10 OCT 2008 _______________________________________ *First formal Spanair crash data sheds little light on flap mystery *Cathay 747 tractor collision inquiry cites crew fatigue *Jet reports problem, lands safely in San Diego *Two dead in Snowbird jet crash in Saskatchewan *Qantas jet plunge passengers to be interviewed over laptop use *Philippines expects FAA to upgrade safety rating *FAA looks at videos taken in cockpits *Two arrested for targeting laser at Sheriff's Helicopter *************************************** First formal Spanair crash data sheds little light on flap mystery Spanish investigators have disclosed that the crew of the crashed Spanair Boeing MD-82 ran through normal checklists before the fatal departure, but have yet to explain the reasons for the apparent failure to extend the flaps. In its first official release of detailed information about the 20 August accident at Madrid, the Comision de Investigacion de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviacion Civil (CIAIAC) has given further evidence that the aircraft was not configured correctly for take-off. It states that two control cylinders for the slats were recovered from the wreckage, and other related components, all of which were fire-damaged but "presented evidence consistent with a retracted-slat condition". The investigators have also retrieved five flap actuators - three from the right wing and two from the left - although four could extend and retract freely because they had lost hydraulic pressure. The fifth was badly damaged by fire. Information leaked from draft preliminary findings had already pointed to the aircraft's flaps not having been deployed as the MD-82 made a second attempt at departure. Its previous attempt - during which the flaps had been set to 11° - had been aborted when the jet returned to stand, in order to resolve a technical problem with the ram-air temperature probe. As the crew prepared the aircraft to taxi out again, says the official CIAIAC statement of 9 October, the cockpit-voice recorder picked up expressions associated with before-start checklists, normal start-up procedures, the after-start checklist and taxi checklist, and the pre-take-off checklist. It does not detail any specific checks, or responses, made by the pilots regarding the aircraft's flap and slat configuration. But it confirms earlier information that no configuration warning sounded in the cockpit during the take-off sequence, and that flight-data recorder registered zero flap deployment. The aircraft failed to climb out of the airport and crashed, killing 154 of the 172 on board. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news *************** Cathay 747 tractor collision inquiry cites crew fatigue Swedish investigators believe pilot fatigue contributed to a Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-200 freighter's sustaining heavy engine damage after accidentally taxiing into its tow-tractor at Stockholm Arlanda last year. The pilots had been awake for 18-20 hours by the time of the accident, which occurred early on 25 June just after the jet had been pushed back from stand R9 for a service to Dubai. Investigation commission SHK has concluded that, shortly after the tow-tractor was disconnected from the nose-gear, the pilots started to taxi the aircraft before a ground technician had given an unambiguous all-clear signal. The Schopf 356 tractor had been moved a short distance but was out of the pilots' field of vision. SHK says that, while the pilots read the normal checklist after engine start, it "did not contain any point" concerning a 'clear signal' - a specific thumb-up gesture showing that the aircraft is clear to taxi. Only a supplemental note in the carrier's expanded checklist informed pilots that the ground dispatcher would "clearly display" to them the steering pin removed from the nose-gear. The Arlanda tow-tractor driver, who was preparing to move the vehicle clear, hastily abandoned it when he heard the 747's engines powering up. Both the driver and the ground technician "had to run in order to be safe" and the aircraft struck the tractor with its inboard left-hand Rolls-Royce RB211 engine. The rear of the vehicle penetrated the nacelle by 20-30cm, heavily damaging the cowling, pumps, fuel lines and control units, and the engine began leaking fuel. In its report into the accident, which also badly damaged the tractor, SHK states that - despite the fuel leak, close to hot exhaust and electrical wiring - emergency services were not summoned for nearly an hour. It attributes the collision to "inadequate" checklists for the crew regarding confirmation of an all-clear signal. But SHK also highlights the length of time the pilots had been awake and says the time of the accident, 03:33, was within a biological window of low activity. Stress and fatigue, it says, probably limited the crew's concentration abilities. SHK identifies the 747-200F involved in the accident as being registered B-HIH. Flight's ACAS database shows that the jet, serial number 23120, is owned by Cathay Pacific. