13 OCT 2008 _______________________________________ *BA flight makes priority landing *Nepal air crash probe team visit accident site *London-bound AI flight returns after smoke detected in cockpit *BA flight makes emergency landing *US Law Firms Partner To Go After FAA In Aeroflot-Nord Accident *FAA Frowns On Horizon In-Cockpit Videos *NTSB Tells FAA To Revise Fan Cowl Attachment Procedures *Qantas Pins Blame On Laptop Computer For A330 Incident *FAA airworthiness directive addresses Q400 landing gear *Flaps Still Suspect In Spanair Crash *Experts divided over safety risks of gadgets *Dallas-Based Apex Global Partners, Inc. Launches Major Expansion of Its Aviation Division. *India's first-ever aviation show to begin on Wednesday *************************************** BA flight makes priority landing British Airways said none of the 137 passengers were harmed A British Airways (BA) flight from France made a "priority landing" at Heathrow after fumes were detected in the passenger cabin. BA 341 which took off from Nice at about 0630 BST on Monday with 137 passengers on board landed at the west London airport after 0800 BST. None of the passengers on the Nice to Heathrow flight was injured. A spokesman said the captain of the flight requested for a "priority landing as a precaution". 'Fumes detected' Engineers are currently inspecting the Boeing 757. The spokesman said: "The captain of today's BA 341 Nice to Heathrow flight requested a priority landing as a precaution after it was reported that some fumes had been detected in the cabin. "The 757 with 137 passengers onboard landed safely and passengers disembarked as normal." Emergency services were on standby as routine but their help was not needed, he added. On Sunday a BA flight travelling from Heathrow to Delhi made an emergency landing in Schoenefeld airport, south-east of Berlin, after an electrical fault was detected in its in-flight entertainment system. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7666873.stm ************** Nepal air crash probe team visit accident site KATMANDU, Nepal: (AP) Nepalese investigators probing last week's plane crash that killed 18 people near Mount Everest have interviewed several eyewitnesses and visited the accident site, a member of the team said Monday. Nagendra Ghimire said the government team flew over the weekend to Lukla, where the accident took place at an airstrip in the foothills of Everest, and talked to several people who saw the crash. A DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter plane crashed and burst into flames as it tried to land in foggy weather at Lukla on Oct. 8. It had flown from Katmandu. Of the 19 people on board the Yeti Airlines plane, only the pilot survived the crash. Twelve 12 Germans, two Australians and four Nepalese were killed. Ghimire said investigations would continue for several more days. Today in Asia - Pacific In India, Hindu threat to Christians: Convert or fleeIn Thai protests, a divide between urban and ruralNorth Korea to resume disabling nuclear plant Three Nepalese victims have been identified and their bodies handed over to relatives. Medical and forensic experts from Nepal and Germany are meanwhile struggling to identify the remaining badly charred bodies. The tiny Lukla airport, carved into the side of the Himalayas at an altitude of 9,200 feet (2,800 meters), is known for its dramatic scenery and a runway that ends in a steep drop of a few hundred feet (meters). It is an important jumping-off point for trekkers and mountaineers heading to Mount Everest. In 2005, 12 people survived a crash in a small plane at the airport with minor injuries. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/13/asia/AS-Nepal-Plane-Crash.php *************** London-bound AI flight returns after smoke detected in cockpit New Delhi, Oct 11 (PTI) A major accident was averted today when a pilot of a London-bound Air India aircraft with 130 people on board detected smoke in the cockpit soon after take off from here and returned to ground. All the 115 passengers and 15 crew members of flight AI-111 were safe. They departed by another aircraft for London, an Air India spokesperson said after the the Boeing 777-300 (Extended Range) aircraft landed under emergency conditions. "This is certainly not a maintenance issue as the aircraft was a new one," Air India Executive Director Jitender Bhargava told PTI from Mumbai, adding the matter will be raised "strongly" with Boeing company. This is the second time in three days that full emergency was declared at Delhi airport. On Thursday, emergency was declared when a Go Air flight from Mumbai landed here with a damaged nosewheel. The smoke alarm alerted the pilot of the aircraft about 20 minutes after it took off from the IGI Airport at 6:50 AM today. The Air Traffic Control was immediately sounded by the pilot, which in turn declared full emergency at the airport. Fire brigades, ambulances, ladders and other emergency equipment were deployed close to the runway to avert a possible mishap as the plane landed safely. The emergency was declared at the airport at 7:50 AM and it was withdrawn at 8:25 AM, airport sources said. "We are taking up the matter strongly with the Boeing company as it is a very serious issue. We cannot expect a brand new aircraft to have this kind of a problem," Bhargava said. The Boeing 777-300 (ER) was delivered a few months ago