29 OCT 2008 _______________________________________ *NTSB seeks fixes to air-ambulance safety *NTSB Adds EMS Operations To List Of 'Most Wanted' Aviation Safety Improvements *Qantas jet 'flew blind' across Pacific *Boeing Projects China as World's Fastest-Growing Aviation Market *Danish low-cost airline Sterling, to file for bankruptcy *United Airlines Flight Evacuated (Syracuse, NY) *Threats emerge over potential grounding of Aviacsa *FAA issues final rule to increase airliner explosives survivability *************************************** NTSB seeks fixes to air-ambulance safety By Alan Levin, USA TODAY WASHINGTON - Federal accident investigators on Tuesday charged that the air-ambulance industry and its regulators have moved too slowly to halt the spate of accidents that made 2008 the deadliest year in emergency medical helicopter history. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) voted for the first time to put safety enhancements for air-ambulance flights on its annual "Most Wanted" list of suggested improvements. Nine air-ambulance helicopters have crashed since last December, killing 35 people. The NTSB in January 2006 urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to make air-ambulance flights subject to more stringent operating rules, require companies to address possible risks before each flight and install devices that warn pilots in danger of accidentally striking the ground or other obstructions. Although progress has been made on some of the issues, none have been fully put in place, said Jeffrey Guzzetti, deputy director of the NTSB's aviation division. "We need to put the foot down to the pedal. People are dying," NTSB board member Debbie Hersman said. FIND MORE STORIES IN: Federal Aviation Administration | National Transportation Safety Board | Debbie Hersman | Les Dorr "There needs to be a sense of urgency. The fatalities are going up and up," Hersman said. Most of the recent accidents follow trends that investigators spotted in their 2006 study of the industry's problems. Crashes tend to occur at night, in poor visibility or in bad weather, Guzzetti said. The NTSB's recommendations had the potential to cut more than half of the 55 accidents studied in 2006. FAA spokesman Les Dorr said the agency agrees with the need for safety enhancements. He said the FAA has focused on encouraging voluntary action because it can be put in place quickly. The agency is also "moving ahead with plans to require the NTSB recommendations in part or in whole," Dorr said. The NTSB also urged aviation regulators to write comprehensive rules requiring that pilots and controllers get adequate rest. In addition, the safety board took up the issue of cellphone use for the first time. The NTSB urged that federal highway regulators to prohibit bus drivers from using cellphones while driving. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-10-28-ntsb_N.htm ************* NTSB Adds EMS Operations To List Of 'Most Wanted' Aviation Safety Improvements But Removes Airplane Fuel Tank Flammability Concerns The National Transportation Safety Board issued its 2009 Federal Most Wanted List of safety improvements on Tuesday. Improvements to EMS flight operations were among the list of newly-added areas of concern for the aviation community... while aircraft fuel tank flammability was removed from the list. "Our Most Wanted List, which was created in 1990, was designed to raise the public's awareness and support for transportation safety issues," said NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. "The safety issues on this list are critical to improving transportation safety. When acted upon, these recommendations will reduce accidents and save lives." The Board added Improve the Safety of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Flights. The Board believes that a concerted effort must be made to improve the safety of emergency medical services flights. In 2006, the Safety Board issued a special investigation report addressing the safety issues involved in these operations. Although the Board has issued recommendations to improve EMS safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not implemented the changes. In the last 11 months, there have been 9 EMS accidents resulting, in 35 fatalities. Improve Runway Safety - In the last two decades, the Safety Board has issued numerous safety recommendations addressing this issue and believes that implementing a safety system for ground movement with direct warnings to flight crews will improve runway safety. Another recommendation in this issue area would require pilots to conduct landing distance assessments before every landing based on existing performance data, actual conditions, and incorporating a minimum safety margin of 15 percent. Also, a new recommendation was added to this subject area that would provide pilots with information or alerts in the cockpit regarding attempted takeoffs from a taxiway or the wrong runway. Reduce Dangers to Aircraft Flying in Icing Conditions -Actions need to be taken to improve flight safety in icing conditions. The FAA has yet to complete efforts to revise icing certification criteria, testing requirements, and restrictions on operating in icing conditions. A recommendation added this year on deice boots addresses a widely held, but incorrect, belief that activation of deice boots be delayed rather than started immediately upon entering icing conditions. Require Image Recorders - Conventional cockpit image recorders (CVR) and flight data recorders (FDR) do not show the initial cockpit environment leading up to a crash. Image recording systems, a supplement to the CVR and FDR that are currently on large aircraft - and that could be retrofitted on smaller planes that do not have voice recorders - would provide critical information about the actions inside the cockpit and immediately before