07 JAN 2008 _______________________________________ *Airplane Failed to Land at Keflavík *Boeing turns back after engine fails *6 die in Alaska small-plane crash *Plane-crash survivor says door opened after takeoff *AirSafe.com's Review of Fatal Airline Events of 2007 *Cranfield FDM & FOQA Course Available *Northwest CEO Named Chairman Of Air Transport Association *American Airlines To Outfit Three 767s With Anti-Missile Systems *BAE Systems gets U.S. contract for missile defense system *Let 410 Accident (Venezuela) *Sentient Acquires The Air Group *Runway accidents linked to 'human factor' *Boeing Dreamliner hacking scare *Police prepare case against Garuda pilot *************************************** Airplane Failed to Land at Keflavík Due to windy conditions, an Icelandair Boeing 757 airplane, returning to Iceland from the Canary Islands, was forced to land at Egilsstadir, east Iceland, after two failed attempts to land at Keflavík International Airport on Friday evening. “The situation on board was terrible. Everyone was screaming and my little girl, who is two-years-old, vomited all over herself,” passenger Lilja Björk Eysteinsdóttir told Morgunbladid. Most passengers were very frightened because the wind caused the aircraft to shake and some criticized the pilots for not explaining that they were not making an emergency landing and that the airplane had not suffered any damage until they had turned the airplane around to land at Egilsstadir. Information officer for Icelandair Gudjón Arngrímsson said the passengers had not been in danger at any point but that medical service and crisis counseling had still been offered at Egilsstadir. Some of the passengers decided to stay in Egilsstadir for the night instead of flying with a domestic airplane to Reykjavík. Others decided to drive. Thorkell Ágústsson, manager of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board, said there is no reason to investigate the incident. http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16567&ew_0_a_i d=297797 ************** Boeing turns back after engine fails A Boeing 747 was forced to return to OR Tambo International Airport after an engine failed one hour into the flight, SABC news reports. The pilot of KLM flight 592 announced to the 300 passengers that an engine had failed and that the plane had to turn back to Johannesburg. The aircraft landed safely after fuel was jettisoned. The Dutch airline refused to comment. A replacement engine would be flown in from Amsterdam. http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=673971 *************** 6 die in Alaska small-plane crash The Piper Navajo Chieftan was carrying 10 people ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A small plane crashed Saturday in waters off Kodiak island in southern Alaska, killing six of the 10 people on board, authorities said. Officials look over the wreckage of the plane that crashed off Kodiak Island. The Piper Navajo Chieftain crashed soon after takeoff at 1:48 p.m. in shallow waters, according to the Coast Guard. The pilot radioed that he would be turning the plane around, according to Clint Johnson, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. "Just after takeoff, the pilot reported an undisclosed problem to tower," he said. "We don't know why he tried to come back." A private float plane from a fish processing company pulled four people from the wreckage. One person died trying to swim the roughly 300 yards to shore, said State Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters. The pilot, 50-year-old Robin Starrett of Kodiak, was killed, as were five passengers from the small community of Homer, Peters said. They are Stefan F. Basargin, 36; Pavel F. Basargin, 30; Zahary F. Martushev, 25; Iosif F. Martushev, 15; and Andrian Reutov, 22. The charter flight operated by Kodiak-based Servant Air was headed to the town on the Kenai Peninsula, a short 100-mile ride to the northeast. Two of the survivors were flown to Anchorage for treatment. One has been released from the hospital in Kodiak and another remains there in good condition, said John Callahan, a spokesman for Providence Health and Services Alaska. No information about anyone on board has been released pending notification of family members. The aircraft is owned and operated by Servant Air, a local company that serves half a dozen communities on the large island in south-central Alaska, 225 miles southwest of Anchorage. The flight service started in 2003 as a one-plane operation and has grown to a fleet of seven small aircraft. Ted Panamarioff, a spokesman for Servant Air, said the deaths are a major tragedy for the small rural communities, where air travel is a regular part of life. "We're all family and friends here," he said by phone from Kodiak. "We knew these customers for several years. This is really, really tragic." Kodiak and Homer each have populations of roughly 6,000 people. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. *************** Plane-crash survivor says door opened after takeoff ANCHORAGE (AP) — A chartered plane that crashed into a shallow harbor after taking off from Kodiak Island, killing six people, was carrying a group of fishermen from a dissident sect of the Russian Orthodox Church home for Christmas. Four people survived the crash Saturday, and one told investigators the door to a baggage compartment in the nose of the small plane had popped open after takeoff. The Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain, operated by Kodiak-based Servant Air, crashed about 50 yards off the end of a runway after taking off, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. The wreckage was recovered Sunday. The passengers had been fishing in Kodiak and were taking a short flight north to Homer to celebrate Eastern Orthodox Christmas at home today. Dean Andrew, pilot of a float plane, was taxiing nearby when he heard the Piper pilot — Robin Starrett, 50, of Kodiak — on the radio saying he needed to return to the airport. Andrew could tell by his voice that something serious was going on. Soon after, he pulled the four survivors aboard his plane, a difficult job in winds estimated at 25 mph. The survivors, hypothermic and hysterical, pointed out that family members were in the submerged fuselage, Andrew said. "Once I got the four in, I could see down into the fuselage, but I couldn't see any signs of life," Andrew said. Clint Johnson, an investigator with the NTSB, said survivor Karnely Ivanov, 32, told investigators that just as the Piper got airborne, the baggage-area door opened at the nose of the plane on the pilot's side. That prompted the pilot to try to return to the airport. Starrett was killed along with five passengers from Homer: Stefan F. Basargin, 36; Pavel F. Basargin, 30; Zahary F. Martushev, 25; Iosif F. Martushev, 15; and Andrian Reutov, 22, officials said. Beside Ivanov, the survivors were identified as Feodot Basargin, 33; Andrean V. Basargin, 25; and Anton Rijkoff, 30. **************** AirSafe.com's Review of Fatal Airline Events of 2007 Seattle, WA - January 4, 2008 - AirSafe.com has released its annual review of fatal airline events of 2007. There were a total of eight fatal events in 2007, including four that resulted in the deaths of everyone on board. While there were no events in North America, there were three in Asia, two each in Africa and Europe, and one in South America. The eight fatal events of 2007 is the lowest number of fatal events tracked by AirSafe.com in the last decade, a number also equaled in 2006 and 2003. Over the 10 year period 1998-2007, AirSafe.com has compiled 111 fatal airline events around the world. This annual review is available in several formats: as an MP3 audio file, or as an MP4 or WMV video. To download the video, visit AirSafe.com at http://www.airsafe.com, or follow the link at the AirSafe.com Foundation at http://podcast.airsafe.org. In addition to downloading the audio or video, directly from the site, both versions can be downloaded for free using iTunes. The videos are also available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com and Google Video at http://video.google.com. You can find video links and download instructions at http://podcast.airsafe.org. To obtain a PDF file or PowerPoint presentation of this annual review, please contact AirSafe.com at tcurtis@airsafe.com. ************** Cranfield FDM & FOQA Course Available FLIGHT DATA MONITORING FOR AIRLINES (FDM) & FLIGHT OPERATIONAL QUALITY ASSURANCE (FOQA) IN COMMERCIAL AVIATION 18 - 21 February 2008 Cranfield University, UK in collaboration with the UK Civil Aviation Authority This 3.5 day course will provide delegates with an advanced appreciation of the technical, operational, management and legal issues surrounding a flight data monitoring (FDM) programme, also referred to as flight operational quality assurance (FOQA). The course content includes: * The history of FDM and an overview of its objectives * CAP739, JAR and ICAO regulatory frameworks * Integration of FDM within a safety system * FDM technology * Setting analysis targets * Data recovery and analysis tools * Principles of data validation and assessment * Trace interpretation, with both theoretical and practical sessions * Database management * The use of statistics in data analysis * Animations and visualisation in data presentation * FDM in accident and incident investigation * The interface between the analyst and crews * Legal aspects of FDM data collection, retention and use * The use of FDM to justify operational and technical change * The potential of FDM within maintenance programmes Speakers come from a range of areas including: * Civil Aviation Authority (UK) * Air Canada * bmi * BALPA * Bond Solon (legal) * easyJet * Lufthansa * Rolls-Royce plc * Air Accidents Investigation Branch (UK) The Course Directing Staff are: Nicholas Dann Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre Email: n.dann@cranfield.ac.uk Simon Hegarty Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre Email: s.hegarty@cranfield.ac.uk Questions regarding the course content should be directed to the Course Director. Question regarding administration and bookings should be directed to the Short Course Office. Email shortcourse@cranfield.ac.uk or call +44 (0) 1234 754176 Further information can be found at: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/soe/cpd/flight04.htm ---IMPORTANT NOTE--- EACH TIME THIS COURSE HAS RUN IT HAS BEEN OVER-SUBSCRIBED, SO PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. ************** Northwest CEO Named Chairman Of Air Transport Association Doug Steenland To Serve Two-Year Term The Air Transport Association of America announced Friday the election of Douglas Steenland, President and CEO of Northwest Airlines, to chairman of the ATA board of directors. Steenland will serve a two-year term as ATA chairman. He will work with ATA President and CEO James C. May on a number of industry issues, including pushing for effective government action to dramatically expand the capacity of our nation’s aging air traffic management system in order to meet burgeoning demand. "ATA and our member airlines thank outgoing board chairman Gerard Arpey of American Airlines, who chaired the industry group through a particularly difficult few years," said May. "With our thanks to Gerard, we look forward to Doug’s leadership in continuing to advance the public’s interest in a robust, dynamically structured aviation system." "I am honored to serve as chairman of the ATA board as we chart a new course for the future," said Steenland. "This is an industry that faces constant financial and operating pressures -- from record oil prices to an outdated air traffic control system. I look forward to working with my colleagues to help steer the industry through its challenges." Steenland was elected chief executive officer to Northwest Airlines in 2004, having served as its president since April 2001. FMI: www.airlines.org, www.nwa.com Aero-news.net *************** American Airlines To Outfit Three 767s With Anti-Missile Systems Passenger-Carrying Test Flights Will Begin This Spring If you're booked on an American Airlines transcontinental flight this year, you might take some comfort in knowing the jet you'll be flying on could be equipped with a system to thwart attacks from shoulder-fired missiles. The Department of Homeland Security signed a $29 million contract with BAE Systems December 21, calling for tests to be conducted with domestic aircraft equipped with the laser-based JETEYE defense system. BAE is working with American to outfit three of its Boeing 767-200s, used on transcons between New York and Los Angeles, with JETEYE -- which is designed to jam the guidance systems of man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS. The test program, slated to begin in March or April, will mark the first time the countermeasures system will be tested on aircraft carrying passengers. Previous tests have been conducted using systems mounted to cargo planes, and empty test aircraft. "It's the ultimate consumer use of the equipment," said Burt Keirstead, director of commercial aircraft protection at BAE Systems, to USA Today. The system's jamming abilities will not be evaluated during the test phase -- no projectiles will be launched at the planes (everyone involved stresses that point -- Ed.) -- but rather the system's durability and reliability in scheduled passenger airline service, as well as what impact the belly-mounted system will have on fuel consumption. There are also other economic considerations, not the least of which is JETEYE's estimated $500,000-to-$1 million pricetag, per plane. The cost to maintain the system is also unknown. "If this is going to break down every other month vs. every fifth year, obviously that's a big, big difference," said Jim Tuttle, with Homeland Security's Science and Technology division. Though it agreed to participate in the program, American is "philosophically opposed" to anti-missile technology on commercial aircraft, said spokesman John Hotard -- adding the carrier's going along with it in case Congress later mandates such systems on domestic airliners. "When you look at the cost benefit, it would be an extremely expensive proposition, and in the end, is it really going to work?" Hotard said. FMI: www.aa.com, www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/bae_prod_eis_jeteye.html aero-news.net *************** BAE Systems gets U.S. contract for missile defense system evaluation on civil aviation BAE Systems has received a $29 million award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to test an infrared aircraft missile defense system on passenger aircraft. The tests will evaluate the system's compatibility with daily passenger airline operations and maintenance. As part of the Department of Homeland Security`s (DHS) counter-man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) program, BAE Systems will install its JETEYE aircraft missile defense system on up to three American Airlines aircraft. The JETEYE system is based on BAE Systems` existing directable infrared countermeasures technology, used to protect military aircraft. (The Centre Daily Times) (aviation-safety.net) *************** Let 410 Accident (Venezuela) Status: Preliminary Date: 04 JAN 2008 Time: ca 09:40 Type: Let 410UVP-E3 Operator: Transaven Registration: YV2081 C/n / msn: 872015 First flight: 1987 Engines: 2 Walter M-601E Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants: 12 Total: Fatalities: / Occupants: 14 Airplane damage: Written off Location: ca 20 km S off Los Roques Airport (LRV) (Venezuela) Phase: En route Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Los Roques Airport (LRV/SVRS), Venezuela Destination airport: Caracas-Simon Bolivar Airport (CCS/SVMI), Venezuela Narrative: Shortly after takeoff the pilot radioed that both engines had failed. At that moment he was at 3000 feet, 64 nm from its destination on the 024 degrees radial of the Caracas Airport (CCS). It seems the pilot attempted to return for a ditching in the Los Roques archipelago. (aviation-safety.net) **************** Sentient Acquires The Air Group Acquisition Strengthens Presence in California Market Sentient Jet Holdings, LLC has completed the acquisition of The Air Group, Inc., a premier aircraft management company. The addition of The Air Group, based in Van Nuys, California, expands Sentient’s presence in the Southern California market. In combination with the recent agreement by Sentient Flight Group, LLC to acquire the aircraft management operations of TAG Aviation USA, Sentient is now the leading manager of aircraft in the country. “We are committed to continuing to build on our position as the leading aircraft management company in the industry and The Air Group is a terrific addition to Sentient,” said Steven Hankin, chief executive officer. “The Air Group, with a large group of loyal clients, has earned a reputation for excellence within the industry. This acquisition further strengthens our aircraft management experience and provides us with one of the largest and highest-quality fleets for charter customers. With The Air Group’s new facility in Teterboro, New Jersey and the planned opening of a new facility in Van Nuys in the spring of 2008, we also gain access to top-notch facilities for our clients at two important airports.” The Air Group will be an operating subsidiary of Sentient and will continue to offer aircraft management and aircraft charter services. The Air Group’s current management team, including President Jon Winthrop, will continue to lead operations in Van Nuys. “We are excited to join the Sentient team,” said Winthrop. “The company has a broad range of capabilities and expertise in private aviation and its culture, focused on service and safety, aligns with the foundation we have built at The Air Group over the past 27 years. Being a part of Sentient will increase the value we bring to our long-standing aircraft owners and the charter clients we serve.” Within a short period of time, Sentient has emerged as a leader in the private aviation industry, known for its focus on customer service and its innovative approach to safety programs. In addition to being the leading aircraft management company through its subsidiary operators, Sentient also includes Sentient Jet, Inc., which operates Sentient Jet Membership, the leading private jet membership program with more than 3,000 active Members. The Air Group was advised in the transaction by Kerlin Capital Group, a private investment bank in Los Angeles. Sentient Jet Holdings (“Sentient”) includes Sentient Jet, Inc., which operates Sentient Jet Membership, as well as Sentient Flight Group, LLC, and other operating subsidiaries. Sentient is a leading provider of private aviation services for clients across the country. FMI: www.sentientflight.com, www.sentient.com aero-news.net ************** Runway accidents linked to 'human factor' Najmedin Meshkati, professor, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California - Los Angeles As a professor of engineering and an aviation safety researcher and instructor, I disagree with the Opposing View on the airline industry by Nicholas A. Sabatini and Hank Krakowski ("Safety project working," Air travel debate, Dec. 28). They write: "Any look at aviation safety in America — specifically on our runways — has to start with the numbers. Those numbers tell us the Federal Aviation Administration's aggressive efforts in the past decade to make our airports safer are delivering significant results." But I do not think the "numbers" are doing justice to the complex problem of runway collisions. Based on my research and teaching aviation safety for the past 20 years at the University of Southern California, and as one of the 25 experts