and is among the 15 such aircraft ordered by the national carrier. PTI http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/7A50FA3B00C83F48652574DF0039792F? OpenDocument ************** BA flight makes emergency landing British Airways said none of the 222 passengers were harmed A British Airways flight has made an emergency landing at a German airport after an electrical fault was detected in its in-flight entertainment system. The Boeing 777 was travelling from London's Heathrow to Delhi when the pilot was alerted to the problem by a cockpit alarm. He diverted the plane, carrying 222 passengers and 16 crew, to Schoenefeld airport, south-east of Berlin. A British Airways spokesman said it had landed safely and no-one was hurt. Flight BA 143 left Heathrow on Sunday morning but developed the fault in one of the television screens at the back of an economy class seat soon after take-off and was diverted as a precaution. 'Safety paramount' After a safe landing in Germany, the plane was checked over by engineers before returning to London. He said: "The cabin crew are trained to deal with this kind of incident on board. "We apologise for any inconvenience to our passengers but the safety of our passengers, crew and aircraft is paramount and will never be compromised." The flight has been rescheduled for Sunday evening. Earlier this month, a BA flight from Heathrow to Houston, Texas, was diverted to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport because of a fault with an in-flight TV screen. Its crew had detected a burning smell. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7666236.stm ************** US Law Firms Partner To Go After FAA In Aeroflot-Nord Accident Note Probable Cause Hasn't Been Determined, But Maintain Oversight 'Shortcomings' Are Clear Two American law firms have joined forces to sue the Federal Aviation Administration in connection with the September 14 downing of a Boeing 737-500 airliner near Perm, Russia. On Friday, Nolan Law Group and Ribbeck Law Chartered filed a Petition for Discovery in the state court in Chicago arising from the accident, which claimed the lives of all 88 passengers and crew onboard the Aeroflot-Nord airliner. The petition was filed on behalf of Aleksey A. Afanasenkov, Sr., whose son perished in the crash, and seeks documentation and information concerning the individuals or companies that may be responsible for causing the crash. According to a joint release by the two firms, lawyers on both sides also asserted a formal claim on behalf of Afanasenkov against the United States Federal Aviation Administration "for its failure to properly regulate US training institutions which provided training to the crew of the accident airplane." According to the law firms, "The US-Russian treaty entitled "Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation for the Promotion of Aviation Safety" entered into force on September 2, 1998. Under the treaty, the US government agreed that the FAA would monitor, among other things, aviation training establishments in the United States providing training to Russian pilots in accordance with the standards, rules, practices, general procedures and Implementation Procedures established pursuant to the treaty." The firms assert that wasn't done... and the Aeroflot-Nord case is a tragic consequence. "While the investigation of the crash is ongoing and no probable cause determinations have yet been made, the circumstances of the crash have highlighted the dangerous shortcomings in the training of pilots accustomed to Eastern-built aircraft transitioning into operation of Western-built airliners," the law firms claim. "It further highlights the need for proper oversight in the FAA airworthiness certification process of transport category airplanes." Investigators determined the captain of the accident airplane had little training in the 737-500, relative to his long career piloting Soviet-era airliners... and may not have been comfortably familiar with differences in the avionics between Western and Eastern-bloc aircraft, in particular differences in the style of attitude indicators used. The law firms say the captain received training in the 737-500 at a US based training institution in 2006, and had 452 hours as pilot-in-command of that model airplane. The first officer began flying the 737-500 airplane earlier this year, and had only 219 total hours in the model airplane. "Both pilots had spent the majority of their careers operating Russian-built aircraft which have some significant technical differences in cockpit instrumentation from Western-built aircraft such as the Boeing 737," the law firms assert. Aeroflot-Nord has been a regional subsidiary of Russian flag carrier Aeroflot since 2004. In the days after the crash, Aeroflot executives said plans were afoot prior to the accident to cut the airline loose, forcing the airline to revert to its prior name of Arkhangelsk Airlines (AVL). However, at this writing Aeroflot-Nord remains in business, using the same name. FMI: www.nolan-law.com, www.aeroflot-nord.ru/english/ aero-news.net ************** FAA Frowns On Horizon In-Cockpit Videos Videos Recently Posted On YouTube Show Violation Of Regs Certain amateur videos posted recently on YouTube have piqued the interest and warranted the scrutiny of the Federal Aviation Administration. Taken from the cockpits of Horizon Air airliners, the videos are a violation of regulations prohibiting distractions in a supposed sterile cockpit environment and the use of electronic devices onboard such aircraft. Except for the production of training films, FAA regulations do not allow pilots or passengers to use electronic equipment during takeoff or landing. Regs also prohibit pilots from engaging in activities below 10,000 feet that do not pertain to flying the plane. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer said "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." Spokesman Allen Kenitzer said Monday that the FAA could not comment further on the alleged violations under active investigation at this time. Horizon Air spokeswoman Jen Boyer said, "We do not condone anything like that. We are cooperating with the FAA. We were all over it right away and immediately talked to our entire pilot crew." According to Boyer, Horizon Air is aware of one recent incident under investigation. The video was still posted on YouTube as recently as several days ago, but she said it has since been removed. It was not taken by a pilot, but by someone in the cockpit's jump seat. It featured a takeoff from Boise, including audio with someone saying, "I was lucky enough to have a jump seater take video of me in action! We're departing Boise for Seattle." Boyer said, "We have a very strict sterile cockpit policy, which includes jump seater," which means sitting quietly in silence under 10,000 feet and doing nothing to distract the crew, she added. FMI: www.faa.gov, www.alaskaair.com aero-news.net ************** NTSB Tells FAA To Revise Fan Cowl Attachment Procedures Notes 76 Instances Where Panels Detached In-Flight Citing numerous instances over the past several years in which engine fan cowls have taken flight of their own accord -- and right off a number of Airbus A320-Family aircraft, and Bombardier CRJ models -- on Friday the National Transportation Safety Board issued four new recommendations for the Federal Aviation Administration (which all boil down to, essentially, "make sure the damn things are attached properly before flight" -- Ed.) "The issue of engine fan cowl separations has been an ongoing problem," the Board writes. "The Safety Board reviewed records from Bombardier, Airbus, foreign investigations, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) service difficulty reports (SDRs) related to engine fan cowl separations. This review found that, since 1992, there have been 15 events involving Airbus SA model airplanes, including the 3 Airbus SA events cited in this letter; another 26 engine fan cowl separations occurred on 17 different airplane models since 1992. In addition, Board queries to Bombardier revealed 33 domestic and foreign cases of engine fan cowl separations (including 6 cases in 2007 alone), dating back to January 2001." The NTSB thus recommended the FAA: Require all operators of Airbus single-aisle and Bombardier CL-600 airplane models to revise existing aircraft maintenance manual procedures and maintenance inspection documents to require a dual inspection signoff to confirm that engine fan cowls are latched after completing any engine maintenance that involves the opening of an engine fan cowl. (A-08-79) Require all operators of Airbus single-aisle and Bombardier CL-600 airplane models to require maintenance personnel to inform flight crews when engine fan cowls have been opened before flight. (A-08-80) Require all operators of Airbus single-aisle and Bombardier CL-600 airplane models to provide guidance to maintenance personnel and flight crews on how to inspect engine fan cowls to verify that they are latched properly. (A-08-81) Determine the extent of the problem of engine fan cowl separations on all airplanes and, should a widespread problem exist for any airplanes, require operators of those airplanes to include a dual inspection signoff in their maintenance procedures to confirm that engine fan cowls are latched after completing any engine maintenance that involves the opening of an engine fan cowl. (A-08-82) aero-news.net ************** Qantas Pins Blame On Laptop Computer For A330 Incident ATSB Says Onboard Electronics Have Caused Problems Before Perhaps you suspect ulterior motives when the airlines require you to shut down your computer and cell phone during critical flight phases. Especially with recently announced plans to offer in-flight cellphone and wireless internet services, can these seemingly benign consumer devices really interfere with navigation and control of an airliner? The Australian Associated Press reports that possibility is now being considered by investigators in the case of a Qantas mid-air emergency off Western Australia on Tuesday. As ANN reported, the A330 -- carrying 303 passengers and a crew of 10 -- descended 350 feet so suddenly that passengers and crew were thrown about the cabin. 