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news *************** Jet reports problem, lands safely in San Diego SAN DIEGO (AP) — Officials say an American Airlines jet has landed safely in San Diego after a warning light indicated a problem with an engine. Airline spokesman Tim Smith says Flight 1802 had just taken off from San Diego International Airport for Dallas on Thursday when the warning light came on. He says none of the 140 passengers or five crew members was injured. The MD-80 was awaiting parts to fix the problem. *************** Two dead in Snowbird jet crash in Saskatchewan A pilot and a military photographer died in a Snowbird jet crash at a base in Saskatchewan Thursday. Col. Paul Keddy, commander of the Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw, said the pair were on a routine training mission. "We've had a tragic afternoon," Keddy told reporters at a news conference. "The members of 15 Wing have come together over the last several hours to respond to this, keeping in mind the needs of the families. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the members of the families." Keddy said the pilot and photographer were taking pictures of three other aircraft just before the crash. The CT-114 Tutor jet, used exclusively by the Snowbird Squadron, crashed about two kilometres northwest of the base slightly after 12:30 p.m. MT. Maj. Rob Mitchell, commander of the Snowbirds, offered his condolences to the families and friends of those killed. Speaking from San Francisco, where the squadron is scheduled to perform on Saturday, Mitchell said the pilot was a member of the Snowbirds team and "an extraordinarily talented pilot." CTV's Wayne Mantyka told CTV Newsnet that the military has not identified the deceased, as they are still contacting the next-of-kin. Mantyka said the crash took place in an empty field, but was within several kilometres of homes in Moose Jaw. Investigators, from Ottawa and the base, are on the crash scene, Mantyka said. The team will be comprised of experts, including a lead investigator, flight surgeon and an escape systems specialist. Mantyka said the crash took place about 45 minutes into the flight and that it appears that no plane made any contact with another. "It would be premature to speculate on what happened," Keddy said. There has also been a report of a parachute opening over a field, but military officials could not confirm that. Keddy said the military would know more within 24 hours. Debbie Noble told The Canadian Press that she looked up from loading the dishwasher in the afternoon and saw a huge billow of black smoke from a field south of her home on the city's south edge. She said that her husband, Gord, grabbed some binoculars and could see a fire truck pouring water on what looked to be a crashed aircraft. "We could see that it was a plane crash and the military vehicles were on their way out there with the fire trucks," Noble said. Questions about aging jets According to the Department of National Defence website, the single-engine Tutor jet is only used by the Canadian Forces Snowbird squadron. The Tutor, first used in 1963, was retired as a training jet in 2000. National Defence was urged four years ago to replace the jets. A study by the department's director of major service delivery warned that the jets' life expectancy was 2010. Eight people have died in Snowbirds' crashes since 1972. In 2004, Capt. Miles Selby, a member of the famed Snowbirds squadron, was killed in a collision with another plane. The most recent fatal accident happened at an airshow in Montana in 2007, when Capt. Shawn McCaughey was killed. The Snowbirds were due to perform in San Francisco for Fleet Week on Oct. 11. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081009/crash_moosejaw_ 081009/20081009?hub=CTVNewsAt11 **************** Qantas jet plunge passengers to be interviewed over laptop use All passengers on board the Qantas jet that nose-dived in mid air, injuring more than 50 people, are to be questioned about whether they were using electronic equipment. Investigators believe that electromagnetic waves from laptops or handheld computer games could have interfered with the Airbus A330-300's autopilot, although the cause of the accident is still to be determined. Flight QF72 was flying at 37,000 feet over the Indian Ocean from Singapore to Perth when it suddenly plunged thousands of feet, hurling unbuckled passengers against the cabin roof. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing at an air force base near Exmouth in Western Australia when it became clear that there were serious injuries on board. Emergency services treated 51 passengers and crew for broken bones, cuts and serious spinal injuries. Around a dozen of the seriously injured were flown to Perth for treatment, while Qantas planes were sent to collect the remaining passengers, many of whom were treated locally. The passengers included 131 Australians, 53 Britons, 40 Indians and 38 Singaporeans. The cause of the accident, which came as the crew tried to correct a reported fault in the aircraft's elevator control system, is being investigated by the the Air Transport Safety Bureau, with a computer problem considered a more likely explanation than air turbulence or human error. "The aircraft departed normal flight and climbed 300 feet," said Julian Walsh, director of aviation safety with the ATSB. "The aircraft did that of its own accord and then, whilst the crew were doing the normal actions in response to that not normal situation, the aircraft then pitched down suddenly and quite rapidly," he said. Passengers whose belts were not buckled, including babies and young children, were thrown against the cabin roof, smashing into roof panels and luggage lockers. "It was horrendous, absolutely gruesome, terrible, the worst experience of my life," said Jim Ford, of Perth, who said he thought he was going to die. There were reports of people being pinned against the roof of the cabin as the passenger jet hurtled a reported 6,000 ft towards the ground. "Children and babies who weren't buckled in hit the ceiling," said one man. Another passenger, Mark Bell, said: 'The poor little kid next to us, we watched him hit the ceiling and sit there for about three seconds until his dad dragged him back into his seat." Qantas once had a reputation as the safest airline in the world. But this latest incident is the fourth involving its planes in two-and-a-half months. It came as a survey published on Tuesday showed that 63 per cent of Australians believe the safety standards of their flag carrier have slipped. The survey was conducted two weeks before the latest drama. In July an exploding oxygen bottle punched a huge hole in the side of a Qantas Boeing 747-400 during a flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne, forcing an emergency landing in the Philippines. No one was injured in the mid-air drama. Just three days later, a Qantas Boeing 737-800 returned to Adelaide after a landing gear door failed to retract. And in early August, a Boeing 767 bound for Manila turned back to Sydney after developing a hydraulic fluid leak. Investigators have removed the aircraft's black box flight recorders to establish the cause of the incident, Qantas said. The investigation could take up to six months, but a preliminary report could be ready within 30 days. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/3 160329/Qantas-jet-plunge-passengers-to-be-interviewed-over-laptop-use.html *************** Philippines expects FAA to upgrade safety rating MANILA, Philippines -- The US Federal Aviation Administration is expected to reverse the downgrade it slapped on the Philippine aviation safety rating by early next year, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said Wednesday. During a budget hearing, Mendoza told Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Edgardo Angara, chair and vice chair of the Senate finance committee, respectively, that the country had already “substantially complied” with the international safety precautions suggested by the FAA. Mendoza said this after Enrile inquired into the status of the downgrade of the Philippine aviation rating from Category 1 to Category 2, which was imposed by the US aviation watchdog on January 8 over concerns about the safety of the country's airports and air carriers. “Once upon a time, we were being rushed to pass the law to create the Civil Aviation Authority in order to address the problems at the time. What happened to that problem?” asked Enrile. “The major one is the passage of the law,” Mendoza answered, referring to the legislation creating the CAA which was signed into law by President Gloria Arroyo on March 4. “We have a team that went to FAA headquarters in Washington early this month. We were given some checklist on some recommended action programs. We are complying with it, and by early next year, we believe that we can be upgraded already,” said Mendoza. The downgrade prevented Philippine carriers from expanding operations in the US. Aviation systems of a country given Category 2 status are subjected to heightened FAA surveillance. A Category 2 rating shows that the country lacks laws or regulations necessary to support the certification and oversight of air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards. The Philippines also lacks the technical expertise, resources and organization to license air operations, does not have adequately trained and qualified technical personnel, among other steps to ensure enforcement of minimum standards. With this assurance from Mendoza, the committee approved the proposed P23.6-billion budget of the Department of Transportation and Communications