29 JAN 2008 _______________________________________ *FAA Pins Blame For SAN Runway Incursion On Controller *FAA Issues SFAR For Mitsubishi MU-2B Training *FBI investigates threat call involving NY-to-LA flight *EASA to Rule on Bulgarian Aviation *International Air Taxi Convention (IATC) *China to build 97 new airports by 2020 *************************************** FAA Pins Blame For SAN Runway Incursion On Controller Agency Asserts Incident Did Not Compromise Safety The Federal Aviation Administration has completed its second look at a recent runway incursion incident at San Diego International Airport/Lindbergh Field, and placed the blame on a mistake by an air traffic controller. As ANN reported, on the evening of January 16 a Hawker Siddeley corporate jet had just landed, and was preparing to taxi clear of the airport's only runway. But a brief mechanical issue required it to stop, still on the runway. The controller, meanwhile, didn't immediately notice the stop, and cleared Southwest Flight 1626 for takeoff on the same runway. As the Boeing 737 sped toward the smaller jet, the controller noticed the runway wasn't clear, and called for the Southwest crew to abort the takeoff. The crew decided it was too late to safely bring the jet to a stop, and continued the takeoff. FAA spokesman Ian Gregor says the 737 came within 2,500 feet of the Hawker, 500 feet closer than previously acknowledged. He told the San Diego Union tribune, "There was no collision hazard because Southwest took off a half-mile from where the (other plane) was." Despite the fact the smaller jet essentially eliminated part of the runway's safety margin for the departing 737, Gregor had stated last week the FAA did not consider the incident a safety breach. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association accused the agency of a cover-up... and the FAA responded by saying it was taking a deeper look. Now, Gregor says the FAA is continuing its review. NATCA's San Diego-area chapter president, Melvin Davis, told the Union-Tribune the incident should have raised a red flag with the FAA from the start, and was a symptom of short-staffing which has forced controllers to work overtime. Both the FAA and the union have described the controller, who was not identified, as a longtime employee with a good safety record. The union said he's been working six-day weeks. NATCA, which is prohibited by law from striking over its contract dispute with the FAA, has responded by working to discredit the FAA among travelers and lawmakers. Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego, is now requesting a congressional investigation into the incursion incident, the first at Lindbergh since late 2003. FMI: www.san.org, www.natca.org aero-news.net ************** FAA Issues SFAR For Mitsubishi MU-2B Training Requirements Fall Short Of Type Rating After receiving numerous comments from both private and commercial operators of the Mitsubishi MU-2B turboprop -- as well as owner representatives, and the plane's manufacturer -- the FAA intends to go forward with its call for a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) calling for new pilot training, experience, and operating requirements for the speedy aircraft. The final rule mandates a comprehensive standardized pilot training program for the MU-2B. The regulation requires use of a standardized cockpit checklist and the latest revision of the Airplane Flight Manual. MU-2B operators also must have a working autopilot onboard except in certain limited circumstances. Owners and operators must comply with the SFAR within a year. The FAA's requirements follow an increased accident and incident rate in the MU-2B over the past four years, and are based on a safety evaluation of the MU-2B conducted by the agency since July 2005. This SFAR mandates additional training, experience, and operating requirements to improve the level of operational safety for the MU-2B. "The FAA studies enormous amounts of data looking for trends," said FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Nick Sabatini. "When we saw the rising accident rate for the MU-2B, we decided to take appropriate actions to bring the plane up to an acceptable level of safety." In its original Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FAA proposed new requirements for ground and flight training that would apply to all persons who manipulate the controls or act as pilot-in-command (PIC) of the MU-2B. The proposed SFAR also would apply to those persons who provide pilot training for the Mitsubishi MU-2B. Operational requirements -- including a requirement for a functioning autopilot for single pilot instrument flight rules (IFR) and night visual flight rules (VFR) operations, a requirement to obtain and carry a copy of the latest available revision of the airplane flight manual, and a requirement