17 SEP 2008 _______________________________________ *FAA rushed approval of jet design, officials say *Wing flaps and alarm failed on Madrid crash jet *Small jet rolls off runway at airport *Insurers brace for more airlines to crash *JetBlue details top level management changes *EASA orders casing fit on A330/340s to contain APU failure *************************************** FAA rushed approval of jet design, officials say By Alan Levin, USA TODAY WASHINGTON — Government regulators rushed to approve the design of a new small jet in 2006 despite widespread concerns about technology problems and compromised safety, according to testimony that was to be delivered before Congress on Wednesday. The Eclipse EA-500, a six-seat jet that is carrying passengers at an innovative air carrier based in Florida, has been in service less than two years but has already suffered a near-crash linked to a poorly designed computerized throttle as well as numerous other minor failures, according to federal data. This is the second time in six months that the Federal Aviation Administration has been singled out for lax safety practices. The FAA acknowledged in April that its managers allowed Southwest Airlines to make thousands of flights on jets without performing critical, mandatory safety inspections. FAA and Eclipse Aviation said the jet is safe and was properly certified. House transportation committee investigators found "a disturbing suggestion that there was a 'cozy relationship' and reduced level of vigilance on the FAA's part," according to a report obtained by USA TODAY. In testimony to be delivered before the committee, current and former FAA officials and Department of Transportation Inspector General Calvin Scovel say problems with approval of the Eclipse jet were widespread: • Top FAA officials removed local inspectors who raised safety concerns after Eclipse complained that the certification process was too slow. • The agency held the aircraft's design to lower-than-normal standards. • Problems that surfaced during the FAA's review of the plane — such as cockpit displays that blank out and malfunctioning wing flaps — have continued to be reported by pilots. Eclipse and the FAA, which conducted a review of the Eclipse jet over the past month, insist the jet is safe. The agency says that the approval process of the jet was plagued by poor communication but that the plane meets all federal standards. "The Eclipse 500 is a safe and compliant airplane," said Peg Billson, the company's chief operating officer. http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-09-17-faa-jetapproval_N.htm *************** Wing flaps and alarm failed on Madrid crash jet WING flaps failed on the Spanair flight that crashed last month and an alarm that is supposed to warn pilots of the problem never sounded, according to a preliminary report yesterday on the accident that killed 154 people. The investigators did not say whether they believed the flap fault caused the 20 August crash in Madrid that killed all but 18 people on the MD-82. Investigators said they needed to further study a faulty air temperature gauge outside the cockpit, a problem that forced the pilot to abandon a first attempt to take off. Spanair has described it as a minor glitch that was resolved by turning off the gauge. The plane crashed an hour later on its second attempt to take off. However, the report said the faulty gauge might be linked to the failure of the cockpit alarm horn, which is supposed to sound when a departing plane is not properly configured to get off the ground. The findings were drawn from the flight data and cockpit voice recorders. http://news.scotsman.com/world/Wing-flaps-and-alarm-failed.4498114.jp *************** Small jet rolls off runway at airport A small corporate jet attempting a takeoff at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport this afternoon failed to take flight and rolled off a runway, airport spokesman Jim Halbrook said. The jet was attempting the takeoff about 2:30 p.m. when it rolled off the north end of the east runway, Halbrook said. Halbrook said the runway was closed for about half an hour while the plane was towed into a hanger. Planes in line to use the east runway used the west runway instead, Halbrook said. No flights were delayed and no one was injured, he said. http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entri es/2008/09/16/small_jet_rolls_off_runway_at.html *************** Insurers brace for more airlines to crash The insurance industry is bracing itself for more airline failures as aviation continues to struggle with high oil prices. Brian McLean, managing director of International Passenger Protection - a company which provides cover in the event of airlines collapsing - predicted that more could follow in the footsteps of XL. Mr McLean's company monitors the accounts and performance of carriers on a daily basis. It predicted the demise of Zoom several months before the carrier finally ceased trading - and declined to provide insurance cover. More on insurance IPP also was aware of the precarious position of XL and declined to provide cover for a company looking to charter an aircraft. Mr McLean believes that other carriers could follow by the end of the year. His pessimism was shared by Willie Walsh, British Airways chief executive. Speaking to business leaders in London Mr Walsh saw no end to the gloom in sight for the industry. "Sadly, the collapse of XL is far from unique in the conditions the industry faces. Earlier this month, we saw Zoom Airlines go out of business - hard on the heels of fellow long-haul operators, Silverjet, Eos and Maxjet," Mr Walsh said. "Around the world, about 30 carriers have failed this year - and there will be more to come as we head toward the traditionally poorer returns of the winter travel season." "IATA, the airline trade association, has just forecast that losses for global aviation will reach £3bn this year and £2.3bn next year." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/09/17/cnairlines 117.xml *************** JetBlue details top level management changes JetBlue today named long-time staff member Mike Barger as SVP fleet operations, the second newly-created role at the carrier announced this week. On 15 September the JFK-hubbed carrier named Terry Dinterman in the new VP technology services role to oversee IT security, compliance and architecture. Barger's new responsibilities include flight and technical operations in addition to retaining his previous post as VP JetBlue University. He joined JetBlue in 1999 as an Airbus A320 captain and check airman and is currently a captain on the Embraer E-190. ``Mike's appointment to this role comes as we align flight operations with technical operations, reflecting the departments' shared mission of producing safe and efficient operations,'' says Russ Chew, JetBlue's President and Chief Operating Officer. Other executive changes detailed by JetBlue include SVP customer services Rob Maruster assuming responsibility for systems operations at the carrier. He plans to continue overseeing airports, in-flight service and reservations. Both Barger and Maruster will report to COO Chew. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news *************** EASA orders casing fit on A330/340s to contain APU failure European safety regulators are ordering carriers to fit secondary casings to Airbus A330 and A340 auxiliary power units to prevent possible damage from uncontained failure. Investigators are still trying to understand the mechanism for the failures - experienced by at least two A330 operators on the ground - but the European Aviation Safety Agency states that collapse of the APU's drive-end bearing appears to be a preceding event. EASA has already issued emergency directives requiring inspection of APU sections for evidence of debris, a possible precursor to drive-end bearing problems. It says the previous failures have led to structural damage to the APU compartment and even the stabiliser compartment. The same APU design is used on both A330s and A340s. In an updated emergency directive EASA is requiring operators to fit a secondary housing on the APU generator. Airbus has developed such a housing designed to contain generator parts should the APU fail. "Loose APU generator parts can lead to damage to the APU firewall, reducing its fire-extinguishing capability and potentially leading to a temporary uncontrolled fire," says the directive. EASA says the secondary housing should be fitted no later than 31 March next year. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news **************