of aircraft. `Confidence in the Q400 has diminished considerably and our customers are becoming increasingly doubtful about flying in this type of aircraft. Accordingly, with the Board of Directors' approval, I have decided to immediately remove Dash 8 Q400 aircraft from service,' said Mats Jansson, President and Chief Executive Officer of SAS. (aviation-safety.net) *************** POGO Jet Ready To Do Initial Hiring In Early 2008 Will Recruit At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Career Expo November 7-8 POGO Jet, Inc. has announced plans to participate in the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Career Expo November 7-8, 2007 in Daytona Beach, Florida. The company is recruiting leaders and senior managers in technology, human resources, and financial areas of responsibility, with initial hires starting in early 2008. POGO notes that they are a development-stage company, not yet certified or offering service, planning to become operational as an FAA-certified Part 135 operator by the first quarter of 2009. POGO states that, "Our plan is to use the low purchase price and operating costs of today’s Very Light Jets with intensive use of the planes to significantly lower the cost of private aviation. Our on-line booking system will permit customers to quickly arrange a flight that most closely fits their needs. And, by serving a vast network of underutilized small airports, POGO customers will be able to bypass congested hubs. In fact, our customers will be able to choose from over 400 airports in our initial service area." POGO’s management team is led by Chairman and CEO Robert Crandall, formerly of American Airlines. POGO Jet plans to offer on-demand jet charter service using Eclipse 500 very light jets, initially in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and Carolinas. Service is expected to commence in early 2009. In addition to meeting POGO Jet executives at career expos, interested candidates may submit resumes via the POGO Jet website. FMI: www.flypogo.com, www.flypogo.com/get_involved/pogo_jobs.html aero-news.net *************** Flight diverted to Dallas after passenger incident DALLAS (AP) — An American Airlines flight from Orlando, to Dallas-Fort Worth was diverted to Houston on Saturday night after a passenger tried to open an emergency door. The passenger was unable to open the door and no one was injured. The passenger, a woman, was detained by local authorities in Houston, said Charley Wilson, a spokesman for Fort Worth-based American. Flight 1585, carrying 176 passengers and six crewmembers, was diverted to Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport after the woman attempted to open an emergency door over one of the wings. She was subdued by the flight crew, Wilson said. "The crew handled everything. There was no issue with safety whatsoever," Wilson said. FIND MORE STORIES IN: Houston | Dallas | American Airlines | Orlando | Dallas-Fort Worth | Charley Wilson Passengers and crewmembers were interviewed in Houston. Six passengers got off the plane, since Houston was their destination, and the rest continued to Dallas-Fort Worth on the same plane. *************** Former FAA administrator Jane Garvey joins Bombardier board Bombardier has appointed former FAA administrator Jane Garvey to its board of directors. She replaces Michael Durham, who is leaving to pursue other duties. “We welcome Jane Garvey to the Bombardier board. Her in-depth knowledge of the aviation community and expertise in the transportation sector will be of great benefit to the corporation,” says Bombardier chairman and CEO Laurent Beaudoin in a statement. “I wish to thank Michael Durham for his insight, pertinent views and dedication to Bombardier during his tenure.” Garvey is executive VP and chairman of the transportation practice of global communications consultancy APCO Worldwide. From 1997 to 2002, she served as the first ever five-year term administrator of the FAA. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news **************** Virgin co-pilot in alcohol arrest Passengers were delayed for three-and-a-half hours A Virgin Atlantic co-pilot has been arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of being over the legal alcohol limit, police have said. The 42-year-old first officer was held after police boarded the passenger jet on Sunday morning, as final checks were being carried out before take-off. The 266 passengers on the Miami-bound flight were delayed while a replacement flight deck crew was found. A spokesman for Scotland Yard said the man was later freed on bail. "At 11.16am officers arrested a 42-year-old crew member on board a Virgin Atlantic flight to Miami. He was arrested under section 94 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003," he said. Suspended It is understood the arrested man was acting as relief first officer on the flight, providing cover for the captain and his co-pilot in