to use a new pilot checklist were part of the proposal -- where included in the NPRM, building on the current MU-2 requirements as spelled out in 14 CFR parts 61, 91, and 135. The FAA proposed that all training conducted in the Mitsubishi MU-2B be done using the standardized Mitsubishi Heavy Industries training program and a checklist accepted by the FAA's MU-2B FSB. The requirements called for by the FAA fall short of a type-rating standard, which some have called for the MU-2 to have due to its unique operational characteristics compared to other multi-engine turboprops. The FAA notes over 90 comments on the proposed SFAR were received -- and, generally, those weighing in on the proposed rule agreed with the FAA's assertion the MU-2B is a safe aircraft, if "flown by the book." Some took issue with the FAA's call for an increase to the total number of program hours required for pilot training, or qualification as a flight instructor; others noted pilot proficiency should be the standard of judgment, not a set number of hours. The agency notes its hours-requirement should be considered a minimum standard, not the set limit. Commenters were split on whether the SFAR would actually result in a drop in the number of MU-2B accidents. Several noted the majority of MU-2B accidents stem from lack of adequate pilot training (especially, it should be noted, in regards to the airplane's behavior in slow flight, and one-engine-out operations -- Ed.) while others felt the rule would do little to address accidents caused by poor pilot judgment -- an issue hardly unique to flying the MU-2. The FAA originally called for a 180-day timeframe for operators to implement the new standards -- a schedule many felt was too short. The agency has since revised its compliance period to one year. The Full, 216-page report -- including proposed graphics to aid pilots in emergency situations -- is available at the FMI link below. FMI: Read The SFAR (.pdf): http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/recently_published/media/ 27127.PDF aero-news.net *************** FBI investigates threat call involving NY-to-LA flight LOS ANGELES (AP) -An airliner that was the subject of a threatening telephone call has been moved to a remote part of Los Angeles International Airport. FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the move Monday afternoon was strictly precautionary and that the person who made the call to a law enforcement agency is under investigation. The threat involved United Flight 23 from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport to Los Angeles. The plane landed safely and the 71 people aboard were taken off at the airport's west end. ************** EASA to Rule on Bulgarian Aviation By the end of the month Bulgaria should receive the report of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the condition of Bulgarian aviation. Depending on the report, a decision will be made whether to remove safeguard clauses for Bulgarian aviation. The informed in an interview for Darik radio Zahari Alexiyev, chief of "Civil aviation" directorate in Ministry of transport. The measure was imposed because of weakness in the aviation administration and the lack of traned experts in Bulgaria. The safeguard clause bans the flights with Bulgarian airplanes between the different airports of the EU member states. The Bulgarian airplanes are allowed only to fly from Bulgaria to the European airports. The Bulgarians will be able to fly cheaper if the restrictions are removed, explained Zahari Alexiyev. http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1511486521 *************** International Air Taxi Convention (IATC) First Day Major European and American Operators Speak Along with the Major Very Light Jet Manufacturers The first day of the International Air Taxi Convention (IATC) included speakers from some of the major American and European air taxi operators and very light manufacturers including Linear Air, DayJet, Earthjet, SATSair, Blink, ETIRC, BIKKAIR, Eclipse, Adam, and Embraer. Ed Iacobucci, CEO of DayJet, spoke on DayJet's expansion in Florida and throughout the southeastern U.S. DayJet is adding about 20 new members a week and the 392 corporate contracts they have are within 25 miles from a "DayPort". Earthjet CEO, Dean Rocthin, explained how they were poised to become the first air taxi franchise. Also, he spoke about the differences between air taxi and air charter. "We as air taxi providers operate at $450 per seat while air charters can operate near $40,000 per plane," said Rocthin. Steve Hanvey, CEO of SATSair, stated how the industry is on the brink of expanding rapidly with a little consumer education. "We need to educate the industry in the value of the air taxi industry," said Hanvey. "How we operate and how we work together determines the growth of the