26 AUG 2008 _______________________________________ *Bodies of some crash victims may not be identified *TSA Retaliates Against American Eagle *Canadian Regional Carrier Removes Life Vests From Planes *NTSB Investigates C208 Downing In Guatemala *Southwest names strategy and change leadership VP *Riau Airlines resumes operations *Boeing Unveils Plans To Upgrade Early 777 Versions *ICAO safety audit gives U.S. high mark *FAA's Hank Krakowski To Speak At National Airports Conference *Embry-Riddle Keeps Top Spot in U.S. News & World Report's Best College *Search on for ‘missing’ Air Force C-130 plane *Air Force blames pilots for fatal F-15 collision *************************************** Bodies of some crash victims may not be identified MADRID, Spain - Spanish authorities have identified the bodies of more than half the 154 victims of last week's fiery plane crash in Madrid, but some of the remains may never be identified because of problems in obtaining DNA from relatives, the interior minister said. So far, 86 sets of remains have been identified and most of the pending cases should be resolved in a matter of days, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba told Cadena Ser radio. "We are working day and night," he said. Many of the bodies of victims of Wednesday's crash of a Spanair MD-82 bound for the Canary Islands were burned beyond recognition, and forensic teams are using DNA techniques to identify them. The minister said the process is taking longer than expected because of the poor condition of some sets of remains and difficulty in obtaining DNA samples from relatives, especially those of foreigners who died in the disaster. One of the victims was a foreign-born, adopted child. "If you have a sample from a brother or a father, it is easy. But if we get away from this and have to turn to more distant relatives, things are much, much more complicated," he said. "Will some bodies go unidentified? I cannot tell you right now, but it is a possibility," the minister said. Rubalcaba said the identification process is being carried out meticulously, addressing fears of some families that errors might be committed. This is a painful issue in Spain because in May 2003, 62 Spanish peacekeepers returning home from Afghanistan died when their Russian-built YAK-42 plane crashed in Turkey and mistakes were made in identifying many of the bodies. Some families were given the wrong remains. The newspaper El Pais, quoting sources close to the crash investigation, said it is focusing on the possibility that the Spanair jet lacked proper engine power as it tried to take off. The plane struggled to get airborne, veered to the right and crashed, burning and largely disintegrating. El Pais said airport video of the takeoff shows that the plane used up much more of the runway than it normally should as it tried to take off for the Canary Islands, which suggested insufficient thrust. The Development Ministry, which handles civil aviation in Spain, did not return a call seeking comment on the newspaper report. One of the 18 survivors of the crash, Colombian-born Spaniard Ligia Palomino Riveros, told The Associated Press over the weekend that the plane struggled to pick up speed on the runway and was still flying very low when its right wing dipped. The plane then started "wobbling" and it plunged to the ground, she said. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080825/ap_on_re_eu/spain_plane_crash ************** TSA Retaliates Against American Eagle Says Agency Has "Consistently Found Problems" With Carrier At ORD The US Transportation Security Administration, apparently embarrassed last week for supporting an inspector who climbed aboard American Eagle regional jets at Chicago O'Hare by using air temperature probes as grab handles, has retaliated against the airline with charges and fines. The Transportation Security Administration told CNN Thursday it will investigate "multiple security violations," and may fine the airport as much as $175,000. TSA says airlines are allowed to park planes with unsecured doors overnight, provided they're not too close to jetways, but American Eagle is leaving its planes both unlocked and too close. The agency told CNN it has "consistently found problems" with American Eagle at O'Hare, adding that this is an isolated problem unique to this airline at this airport. As reported, on the morning of August 19 a TSA inspector reported he was able to gain access to seven of nine parked American Eagle planes... by grabbing the fragile air temperature probes on the outside of the fuselages to pull himself up to unlocked doors. The airline delayed 40 flights to check for damage, after its own employees observed the inspector, and warned maintenance officials. The airline says neither TSA nor the inspector said anything about the dangerous stunt ahead of scheduled takeoffs, putting crews and passengers at risk. The TSA now admits its inspector erred, and says he'll be retrained. But the agency says he was, "...seeking to close a real danger to the traveling public... The TSA stands behind the inspector and that effort." It's hard not to wonder if they'd still back the inspector if this was all part of an NTSB report. FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.tsa.gov aero-news.net *************** Canadian Regional Carrier Removes Life Vests From Planes Saves Less Than 100 Lbs Per Plane... But