21 DEC 2007 _______________________________________ *Southwest Airlines jet has close call near Springfield *Pilots group warns of threat to jetliners from volcanic ash *ATSB analysis of increased accident and incident data *Vietnam Orders 10 A350, 20 A321 Airbus Aircraft *Struggling airlines find a bright spot in lower insurance premiums *EDS Loses CIO To United Airlines *Couple Busted For Shining Laser At Helicopter *IATA targets 60 airports for ground handling audits in 2008 *************************************** Southwest Airlines jet has close call near Springfield; controller error blamed A federal investigation into a rash of close calls involving airliners will begin in January, authorities said Thursday after the latest scare involved a passenger jet flying to Chicago. A controller-in-training directed a Southwest Airlines jet bound for Midway Airport on Wednesday to descend toward a private plane, resulting in the second close call this week at an embattled air-traffic facility in suburban Chicago, officials said. A potential collision was prevented when a veteran controller supervising the trainee ordered the Southwest pilots to speed up their descent to avert the business turboprop aircraft, according to Federal Aviation Administration controllers. The collision-avoidance system onboard the Southwest Boeing 737 also issued a warning. The required spacing between the two aircraft was violated, but the quick action resulted in the Southwest plane steering out of harm's way, said FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro. Still, the planes came within 300 feet vertically of one another at the closest point, enough to result in the incursion being classified by the FAA in the second-most-serious severity category. "It would have been a crossing blow [delivered] by the Southwest plane, a true T-bone accident," said Jeffrey Richards, president of the controllers union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, at the FAA's Chicago Center radar facility in Aurora. The incident, which occurred at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday about 15 miles north of Springfield, marked the second serious controller error in just three days at Chicago Center. It also marked the facility's sixth serious incident in 11 weeks involving planes flying dangerously close to each other. The Chicago Center is the fifth-busiest facility handling high-altitude traffic in the U.S. "This latest near-miss and the complaints we have heard from the air-traffic controllers are why Sen. Durbin wants to have an investigation," said Christina Mulka, press secretary for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Durbin earlier this month asked the inspector general for the U.S. Department of Transportation to launch a probe into a number of close calls involving planes on runways at O'Hare International Airport and in skies across the Midwest. The senator said he was especially concerned about reports of tired, overworked air-traffic controllers at O'Hare, Chicago Center and an FAA radar facility in Elgin. The inspector general told Durbin that an investigation will begin in January, Mulka said Thursday. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-planes_21dec21,1,5226796.story **************** Pilots group warns of threat to jetliners from volcanic ash BRUSSELS, Belgium: (AP) The small, two-engine jet was on a daylight mapping mission over Papua New Guinea, flying at 39,000 feet (12,000 meters) when both engines failed. The crew declared an emergency, rapidly descended 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) to restart the engines and eventually landed back at Port Moresby. Although the dramatic engine flameout on the Gulfstream II jet on July 17, 2006, ended safely, a subsequent investigation determined that the engines failed because the plane flew through a cloud of volcanic ash too diffuse to be noticed despite conditions of near-perfect visibility. No airplane crashes have ever been attributed to volcanic ash, but an international pilots' group warned on Thursday that a catastrophic accident "is only a matter of time." "The danger from volcanic ash is a very real one," said Gideon Ewers, spokesman for the London-based International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations. "In the past, disaster has narrowly been avoided following encounters with ash clouds thanks only to the skill and airmanship of the pilots involved," he said. Two incidents in the 1980s involving Boeing 747s belonging to British Airways and KLM carrying hundreds of passengers, prompted international aviation authorities to set up a series of Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers around the world to provide warnings and expertise to civil aviation in case of significant volcanic eruptions. The centers are in Anchorage, Alaska; Buenos Aires; Darwin, Australia; London; Montreal; Tokyo; Toulouse; Washington DC; and Wellington, New Zealand. They monitor volcanic ash plumes and keep aviators informed of any hazards. The centers normally rely on remote sensing satellite instruments that can detect and track the volcanic clouds that easily reach altitudes of 75,000 feet (23,000 meters). But experts warn that volcanic clouds can sometimes be obscured by ordinary storms whose cumulonimbus anvil clouds can hide the eruption plumes. And, as last year's incident in Papua New Guinea vividly illustrates, radar or other sensors cannot yet pick out ash too diffuse to be observed visually. The drifting clouds consist of tiny but highly abrasive rock particles that volcanoes can blast high into the air. Ingested into a jet engine at high temperatures, the ash melts into glass, which clogs and stops the engine. Dust cloud can also sandblast the windscreen, dramatically reducing visibility, or block an airliner's air vents and cut off airflow to airspeed indicators and other vital instruments. Capt. Dominico Santisi, who co-wrote an article on the threat of volcanic ash in the December issue of IFALFA News, the group's trade journal, recommended that greater emphasis be placed on integrating satellite-based with ground-based detection systems, such as the seismic techniques used by volcanologists to predict eruptions, in order to permit diversions of air traffic before eruptions occur. "Large commercial aircraft are still at considerable risk of a flameout from ash melting inside the engines," Santisi said. "Diversionary routing based on expert advice can save lives in such cases." *************** ATSB analysis of increased accident and incident data ATSB analysis shows that an increase in reported airline accident and incident data since 2001 is mainly due to industry expansion, and the rates of many types of occurrence have fallen. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau research report covered more serious airline Immediately Reportable Matters in the 5 years from mid 2001 to mid 2006. Despite the increased activity in scheduled public transport operations, the number of Immediately Reportable Matters has generally either remained stable or declined. When measured in relation to airline activity, the trend rate is generally downwards. Violations of controlled airspace involve aircraft entering controlled or restricted airspace without appropriate clearances from air traffic control. There was a total of 82 airspace violations recorded over 5 years, and the ATSB found a downward trend for these incidents. A breakdown of separation occurs when the distance between aircraft is less than that required. In many cases where separation breaks down the aircraft will still be some considerable distance apart. Of the 462 incidents recorded, only two per cent were serious enough to warrant further investigation by the ATSB. Breakdown of separation events have become more common, but only at about the same rate that airline activity has increased. Other incidents examined by the ATSB include reports of crew incapacitation and cabin fumes. Serious crew injury or illness was rare, supporting the findings from an earlier study by the ATSB. The ATSB also received 140 notifications of fumes. Sources of fumes included oil or solvent residues following maintenance activities, failed or overheated electrical or mechanical components, or passenger's luggage. Smoke or fumes from burning food in the galley was also common. The ATSB confirmed that accidents in Australian regular public transport operations are extremely rare. Only one accident involved fatalities, with the loss of all 15 people on board a regional airliner near Lockhart River. All other accidents were limited to damage to the aircraft, including damage to aircraft by service vehicles before flight, or injury to crew or passengers, including from unexpected turbulence during a flight. (ATSB) ATSB report b20070107_001: http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2007/B20070107.aspx **************** Vietnam Orders 10 A350, 20 A321 Airbus Aircraft PARIS -(Dow Jones)- EADS (5730.FR) unit Airbus Friday said it has received orders for 30 aircraft from Vietnamese companies Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company. Vietnam Airlines has signed a contract for 10 A350-900 XWBs, as well as for 10 additional A321s. This announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the aircraft on Oct. 1. An additional ten A321s covered under the MOU have now been confirmed as firm orders for the new Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company, in which Vietnam Airlines is a major shareholder. Vietnam Airlines currently operates 10 A320s, 11 A321s and three A330s (two - 200s and one -300) on an extensive regional and domestic network. Four previously ordered A321s are still to be delivered. Company Web site: www.airbus.com *************** Struggling airlines find a bright spot in lower insurance premiums NEW YORK:(AP) One bright spot for airlines struggling with competition and high fuel prices is insurance premiums, which have fallen significantly this year and are unlikely to rebound much in 2008 despite a sharp jump in payouts. Insurance broker Aon Corp. says airline insurance premiums dropped about 15 percent this year. At the same time, insurance payouts jumped 20 percent, meaning the average insurance policy will lose money this year for the first time since 2000. While that means insurers will try to hold the line on rates or even raise premiums as policies come up for renewal next year, analysts say tight competition makes big rate hikes unlikely. "Given the amount of capital sloshing around in the insurance industry, the near-term outlook for raising pricing, and regaining an underwriting profit, appears poor," said Donald Light, senior analyst at Celent LLC, a Boston consulting firm. Airline insurance premiums have dropped because of tight competition among insurers and because there have been fewer airline-related insurance payouts in recent years. A low number of claims has prompted insurance companies to boost their airline insurance businesses, analysts say. "A large amount of underwriting capacity is still available at the moment," said Aon in a recent market report. Aon notes that about 50 airlines have changed insurance providers this year, a sign that insurers are fighting tooth-and-nail for their business. Also, insurance premiums are based in part on what happened in previous years. Premiums have fallen this year in part because airlines suffered fewer accidents and liability claims in 2006. While there have not been many headline-catching airline accidents in 2007, total claims are on a pace to grow by 20 percent over last year, said Aon spokesman Rahsaan Johnson. For instance, in November an Iberia jet overran a runway in Ecuador, hurting nobody but causing the $200 million (€139 million) plane to be declared a partial loss. In late November, and Atlasjet plane crashed in Turkey, killing 56. While the plane was valued at $8 million (€5.6 million), liability claims for casualties will likely be much higher. Despite the jump in payouts, insurance companies will find they don't have the pricing power to raise premiums much next year, analysts say. "New (competition) has entered the market ... pushing rates down dramatically to where it has breached the inflection point of profitability," said Michael Paisan, managing director at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. Inc., in New York. That's good news for airlines, who have suffered fuel increases of 47 percent this year and face tough competition in their own markets. Credit Suisse analyst Daniel McKenzie cut stock price targets on every major domestic airline Thursday, citing the high cost of oil and a potential recession. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/20/business/NA-FIN-US-Airline-Insurance.php *************** EDS Loses CIO To United Airlines Keith Halbert most recently was a senior VP and CIO at EDS, which provides tech services to a number of airlines -- including United. United Airlines' tech operations will be piloted by a new chief information officer in 2008. The airline said Thursday that it's tapped Electronic Data Systems IT chief Keith Halbert to fill the role starting in January. Halbert replaces Garry Kelly, who announced plans to retire earlier this year. Halbert was most recently a senior VP and CIO at EDS, which provides tech services to a number of airlines -- including United. Halbert joined the outsourcer in 2004 when it acquired consulting firm The Feld Group, where he was a managing director. He also served as a "chief development officer" for Delta Air Lines and Home Depot, according to United. Halbert also spent 10 years in various roles at CSX Technology, Inc. He holds a bachelors degree in computer information systems and an MBA from Jacksonville University in Florida. The CIO's role is a hot-seat position in the airline industry -- given the stakes if a major IT failure occurs. Earlier this year, United was forced to ground all flights system-wide for two hours due to an outage in a computer system that measures the weight of aircraft prior to take off. In 2006, a failure of United's computerized reservation system prevented the airline from selling tickets or booking flights for four hours. EDS officials said the company has not yet identified a replacement for Halbert. http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205101453 *************** Couple Busted For Shining Laser At Helicopter A couple was charged with shining a green laser into the cockpit of a police helicopter. The FBI and the US attorney's office charged the California couple under a federal statute. They could end up paying a $250,000 fine and doing 20 years of jail time. "The complaint states that on November 8, 2007, at about 10:55 p.m., a green laser beam illuminated the cockpit of a Kern County Sheriff's Department helicopter, which was flying at 500 feet during routine patrol in Bakersfield, California. When the light hit the cockpit, it disoriented the Kern County Sheriff's pilot, causing pain and discomfort in his eyes for a couple of hours, the FBI said in a statement." http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/07/12/20/1741235.shtml *************** IATA targets 60 airports for ground handling audits in 2008 IATA plans to launch a standardized audit for ground handing companies starting in mid-April 2008, reviewing ground operations at as many as 60 airports by year’s end. Called the IATA safety audit for ground operations (ISAGO), the 2- to 3-day review will cover 11 categories, including airside management and safety, load control, passenger and baggage handling, aircraft fuelling, de-icing, anti-icing, and for the first time, a management review at each company’s headquarters. Though airlines are already required to audit their ground handling companies, the efforts tend to overlap, each audit is different and there is no data-sharing between airlines or companies, says Mike O’Brien, IATA’s director of program implementation and auditing. “Some of the larger ground-handling companies have full-time staff just to receive the audits,” he says. By pooling airline-employed auditors and working to a single standard, large airlines will likely be able to cut their auditing staff by at least 50%, allowing carriers and ground handling companies alike to reallocate those employees to “more productive roles,” O’Brien says. “It looks like we will be starting with 30 to 40 medium-to large-size airlines in the pool,” says O’Brien. Once an IASGO audit is performed for one ground handler’s operation at a particular airport, any airline working with that company will have access to the audit data, eliminating the need for redundant reviews. Audits will initially be performed on an annual basis though the period could be lengthened based on the company’s performance and a risk assessment, says O’Brien. Funding for the program will come from airlines paying salaries for their auditors and from ground handling companies through a registration fee. The amount of the fee has not been determined. Aside from industry pressure to perform well, O’Brien says ground handling companies could encounter airport authorities who have suggested they will require a successful audit as a prerequisite for operating at the facility. IATA has completed 12 ISAGO pilot audits at airports ranging from Cairo to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Four more tests – in Beirut, Vancouver, Nairobi and Mombasa -- are planned for completion by the end of January. Audits were performed by airline auditors and observed by IATA specialists. Results from the pilot programs show that the “depth of the standards was good,” says O’Brien, though he says some changes will be necessary given that in some cases there was uncertainty regarding what was meant by audit questions. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news