for 2009, a mere 3-percent higher than this year's P22.9 billion. Angara reminded Mendoza of the need for qualified test pilots. “We got to have more test pilots which we lack. It's one of the safety precautions that the FAA is requiring us,” said Angara. Mendoza replied, “With the new law and the new budget for CAA, we are already hiring competent, check pilots.” Angara earlier stressed the need to create the CAA after US aviation officials expressed concern over the Air Transportation Office's inability to conduct consistent, effective safety checks, thus failing to meet the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. Senator Mar Roxas, chair of the trade and commerce committee, had said that the FAA downgrade was “a critical issue that affects all Filipinos worldwide.” “Aside from examining what went wrong, we also need to discuss how to cushion the effects of the downgrade, among them the potential loss in revenues for private airlines and concurrent decline in investments and tourism," Roxas added. Roxas said that a slow and incoherent response to the requirements set forth by the US FAA would further exacerbate the problem and may cause irreparable harm to the country's image abroad. "Government needs to exercise enormous political will to resolve this problem. The repercussions are too great, and the damage to the country's image is very serious," he had said. President Arroyo signed into law the CAA Act of 2008 to update and strengthen the international framework of the country's civil aviation industry and meet the standards set by the ICAO. CAA is now an independent regulatory body with quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers with corporate attributes. But the CAA shall be an attached agency -- for the purpose of policy coordination -- of DOTC. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20081008-165353/RP-exp ects-FAA-to-upgrade-safety-rating *************** FAA looks at videos taken in cockpits Filming in plane violates safety rules The Federal Aviation Administration has begun scrutinizing YouTube videos taken from the cockpits of Horizon Air planes. Although most of the videos have been taken down, the FAA and Horizon Air confirmed they are cooperating in an investigation into possible cockpit violations in which pilots allowed personal electronic devices to be used to record takeoffs and landings. With the exception of filming for training, it is against federal regulations for pilots or passengers to use such devices during takeoffs and landings, as they could interfere with instrument and landing system navigation radios. Cockpits also are supposed to be sterile environments, free of distractions, and federal regulations prohibit pilots from being engaged in any activity below 10,000 feet that is not conducive to flights. "We do not condone anything like that," Horizon Air spokeswoman Jen Boyer said of the takeoff and landing videos that were posted. "We are cooperating with the FAA. We were all over it right away and immediately talked to our entire pilot crew," the spokeswoman said. FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said Monday that the agency had just learned of the videos and could not comment further on its investigation. Boyer said Horizon Air knows of one recent incident under investigation. The video was still posted as recently as several days ago, but it has been removed. It was evidently taken by someone in the cockpit's jump seat, not a pilot. It showed a takeoff from Boise with audio that said: "I was lucky enough to have a jump seater take video of me in action! We're departing Boise for Seattle." Boyer said open jump seats can be used by airline employees or those of other airlines on reciprocal agreements, but the same rules apply. "We have a very strict sterile cockpit policy, which includes jump seater," she said. That also means sitting quietly in silence under 10,000 feet and doing nothing to distract the crew, she said. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/382219_horizon08.html ************** Two arrested for targeting laser at Sheriff's Helicopter Bakersfield, CA: On Thursday Oct. 9th, shortly after midnight, a subject was arrested after targeting the Sheriff’s helicopter with a hand-held laser. The incident occurred shortly after midnight in the 600 block of Douglas Avenue in Bakersfield, while the Sheriff’s helicopter was working a call nearby. The flight was interrupted by the laser strike, causing the aircrew to take immediate action. The flight crew identified where the laser was coming from and directed patrol deputies to that location. Deputies contacted Tyrone Green 44, of Bakersfield who was found in possession of a laser. Green was arrested for penal code section 247.5, Discharging a Laser at an Aircraft, and booked into the Kern County Jail. He is being held on $10,000 bail. http://www.1bakersfield.com/news/read/2/152809 **************