20 were injured, 10 seriously. Immediately after the incident, speculation naturally turned to turbulence... or the less-likely scenario involving a problem with a flight computer. Now, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is considering the possibility that electronic equipment used by passengers may have interfered with navigation. The ATSB says pilots received alarms about "some irregularity with the aircraft's elevator control system", before a 300-foot uncommanded ascent, followed by an abrupt nosedive. The Courier Mail quotes an ATSB spokesman as saying, "Certainly in our discussions with passengers that is exactly the sort of question we will be asking - 'Were you using a computer?" In July, ATSB officials say a passenger clicking on a wireless mouse mid-flight threw a Qantas jet off-course. FMI: www.atsb.gov.au, www.qantas.com aero-news.net **************** FAA airworthiness directive addresses Q400 landing gear Several cases involving the failure of Bombardier Q400 landing gear to retract after take-off have prompted US FAA officials to propose a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the turboprop. The proposed AD would mandate incorporation of new weight-on-wheels (WOW) and steering harnesses that have a new conduit construction, says the FAA today in a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). It estimates that about 42 products of US registry will be affected, and that the cost to operators of implementing the AD will be $43,680 or $1,040 per unit. The action described in the NPRM was previously addressed in a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) document issued by Transport Canada after several cases were reported whereby the landing gear did not retract after take-off. Subsequent investigation revealed this was caused by fatigue failure of the nose landing gear electrical harness. The MCAI noted that, in conjunction with one engine being inoperable, "this could, in certain operating conditions, affect continued safe flight and landing". In its NPRM today, the FAA says it is proposing this AD "because we evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design". Comments concerning the proposed AD must be submitted to the regulator by 10 November. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ************** Flaps Still Suspect In Spanair Crash Spanish investigators have yet to discover why the Spanair Boeing MD-82 that crashed in Madrid on Aug. 20, killing 154 people, was not correctly configured, or explain why no warning sounded during takeoff. The first official release of information by Spain's Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Commission (CIAIAC) says the flight data recorder shows the trailing-edge flaps were at zero degrees, while examination of actuators recovered from the wreckage indicates the leading-edge slats were retracted. The CIAIAC preliminary report says the crew completed the normal checklists before takeoff, but investigators have yet to discover why the flaps and slats were not deployed and why the MD-82's takeoff warning system did not provide aural warnings that the aircraft was not configured correctly for takeoff. Taking off from Madrid-Barajas Airport's runway 36L en route to Las Palmas with 172 passengers and crew, the MD-82 rotated at 154 knots, became airborne after a 1,950-meter ground run and climbed to 40 feet, pitching 18 degrees nose-up and stalling. The aircraft hit the ground tail and right wing-tip first and caught fire. Anomalies noted by the report include an integrity problem with parameters transmitted to the digital flight data recorder from the number 2 digital flight guidance computer, which was active at the time of the crash. Affected parameters include slat position. This is still under investigation, says CIAIAC. http://www.aviationweek.com **************** Experts divided over safety risks of gadgets WHETHER electronic devices on airplanes can cause problems is the subject of hot debate. Opinions range from those who are convinced that they pose no danger to those who are equally sure that they are deadly. There are yet others who are ambivalent and unsure about their effects. A local expert said while the dangers posed during flight take-offs and landings were confirmed, there had been no proven connection between electronic gadgets and safety issues in mid air. Several airlines have begun equipping airplanes with picocells to allow passengers to use mobile phones on board. This has been met with great enthusiasm from mobile telecommunications associations. Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association chief executive Chris Althaus welcomed Qantas and V Australia's recent announcements that they were introducing mobile phone services to their passengers on selected flights. He said the association supported the introduction of the services, which had been fully tested to ensure that they met all safety standards and complied with aviation authority requirements. He added that the system was safe and had been fully tested by aviation and communications regulatory agencies. However, Australian electromagnetic interference (EMI) specialist Chris Zombolas said large-scale usage of such devices in flight increased the risk of EMI. He said the case of Qantas QF72 could have been caused by exactly such a situation. Zombolas, in an article for an Australian publication, slammed the relaxation of rules regarding in-flight mobile phone usage as sending the wrong message to passengers. He said the installation of picocells on planes did not take into account human factors such as passengers defying the rules and the ever-changing wireless technologies in consumer devices. "Laptop computers and personal digital assistants can have six or more different transmitters and the number is growing. "The laptop/PDA transmitters are mostly set to automatically transmit when they are powered