the event of both becoming unable to fly the plane. A spokeswoman for Virgin Atlantic said the crew member has been suspended from duty pending a police investigation. She said: "Virgin Atlantic can confirm that one of its first officers has been released on police bail in connection with an allegation made this morning. "Virgin Atlantic would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused and would like to reassure passengers that the airline will be investigating this matter thoroughly in accordance with its strict company policies in relation to operational staff. "The safety and security of its passengers and crew is Virgin Atlantic's top priority." Following the airline's policy, all members of the three-man flight deck were replaced following the arrest, causing the flight's delay. Airline regulations recommend flight crews do not drink alcohol less than eight hours before flying. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7066636.stm *************** Air Europa B-737 Accident (Poland) Status: Preliminary Date: 28 OCT 2007 Type: Boeing 737-85P Operator: Air Europa Registration: EC-HBM C/n / msn: 28382/256 First flight: 1999-04-10 00:00:00 Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 11 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 114 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 125 Airplane damage: Substantial Location: Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport (KTW) (Poland) Phase: Approach Nature: Int'l Non Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Beirut Airport (BEY/OLBA), Lebanon Destination airport: Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport (KTW/EPKT), Poland Narrative: The Air Europa Boeing 737 was approaching Katowice (KTW) shortly after midnight in poor visibility conditions. The airplane was cleared for a runway 27 approach. It descended too low and contacted approach lights which were positioned about 870 m short of the runway threshold. The aircraft landed safely, but sustained damage to the nr.1 engine and flap fairings Weather conditions around midnight (midnight = 22:00 UTC) were: EPKT 262200Z 10010KT 5000 BR NSC 06/05 Q1025= EPKT 262230Z 10009KT 4000 BR NSC 05/05 Q1025= EPKT 262300Z 09007KT 3000 BR SCT002 BKN150 05/05 Q1025= EPKT 262330Z 09006KT 2700 BR FEW002 BKN065 05/05 Q1025= EPKT 270000Z 10006KT 3500 BR SCT050 BKN082 05/05 Q1025= EPKT 270030Z 10008KT 4000 BR NSC 05/05 Q1025= *************** No injuries as jet making emergency landing skids off A.C. runway EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - A corporate jet skidded off the end of a rain-soaked runway at Atlantic City International Airport late Saturday morning as it made a second attempt to land in wet weather. Federal Aviation Authority officials said neither the two passengers nor the pilot and co-pilot on board the fixed-wing Cessna 650 were injured, although one female passenger was treated for anxiety. The aircraft took off at about 10:38 a.m. from Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y. Shortly before 11:30 a.m., the pilot ordered an emergency landing for reasons that were not immediately clear. Federal investigators were determining the cause, FAA spokeswoman Holly Baker said. As the jet touched down at Atlantic City International's shorter runway, the aircraft "bounced," causing damage to the landing gear, Baker said. The pilot pulled the jet up and landed on the airport's longer, 10,000-foot runway. Baker said the jet veered off the runway's end and into a grassy area. The jet was moved away from the runway and the airport was temporarily closed during the emergency landing, said Sharon Gordon, a spokeswoman for the South Jersey Transporta-tion Authority, which oper- ates the airport. Flights began moving again after 11:40 a.m. Airport officials could not identify the Cessna's passengers. A search of the jet's identification number shows it belonging to Northeast Air & Sea Services, based out of Republic Airport. The company offers chartered helicopter and aircraft flights and sightseeing tours, according to its Web site. A Northeast dispatcher who answered the phone Saturday and declined to give her name said the company's president and his wife were on board the jet. She said the wife was the passenger taken to the hospital for anxiety. The scene of the accident was within view of Tilton Road; some drivers pulled over to see what had happened as a steady rain fell. Drivers took photos with cameras and cell phones, as several of the airport's fire trucks and emergency personnel surrounded the plane. Other planes were diverted to another runway. Baker would not speculate why the pilot needed to land suddenly and what caused the accident. "I don't know if weather was a factor," Baker said. "Obviously the weather wasn't great." http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic/story/7512608p-741111 9c.html ******************* Curt Lewis, PE, CSP WEB: www.fsinfo.org