and during an accident. The Board removed the area Eliminate Flammable Fuel/Air Vapors in Fuel Tanks on Transport Category Aircraft from the list. On July 21, 2008, The Federal Aviation Administration published a final rule titled "Reduction of Fuel Tank Flammability in Transport Category Airplanes." The rule requires fuel/air mixtures in all fuel tanks to be below a prescribed flammability level for all newly manufactured aircraft that have more than 30 seats, as well as modifications to passenger-carrying aircraft manufactured after January 1, 1992. The Board kept the issue Improve Crew Resource Management Training for on-demand Part 135 carriers on the list with no changes. FMI: www.ntsb.gov aero-news.net *************** Qantas jet 'flew blind' across Pacific A Qantas airliner had to follow an Air New Zealand jet across the Pacific after its weather radar broke down leaving it 'flying blind'. The Air New Zealand flight crew provided information about the weather ahead to the Qantas Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet carrying 284 passengers as the two aircraft made the 12-hour journey from Los Angeles to Auckland, a Qantas spokesman said. The Qantas flight later continued on to Sydney, its scheduled destination. The fault is the latest in a series of high-profile malfunctions and near-misses for Australia's flagship carrier in recent months that have drawn attention to its safety standards. Network Seven television reported that the pilot told passengers during the flight that he was "flying blind" across the ocean. Another passenger told the station that the Air New Zealand jet came into view as it flew ahead of the Qantas jet. The Qantas plane was "a few hours" into its flight when it "experienced a weather radar defect", a company spokesman said. "An Air New Zealand flight ... was a short distance ahead and it provided the Qantas aircraft with information from its own radar system throughout the journey," she said. The Qantas jet first landed in Auckland, which was the Air New Zealand plane's scheduled destination, she said. It arrived in Sydney about four hours late. Network Seven reported that a defective aerial was repaired in Auckland. The spokeswoman said she did not know if the fault was repaired in Auckland or after arrival in Sydney. She said the fault had never posed any danger. "None at all. Otherwise they wouldn't have operated the flight," she said, indicating that the jet would have returned to Los Angeles. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/3 278436/Qantas-jet-flew-blind-across-Pacific.html ************** Boeing Projects China as World's Fastest-Growing Aviation Market China Requires New Airplanes Valued at $390 Billion BEIJING, Oct 29, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- The Boeing Company detailed its 2008 Current Market Outlook (CMO) for the China region today, forecasting a market for 3,710 new airplanes worth about $390 billion over the next 20 years. "China will continue to be the fastest-growing aviation center in the world, requiring 41 percent of the entire Asia-Pacific region airplane demand. This makes China the largest market outside of the U.S. for new commercial airplanes," said Randy Tinseth, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president - Marketing. China air travel and air cargo market growth will cause China's fleet to more than triple to 4,560 airplanes by 2027 -- about as many airplanes as are in Europe today. Single-aisle airplanes will account for 70 percent of the new purchases, driven by the world's fast-growing domestic market. Single-aisle airplanes such as the Boeing Next-Generation 737 will be the largest category, with 2,600 new airplane deliveries. Demand for intermediate twin-aisles, such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777, will result in approximately 780 airplane deliveries. When combined, the single-aisle and intermediate twin-aisle market will make up 91 percent of China's total delivery dollars. Demand will include a limited number of large airplanes (747-size and larger) to connect China with other major world destinations. The market forecast calls for about 100 airplanes in that category. With China's cargo markets leading the global industry, Chinese air carriers will add about 370 freighter airplanes by 2027, quadrupling its total freighter fleet size. The Boeing 2008 forecast combines today's market environment with a long-term view that portrays how air transport will be transformed over the next 20 years. It's an outlook that indicates continued strong fundamentals underlying the need for new airplanes -- including economic growth, world trade, aviation market liberalization and new aircraft capabilities. The detailed study enables Boeing to better work with airlines in supporting their fleet plans in conjunction with their future economic growth. The outlook facilitates Boeing's strategic plans to drive the development of new airplanes and the improvement of existing models. Worldwide, Boeing projects investments of $3.2 trillion for 29,400 new commercial airplanes to be delivered during the next 20 years. The complete forecast is available on the Boeing Web site at http://www.boeing.com/commercial/cmo/index.html SOURCE Boeing *************** Danish low-cost airline Sterling, to file for bankruptcy Danish-based low-cost carrier Sterling Airways said today it would file for bankruptcy after its cash-strapped Icelandic investors were unable keep the company airborne. "During the last few weeks, the management, board of directors, and the shareholder of Sterling Airlines have been fighting a battle to keep the company alive," the company said in a statement. "Sadly, this has not had a positive outcome, and we have therefore decided to file for bankruptcy which will be done later today," it added. Sterling has cancelled all of its flights, leaving