up. "In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Communications Commission are the regulators responsible for aircraft safety and communications respectively. "The FAA has documented cases of electromagnetic interference to aircraft systems. "It is yet to be convinced that safety and effective communications will not be compromised, and is awaiting the results of further research before considering lifting restrictions on using these devices in-flight." Furthermore, said Zombolas, a Carnegie Mellon University study in 2006, which monitored mobile phone and portable electronic device usage on 37 US commercial flights, indicated that the risk of interference to a plane's navigation system was indeed real. "Alarmingly, one of the researchers, Bill Strauss -- an expert in aircraft EMI in the US Naval Air Warfare Centre -- concluded that the risk posed by these portable devices is higher than previously believed. "These devices can disrupt normal operation of key cockpit instruments, especially Global Positioning System receivers, which are increasingly vital for safe landings." The study also found that one to four mobile phone calls were made during each flight, despite rules prohibiting them. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has not discounted the possibility that electronic items could have caused the QF72 incident. However, several press reports in Australia indicated that the fault lay not with electronic devices operated by passengers, but with the airplane's control software itself. http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2373683/Article/index _html ************** Dallas-Based Apex Global Partners, Inc. Launches Major Expansion of Its Aviation Division. Apex Global Partners Announces the Opening of Its New Aviation Insurance Office in Charleston, South Carolina and the Appointment of Paul Gingrich as Vice President. DALLAS, Oct 13, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Apex Global Partners announces the expansion of its Aviation Insurance Division, Apex Global Aviation, with the opening of a new aviation insurance office in Charleston, South Carolina, and the appointment of Paul Gingrich as Vice President in its Aviation Division. Apex Global Aviation Services provides insurance brokerage and risk management consulting to corporate aircraft owners, airlines, and the aviation support industries, both domestically and internationally. "We are pleased to have Paul Gingrich join the Apex Global Aviation Services team to lead the opening of our new office in Charleston, South Carolina. Paul is a nationally recognized aviator, instructor, and aviation insurance expert, and brings new capabilities to our rapidly expanding aviation insurance business," states Gary Griffith, Chairman and CEO of Apex. "I am excited to join Apex Global Partners and to work with Gary Griffith and the AGP executive team, as well as the AGP Business Partners. The Southeastern United States is an ideal area for Apex to expand its aviation insurance business," states Paul Gingrich. Based in Dallas, Apex Global Partners provides creative solutions to its corporate clients in the areas of domestic and international brokerage, as well as employee benefits and human resources consulting. Apex works with more than 60 partners in 55 countries through its participation in WBN, Ltd, the largest privately owned insurance broker network. SOURCE: Apex Global Partners ************** India's first-ever aviation show to begin on Wednesday Hyderabad, Oct 13 (PTI) The world's largest aircraft Airbus Industrie's A-380, which can cover over half a football ground under its wingspan, would fly over the Hyderabad city on Wednesday when it arrives in India for the first-ever civil aviation airshow. The huge double-decker four-engined aircraft, that can carry 853 passengers in an all-economy configuration and 525 in three classes, would be among at least 37 planes and helicopters of various makes on display at the first civil aviation exhibition and conference, 'India Aviation 2008', starting Wednesday at the old Begumpet Airport here. Other aircraft, which would be on static or flying display, include Boeing 777, A-340-400, Canadian Regional Jet of Bombardier Citation, business jets of manufactured by various global leaders, Bell Helicopters, DragonFly, Cessnas, Indian-made Pushpak and Indian firm Hindavia's Russian-made regional aircraft IL-114. With the United States being the partner country, almost all major aviation-related companies and officials from there are scheduled to participate. While US officials include the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), Robert A Sturgell, CEOs and other top officials of most of the major players in the global civil aviation industry would also be present at the event organised by the Civil Aviation Ministry and FICCI. Top honchos of the aviation industry from India and abroad would be part of the event, including Air India CMD Raghu Menon, Kingfisher chief Vijay Mallya, former US FAA Administrator Marion C Blakey, AAI chief K Ramalingam, EADS CEO Yves Guillame, GoAir MD Jeh Wadia, Air Arabia CEO Adel Ali and top-brass of various airport operators, engine, avionics and aircraft manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier and Bell Helicopters. PTI http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/8C63565BAA82DADB652574E100254181? OpenDocument **************