industry." Peter Leiman, CEO of the U.K.'s Blink, and Matthijs de Haan, CEO of ETIRC, compared and contrasted the air taxi industry between the Americas and Europe. Leiman, who received $30 million in funding for Blink, explained his process for receiving funding. Haan detailed his partnership with Eclipse Aviation to help spark the manufacturer's production. Arguably three of the major VLJ manufacturers, Eclipse Aviation, Adam Aircraft, and Embraer Executive Jets all had a representative to update the industry leaders on their next-generation VLJs. "We founded the VLJ market category with the 500 and now the entire VLJ market is growing at an annual rate of 21%," said Michael McConnel, Vice President of Eclipse Aviation. Clint Clouatre, Senior Manager of Marketing for Embraer Executive Aviation, detailed the pending release of the Phenom 100. Clouatre compared the Phenom 100 with the other VLJ leaders such as the Eclipse 500, Cessna Citation Mustang, and the Adam A700. Steve Crowley, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Support of Adam Aircraft, answered questions regarding the ongoing certification of the A700. Crowley explained how almost 80 percent of the parts are the same between the A500 dual propeller aircraft and the A700 VLJ. The Air Taxi Association (ATXA) is an alliance of next-generation air taxi providers that offer direct, on-demand flight service at greatly reduced prices. ATXA stimulates consumer demand to speed the adoption of the next-generation air taxi models and provides best business practices to drive industry standardization, create economies of scale, and realize operational efficiencies. For more information, visit www.atxa.com or www.atxa.eu. ***** International Air Taxi Convention (IATC) Second Day The second day of the International Air Taxi Convention (IATC) included speakers from major air taxi operators, financial consultants, and panel discussions over software solutions, pilot training, and regulations and requirements for air taxis. Bruce Holmes, Chief Strategist of NextGen Systems and DayJet, began the second day of the convention. "Cars displaced trains, prop-liners displaced cars, jetliners displaced prop-liners," said Holmes. "The next step is for the next-generation transformation in air mobility." "Airline travel is becoming an ever worse experience and a severe negative factor on business productivity, especially on short haul," said Eric Mandemaker, CEO of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA). "Time is being wasted in airports and indirect travel lowers productivity." Mandemaker also touched upon the differences between travel initiatives in the U.S. and Europe. Regional travel in the U.S. is replaced with international travel in Europe. Oscar S. Garcia, Chairman of InterFlight Consulting, expounded upon the state of the air taxi industry as of now. "Over 7500 VLJs will be delivered over the next 10 years with 60 percent going to air taxi companies and 40 percent going to other airline endeavors," said Garcia. "There were 140 VLJs delivered in 2007 after a forecast of 175. As of now, 75 percent of the market is in the U.S." The Air Taxi Association (ATXA) is an alliance of next-generation air taxi providers that offer direct, on-demand flight service at greatly reduced prices. ATXA stimulates consumer demand to speed the adoption of the next-generation air taxi models and provides best business practices to drive industry standardization, create economies of scale, and realize operational efficiencies. For more information, visit www.atxa.com or www.atxa.eu. *************** China to build 97 new airports by 2020 Jan. 29, 2008 (China Knowledge) - According to the news released by the Ministry of Commerce on Saturday, China plans to inject RMB 450 million (US$1.6 billion) to build a total of 97 new airports nationwide by the end of 2020, aiming to satisfy the surging demand. China will have 192 airports by 2010 and 244 by 2020, compared with 147 by the end of 2006, the General Administration of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a statement on its website. That means by 2020, 82% of China's population would live within 100 kilometers or a 90-minute drive from an airport. Currently, more than 60% of the 1.3 billion people live within the range. Official figures revealed that the passenger throughput by the industry jumped 16% from the previous year to hit 185 million in 2007. GACA forecasts passenger traffic will enjoy an annual growth of 11.4% from now to 2020, while freight traffic will rise at 14% annually. The construction of the new airports is estimated to cost RMB 450 billion (US$61.6 billion). Currently, China only has three airports with passenger service capacity surpassing 30 million, but the figure will increase to 13 by 2020 when all the 97 airports are completed, said GACA. ****************