many passengers stranded, and travellers holding tickets would not be refunded by the company, it said. Other Scandinavian carriers such as SAS and Norwegian were helping stranded travellers book empty seats on their flights, media reports said. Sterling is owned by Northern Travel Group, comprised of Icelandic investment groups Fons, FL Group and Sund. Iceland's once booming financial sector has collapsed under the weight of the worldwide credit crunch, pushing the country to the brink of bankruptcy and forcing the government to take control of the major banks as its currency has nosedived. "Over a three to four week period, the whole financial system melted down, and that resulted in our shareholder being unable to continue his support to the company," Sterling said. "Negotiations have been conducted with several potential investors, but it was impossible to make ends meet. The inevitable result is that Sterling Airlines has no option but to file for bankruptcy," it said. http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?tp=on&autono=48598 *************** United Airlines Flight Evacuated (Syracuse, NY) Hancock Airport officials say someone in the tower noticed something coming out of one of the plane's engines. Hancock Airport officials say a United Airlines Express flight was evacuated as it taxied on the runway Tuesday night. They say someone in the tower spotted something coming out of one the plane's engines -- passengers were taken off the plane as a precaution. http://www.570wsyr.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=125739& article=4489671 *************** Threats emerge over potential grounding of Aviacsa Mexican carrier Aviacsa is facing the threat of being grounded for the second time in two months due to unpaid bills to aviation fuel supplier ASA. A source at government-owned ASA, which distributes fuel nationwide and also operates Mexico City International Airport, confirms Aviacsa could be grounded by Mexico's Secretary of Communications and Transport (SCT) if it does not meet today's deadline for paying an outstanding fuel bill. The source adds: "Aviacsa could be grounded on the base of not complying with the financial stability obligations imposed on any AOC holder by the Mexican Aviation law." The carrier also faces the potential denial of fuel delivery by ASA. But an Aviacsa source claims the airline "will continue operating normally" despite the threatened grounding. The SCT, which as of this afternoon had not yet formally grounded the carrier, declined to comment on the potential grounding. According to Mexican media reports quoting ASA president Gilberto Lopez Meyer, Aviacsa must deposit immediately 28 million pesos ($2.1 million), which is the equivalent of the fuel bill of one week, or face grounding by the SCT. According to Lopez, Aviacsa's total fuel debt is 177 million pesos. Last August, SCT made a first attempt to ground Aviacsa over the airline's debt of around $10.5 million with the national ATC operator SENEAM. But Aviacsa obtained court protection to temporarily continue operations while the legal dispute over the alleged debt continues. The Aviacsa source says that the debt issues are in the process of being resolved as the company holds negotiations with potential investors which could improve the company situation "soon". Mexico City-based Aviacsa operates a fleet of 20 Boeing 737-200 aircraft on a network which covers 19 domestic destinations. But the carrier has significantly cut capacity over the last several months in a bid to cut costs, in particular soaring fuel bills. News of Aviacsa's potential grounding comes only a day after the SCT grounded Avolar. The Tijuana based low cost carrier did not operate any flights today but an Avolar source says it hopes to "have all issues resolved for re-launching operations early next week". Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ************** FAA issues final rule to increase airliner explosives survivability US FAA today issued a final rule that will require manufacturers of newly certified commercial aircraft after 28 November to protect passengers and cockpit crew from the effects of explosives or incendiary devices set off in flight. First proposed in January 2007, the rule will apply to aircraft that have a maximum certified takeoff weight of more than 45,359kg (100,000lb) or maximum passenger seating capacity greater than 60 people. Along with ensuring that cockpit doors can handle small arms fire or fragmentation devices, manufacturers will now be required to protect the flight deck and passenger compartment from smoke, fumes and noxious gases that could be released by an explosion. Included as well will be the designation of a "least risk bomb location" (LRBL) inside the aircraft, a location where a device, if discovered in flight, could be placed to protect flight critical structures and systems to the maximum possible extent if it were to detonate. Existing commercial aircraft of the same size and passenger carrying capacity must also have an LRBL designated by 28 November 2009, according to the rule. From a design standpoint, the new rule will require manufacturers to develop redundant safety of flight systems that are physically separated or designed to allow for continued safe flight and landing in the aftermath of an explosion, says the FAA. In combination, cabin interiors will have to be designed to make it "more difficult to conceal weapons, explosives or other such objects and easier to find such objects by a simple search". FAA expects the rule to cost $1.4 billion through 2061, made up of certification and manufacturing costs as well as the additional fuel burn due to the extra weight of the upgrades. The total benefit of the rule over the same time period is $2.7 billion, according to the agency. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ***************