Every Little Bit Helps Let's imagine for a minute that you own a major airline. If there was a piece of equipment onboard your planes that adds weight, but is seldom used -- and may be of dubious assistance if it is called upon -- might it be prudent to remove that equipment, in order to save those pounds and, by extension, even a small bit of fuel? Air Canada's regional affiliate, Jazz, says yes... but some object to what the carrier recently removed from its planes: the life vests. Transport Canada says the airline is within its rights. The regulations allow airliners to fly over water without life vests, as long as those flights fly within 50 nautical miles of the shore. Jazz altered several routes along the eastern coast of Canada and the United States to comply with the rule. "We operate within Transport Canada regulations and in this case we're within their regulations for operations over water," Jazz spokesperson Debra Williams told The Toronto Star. The planes will still be equipped with floatation seat cushions, which passengers may strap themselves to in order to keep afloat. But Tom Hinton, formerly director for aviation at Canada's Transportation Safety Board, says those cushions have "always been a kind of a Plan B," and weren't meant to be the primary means of survival. "It's standard that any airplane has to be evacuated within a couple of minutes and if you've got everybody standing up in the aisles trying to tear up their seat cushion, and carry it under their arms, and get out a hatch, it's really going to slow things down," said Hinton, now a consultant on aviation safety. "The person has to hold on to it and the difficulty there is if the water is cold ... you can't hang on very long before your fingers and your hands won't respond," he adds. In comparison, life vests are designed to keep the wearer's head above water, so they can breathe. But Hinton admits that's little comfort, given the cold waters Jazz flights operate over. "[I]t's not likely you're going to drown, but the issue is the time spent in the water and how much body heat you lose before you die of hypothermia," he says. Each life vest weighs just over one pound... so figure about an 85 lbs. savings on a 75-seat aircraft. That's not a lot... but in this age when airlines are desperately fighting to recoup losses wherever they can, even a miniscule savings is worthwhile for the airlines. "When you're trying to save every bit of money you can to make the airline more productive, every bit counts," Hinton said. Rotman School of Management professor Joseph D'Cruz has studied the airline industry for 25 years. He estimates at most, Jazz will save about two percent in its fuel costs by ditching the life vests, and taking other weight-saving steps such as carrying less water for passengers. Jazz's action "says to me that the financial circumstances of the airline industry are in such disarray that a 1 percent cost is being considered worthwhile," says D'Cruz. "I think accumulatively, it's making air travel a relatively unpleasant experience." FMI: www.flyjazz.ca aero-news.net **************** NTSB Investigates C208 Downing In Guatemala Ten Aid Workers Lost, Including Five Americans The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team of investigators to Cabanas, Zacapa, Guatemala, to assist in the investigation of Sunday's accident in which a Cessna 208 Caravan turboprop crashed during a forced landing. The Board says the airplane was being operated by Aereo Ruta Maya airlines. The Associated Press reports the aircraft was transporting US humanitarian workers when it crashed in a field about 60 miles east of Guatemala City. The accident occurred about 45 minutes after takeoff. Civil Aviation director Jose Carlos said the pilots radioed the emergency and said they would try to make an emergency landing. Authorities said eight passengers were killed, along with the plane's Guatemalan flight crew. There are at least two survivors reported, including 19-year old Sarah Jensen. She told the AP she and her family were flying to a village near El Estor, to build homes for Utah-based relief group CHOICE Humanitarian. Jensen's brother and father were lost in the crash. Her mother was transported to a local medical facility with serious burns. NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker has designated senior air safety investigator Luke Schiada as the US Accredited Representative on site. The US team will also include technical advisors from the FAA and the Cessna Aircraft Company. FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.choicehumanitarian.org aero-news.net *************** Southwest names strategy and change leadership VP Southwest Airlines appointed Kathleen Wayton VP strategy and change leadership. Wayton will be responsible for providing executive leadership and direction for the company's strategy, change leadership, and portfolio management teams. She will lead the continued development and implementation of the company's strategic plan. Additionally, she will drive company-wide change and improvement projects oversee the management of the company's portfolio of investment opportunities provide project management support support the development of the tools and processes to govern and manage strategy and project execution. Wayton joined Southwest in 2004 as a director in technology, leading the enterprise data team. She was then promoted to senior director over the Rapid Rewards and southwest.com technology teams. Then she moved to the strategic planning department as senior director. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ************** Riau Airlines resumes operations Riau Airlines has resumed operations following a temporary grounding brought on by the departure of two key personnel. Indonesia's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) grounded the airline late last month because the airline no longer had a manager of operations or a chief pilot approved by the DGCA but Riau Airlines manager business development Wendy Yunisbar says the DGCA granted approval on 7 August and the airline resumed operations the following day. This is because the airline's manager of operations, Maman Syaifurohman, returned to the post and the airline was able to appoint Heru Triperwiranto as chief pilot. Heru is a former manager of operations at the airline, says Wendy. The previous chief pilot, Feri Novara, also returned to the airline but he is now a Fokker 50 captain, he says. The men originally left the because of a conflict with the airline's managing director Heru Naurhayadi but the two returned once it became apparent Heru would be leaving. On 6 August the carrier installed its commissioner Asparaini Rasyad as managing director for an interim period of two months until a permanent managing director can be appointed. Wendy says next month the carrier will appoint a permanent managing director. He also says the airline has created two new director positions and will be filling these next month. The positions are director of finance and administration and director of production in charge of the operations, technical and commercial departments, he adds. Riau Airlines is based in Riau province's capital Pekanbaru and operates a fleet of five Fokker 50s on domestic routes and three routes to neighbouring Malaysia. The carrier in the coming weeks is due to receive two BAE Systems Avro RJ100s on lease from the manufacturer. Its first RJ100 was originally due to arrive this month but Wendy says the first RJ100 will arrive in Indonesia on 10 September, the second on 12 or 13 September and the plan is to have the first RJ100 commercial flight on 26 September. He says the airline has been sending its pilots to Istanbul in Turkey to use Turkish Airlines RJ100 flight simulator. Wendy also says in two or three months the carrier plans to start adding de Havilland Canada Twin Otters for domestic feeder services. The carrier will eventually have two or three Twin Otters but these will be owned by local regency governments in Riau province and simply operated and maintained by the airline, he adds. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news *************** Boeing Unveils Plans To Upgrade Early 777 Versions Boeing is studying winglets for possible retrofit to 777-200, 200ER and -300 versions as part of a series of planned performance upgrades, the first elements of which are now in development. The winglet study, being undertaken with specialist Aviation Partners Boeing, is competing with an alternate ‘enhanced raked tip’ option and remains part of a long-term improvement study, says Boeing Commercial Airplane Services (CAS) Environmental Strategy Director Per Norén. Blended winglets have been successfully developed for retrofit to the 737, 757 and recently the 767. Winglets were not originally considered for the more advanced wing of the 777, which features conformal partial raked tips that are prominently extended on the longer range variants. However, 777 operators are asking the manufacturer to explore every avenue for possible improvements, including fundamental aerodynamic modifications. Boeing’s nearer-term focus is on an initial performance upgrade package for the 777-200, 200ER and -300 variants that will offer potential fuel savings of around 1% to 1.5%, or roughly one million pounds of fuel per aircraft per year. The drag reduction package is based on design features originally developed for the longer range 777-200LR and -300ER variants, and will be introduced into service in April 2009. Launch customers include Continental, Air New Zealand and Delta. To-date, Boeing has taken orders for packages for 153 aircraft from nine airlines though “this will probably jump to around 200 in the next month or so,” says Kenneth Thomson, Boeing Commercial Aircraft Services business development and strategy project manager. The package includes aileron droop, optimized vortex generators (VG) and changes to the environmental control system (ECS) ram air system. The aileron droop is introduced with a software update to the primary flight control computer that activates the feature above 11,000 feet altitude and a speed of 280 knots. The extra outboard camber provided by the droop generates a more elliptical lift distribution over the wing, improving overall cruise efficiency. The VG change adopts the later generation size and shape of the units developed for the longer-range 777s. As all the features have already been certificated for the later 777 models, little new testing is needed for this initial upgrade package. The upgrades dovetail with Boeing’s goal of environmental improvements which, in the case of the initial drag reduction package, will cut CO2 emissions by around 3.2 million tons per aircraft per year. Further 777 upgrades