who participated in the Government Accountability Office's recently released study on "Aviation Runway and Ramp Safety," I have found that human factors are the most important contributor to runway incursions. According to the FAA's Runway Safety Blueprint 2002-04, human factors are "the common denominator in every runway incursion." Some of the most notable causes of incursions are poor visibility, fatigue, air traffic controller's workload, deficient radar systems, pressure on cockpit crews and inconsistent communication practices. There also are strong indications that air traffic controllers are increasingly suffering from cumulative fatigue, the term given to the condition workers face after working long hours for consecutive days. This critical issue prompted the National Transportation Safety Board to update its "Most Wanted List" of safety improvements by adding recommendations addressing fatigue. Throwing more technology onto the runway problem does not address human factors. To change this terrible situation, the FAA needs to seriously consider human factors. It needs the genuine cooperation and coordination of manufacturers, air traffic controllers and other industry officials. The Transportation Department, with the help of the National Research Council, needs to develop a scientifically sound plan to deal with human factors. Congress should make sure this new plan, unlike the FAA's 1990 plan launched in the wake of the 1988 Aloha Airlines accident, stays on the front burner. (USA Today) ************** Boeing Dreamliner hacking scare The new Boeing Dreamliner may have a serious security vulnerability in its onboard computer networks. Passengers may be able to hack into the control systems of Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner passenger jet, according to a report. The plane may have a serious security vulnerability in its onboard computer networks, allowing passengers to get access to the plane's control, navigation and communication systems, according to US Federal Aviation Administration documents quoted by wired.com. The vulnerability comes from having the plane's in-flight internet access computer system connected to the plane's flight-safety, control and navigation network. The plane's business and administrative-support network are also connected. According to a FAA document the design "allows new kinds of passenger connectivity to previously isolated data networks connected to systems that perform functions required for the safe operation of the airplane." "Because of this new passenger connectivity, the proposed data-network design and integration may result in security vulnerabilities from intentional or unintentional corruption of data and systems critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane,"the document states. A more secure design would be to separate the passenger and flight computer networks, wired.com reported. Boeing told the website it was aware of the issue and has designed a solution it will test shortly. The 787 Dreamliner mid-sized jet is in the final stages of production and is scheduled to be released in late 2008. Boeing has reported it has received 762 orders valued at more than $120 billion for the plane. Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter told wired.com the FAA document was misleading, and that the plane's networks don't completely connect. Gunter would not provide details about how Boeing is dealing with the issue beyond saying they are using a combination of physical and software solutions. Gunter said that data can pass between the networks but there were "protections in place" to stop unauthorised access. She also said the company is still conducting testing on the system. "It will all be done before the first airplane is delivered," she told wired.com. http://www.smh.com.au/news/news/dreamliner-hacking-scare/2008/01/07/11995545 34790.html *************** Police prepare case against Garuda pilot JAKARTA: Police are preparing their case against pilot Marwoto Komar, who is widely viewed as being responsible for the crash of a Garuda Indonesia airplane in Yogyakarta last year, a senior police officer said Saturday. "Our investigation team has returned from Australia with their results," National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri told detik.com. "The hearing in mid January will be based on the results of an investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT)," Bambang said. The Boeing 737-400 airplane, which was piloted by Capt. Marwoto Komar and Gagam Rachman, crashed while attempting to land in March last year, killing 21 people, including five Australians. The KNKT previously said the accident was due to human error. Captain Marwoto reportedly ignored 15 warnings to abort the landing at Yogyakarta Airport. The airplane was traveling at almost twice the normal speed at the time it crashed. http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20080107.H06&irec=5