being studied beyond drag reduction efforts include noise improvements such as one-piece acoustic inlet liners, and landing gear bogie fairings. Boeing is also developing a broader series of product and service upgrades and improvements, as well as initiatives to boost operating efficiency across the fleet. http://www.aviationweek.com/ ************** ICAO safety audit gives U.S. high mark The U.S. aviation system received a score of 91 out of 100 in a new safety audit released by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The U.S. score, which was well above the global average of 56, reflected U.S. compliance with over 9,500 international safety standards. The FAA led U.S. preparations for the audit, which also included the National Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The team of ICAO auditors conducted a comprehensive audit of all aspects of civil aviation in the United States, including aircraft operations and airworthiness, accident investigation, navigation services, airports, personnel licensing and legislation and regulations. The auditors interviewed technical experts and conducted site visits to government and industry facilities to assess overall safety oversight. The Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program was established by ICAO in 1995 at the urging of the United States. It provides civil aviation authorities throughout the world with valuable information on the overall health and effectiveness of their airspace systems. (FAA) aviation-safety.net) ************** FAA's Hank Krakowski To Speak At National Airports Conference Delegates at AAAE's 2008 F. Russell Hoyt National Airports Conference (NAC), to be held in Sept. 7-10 in Reno, Nev., will hear the latest on NextGen air traffic control from Hank Krakowski, chief operating officer of FAA's Air Traffic Organization. Other speakers and panels will explore in depth the preparations airport officials need to make as the industry adjusts to drastic increases in oil prices, the economy, aviation security and federal regulation. Roundtables will feature TSA and FAA officials who will conduct an open dialogue with NAC delegates. Further, guest speakers will share the latest news about their companies and the impact this news will have on the nation's airports. For more information and to register for the NAC, go to http://events.aaae.org/sites/080901/. For sponsorship information, contact Susan Lausch at (703) 824-0500, Ext. 128, or e-mail susan.lausch@aaae.org. ************** Embry-Riddle Keeps Top Spot in U.S. News & World Report's Best College Rankings for Ninth Year in a Row DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug 25, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- New Doctoral Programs in Aviation and Engineering Physics Planned For the ninth year in a row, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has earned the top ranking in the annual "America's Best Colleges" guide published by U.S. News & World Report magazine. In the specialty category of "Best Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering Programs at Schools Whose Highest Degree is a Bachelor's or Master's," Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus has been number one every year since the category was introduced in 2001. Embry-Riddle's Prescott, Ariz., campus has been number three in that category since 2004. The U.S. Air Force Academy took second place this year, the U.S. Naval Academy fourth, and Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo fifth. Embry-Riddle has one of the largest and most well-regarded Aerospace Engineering programs in the nation. The Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses offer a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. The Daytona Beach campus also offers two different master's programs in Aerospace Engineering. "For the ninth straight year, U.S. News has honored Embry-Riddle for outstanding achievement," said Dr. John P. Johnson, Embry-Riddle president. "This prestigious accomplishment was made possible by top-caliber faculty, staff, and students in our engineering departments and throughout the University." Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus is 12th in the overall category of "Best Universities - Master's (South)," up one spot from last year. This category lists 121 master's degree-granting institutions in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. In related news, Embry-Riddle also announced plans to offer two Ph.D. programs in 2009, pending accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The University will offer the first Ph.D. in Aviation in the United States through the combined efforts of the Colleges of Aviation at Daytona Beach and Prescott and the Worldwide Campus beginning in May. The Ph.D. in Aviation is primarily an online program with one-week residencies each year. An August debut is planned for a traditional Ph.D. program in Engineering Physics at the Daytona Beach campus, with special emphasis on space physics, upper atmospheric physics, remote sensing, spacecraft instrumentation, spacecraft systems engineering, and control of aerospace systems. Faculty research in these areas is one of the major strengths of the University. "These doctoral programs are designed to give both working professionals and research professionals the opportunity to pursue their intellectual interests through rigorous programs and meet their professional goals to prepare them to serve as our aviation, science, and engineering technology leaders of tomorrow," said Dr. Johnson. Embry-Riddle is accepting applications for the first class of candidates for the Ph.D. in Aviation now through Jan. 15, 2009. For more information, please call (800) 359-3728 or go to http://aviationphd.erau.edu. Interested candidates for the Ph.D. in Engineering Physics can go to http://www.erau.edu/engineeringphd or call Dr. John Olivero at (386) 226-6453 for more information. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, offers more than 30 degree programs in its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Engineering. The University educates more than 34,000 students annually in undergraduate and graduate programs at residential campuses in Prescott, Ariz., and Daytona Beach, Fla., through the Worldwide Campus at more than 130 campus centers in the United States, Europe, Canada, and the Middle East, and through online learning. For more information, visit www.embryriddle.edu. ************** Search on for ‘missing’ Air Force C-130 plane Radio contact lost after take-off from Davao MANILA, Philippines -- A Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 cargo aircraft carrying two pilots and seven crew members was declared "missing" after it lost radio contact shortly after take-off from the Davao International Airport on Monday evening, the PAF commanding general said. The plane last made contact with air traffic controllers in Davao at around 9 p.m. It was bound for Iloilo City to pick up Presidential Security Group (PSG) members and bring them to Manila, Lieutenant General Pedrito Cadungog said in a phone interview Tuesday morning. "The aircraft has been missing since last night. Our search is concentrated in the Davao area," Cadungog said. The PAF chief said UH-1H helicopters have been dispatched to look for the aircraft, with the help of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Navy, he said. The C-130 is the workhorse of the PAF's aging fleet, used to move troops during offensive and disaster relief operations. It is also used to transport top officials from Manila to the provinces. The aircraft that went missing was one of at least two C-130 planes that are operational. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080826-156845/Searc h-on-for-missing-Air-Force-C-130-plane **************** Air Force blames pilots for fatal F-15 collision PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Two inexperienced F-15C Eagle pilots made errors that caused a fatal mid-air collision during a combat training mission over the Gulf of Mexico, Air Force investigators concluded in a report released Monday. Both pilots misjudged how close they were to each other and had less than two seconds to react before Capt. Tucker Hamilton's wing sliced into 1st Lt. Ali Jivanjee's cockpit in the Feb. 20 accident, investigators said. "The cause of this mishap was pilot error. Both men failed to clear their flight paths and did not recognize their impending high-aspect, mid-air collision," said Brig. Gen. Joseph Reynes, the head of the seven-member Air Force Accident Investigation Board. Jivanjee, 26, of San Dimas, Calif., died instantly. Hamilton, who is now assigned to a non-flying position in Germany, ejected with minor injuries. The single-seat fighter planes were destroyed — an $83 million loss for the Air Force. Both men had excellent qualifications and flying records, Reynes said. "They were doing maneuvers we do every day thousands of times in all of our air combat command flying aircraft," he said. The report said both pilots did not have enough time flying the F-15 to be experienced in the aircraft. Jivanjee had fewer than 120 hours of flight time in the aircraft and Hamilton had flown it just under the required 500 hours, the report said. The report noted Jivanjee passed too close to another jet in a training flight the day before the collision, an incident that wasn't reported to commanders. "It was a different set of circumstances, but it opens the question of whether Jivanjee totally understood those closure moments," Reynes said, referring to the final moments when the planes passed each other. Investigators said they found no mechanical or structural problems in the two, nearly 30-year-old fighter jets, which were part of the Air Force's aging and problem-plagued F-15 fleet. The 1979 and 1981 F-15s flown by the two Eglin Air Force Base pilots were in good condition, Reynes said. The Air Force largely grounded its F-15 fleet from Nov. 3, 2007, to Jan. 10 after an F-15 broke apart in mid-air over Missouri. An investigation found that 160 of the Air Force's nearly 700 F-15s had defects. Last month, another F-15 crashed and killed one pilot during a training mission over the Nevada desert. The two pilots missed critical training flights in the two months the fleet was grounded, yet the investigative board could not conclude the missed training led to the crash because both met all the qualifications to fly, Reynes said. "They were both competent and proficient. Were they has proficient as they could have been had we kept flying for the last three months? I cannot answer that, but it does pull at your heart and your mind," he said. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jblcJpLiPXiEtBCjxRdK4RSyQxlQD92PGPAG0 **************