10 DEC 2008 _______________________________________ *Pilot Injured In MU-2 Emergency Landing Near Memphis *Embraer's Phenom 100 Executive Jet is Certified by Brazil's ANAC *Some charges out against US pilots in Brazil crash *HAI Announces Recipient of the 2009 Joe Mashman Safety Award *Learjet 23 Accident (Mexico) *NTSB investigates Heathrow-like Trent 800 engine issue *FAA Certifies Alakai Technologies’ Wireless Broadband Unit on Cirrus Aircraft **************************************** Pilot Injured In MU-2 Emergency Landing Near Memphis Reported Engine Problem Before Hard Landing At NQA For the first time in over a year, there's been an accident involving a Mitsubishi MU-2 turboprop aircraft. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports the pilot of an MU-2 (similar to type shown at right and below) radioed the tower at the Millington Regional Jetport (NQA) north of Memphis, TN just before 11 am, reporting engine trouble. The pilot initially said he would shoot for an emergency landing on US Highway 51, west of the airfield... but later realized he could make the airport. Based on reported information, the aircraft landed hard near the end of runway 4. The plane skated sideways off the pavement, plowing through grass and a chain link fence before coming to rest over 100 yards distant. The plane's left wing broke inboard of the engine nacelle, bending downward and causing the engine's propeller to cut into the fuselage. Compounding the problem was the fact the pilot, who was injured in the crash, had problems shutting that engine down. It took several firefighters, spraying foam into the nacelle, to bring the turbine to a halt. Paramedics were then able to extract the pilot, carrying him on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance. His condition is unknown at this time. Based on news reports, it's not clear whether the plane was departing the airfield or landing when the emergency occurred. However, online flight tracking information shows an IFR flight plan filed for the accident aircraft, N452MA, showing a departure time from NQA of 0940 CST, with the flight terminating two minutes later. According to data from the National Transportation Safety Board, the high-performance MU-2 has been involved in 19 accidents since 2003, with 12 of those resulting in fatalities. The high rate of fatal crashes in a comparatively short timeframe prompted calls for the plane to be grounded, with Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo among the most vocal opponents of the plane. The FAA responded by calling for comments from MU-2 owners and operators, to determine the best course of action. That resulted in the January 2008 issuance of a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) calling for new pilot training, experience, and operating requirements for the speedy aircraft, with a particular focus on emergency procedures training, slow flight and one-engine-out operations. Prior to Tuesday's accident, there had been no reported incidents involving the MU-2 since the SFAR was issued. FMI: www.ntsb.gov, http://mu-2aircraft.com/ aero-news.net ***** Date: 09-DEC-2008 Time: 11:00 Type: MU-2B-60 Operator: Briggs Tobacco of Memphis Registration: N452MA C/n / msn: 1533 S.A. Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Substantial Location: Millington Jetport, Memphis - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Private Departure airport: KNQA Destination airport: 2M8 Narrative: Aircraft had just departed, suffered some sort of engine malfunction. Contacted tower at Millington and stated possible landing on highway. Aircraft made it back to airfield, but crash landed onto the runway, which it over ran, aircraft slid sideways, over-running the runway. Starboard wing snapped, starboard propellers hit the fuselage, nose wheel collapsed. Took 10 minutes to shut down damaged engine and for fireman to enter the aircraft to remove the pilot who survived. (aviation-safety.net) *************** Embraer's Phenom 100 Executive Jet is Certified by Brazil's ANAC U.S. certification expected shortly, followed by first deliveries SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, Dec 10, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Embraer's Phenom 100 entry level executive jet received its Type Certificate from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Authority (Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil - ANAC), in a ceremony held today at Embraer headquarters, in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil. "In 2005, we promised to design and build a revolutionary jet with premium comfort, outstanding performance, docile flying qualities, and a low operating cost," said Luis Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive Jets. "We have relentlessly pursued these design goals and, now, I am thrilled to announce that the Phenom 100 has not only met all original specification targets, but has also surpassed several performance goals." "This certification makes all of us at Embraer very proud. The Phenom 100 was conceived, developed, and certified in less than four years, which is very noteworthy," said Emilio Matsuo, Embraer's Senior Vice President, Engineering. "Furthermore, the performance figures obtained demonstrate the product's excellent design." The Phenom 100's maximum range, originally projected to be 1,160 nautical miles (2,148 kilometers or 1,335 miles), has been extended to 1,178 nautical miles (2,182 kilometers or 1,356 miles) with four occupants and NBAA IFR reserves. An optional enhanced take-off performance package was included in the aircraft certification, resulting in a 3,125 feet take-off field length at maximum take-off weight. The standard take-off field length is 3,400 feet as initially specified. For departures from airports with restrictions due to high temperatures or high elevations, or both, take-off climb performance has also surpassed the design target, providing up to 300 nautical miles extra range. Another performance improvement was achieved with the landing distance, verified to be only 2,699 feet at maximum landing weight, 301 feet shorter than initially specified. Powered by two fuel-efficient Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F-E engines, the Phenom 100's fuel consumption is confirmed to be better than originally estimated, saving as much as 3.6% on longer trips. The flight test campaign also validated the Phenom 100's top speed of 390 knots (true air speed), 10 knots faster than initially projected. The aircraft is capable of climbing directly to its maximum cruise altitude of 41,000 feet, even at maximum take-off weight. Certified without restrictions, the Phenom 100 is able to fly under Visual and Instrument Flight Rules conditions, day or night, and into known or forecasted icing conditions. The aircraft also operates well within Stage IV external noise requirements, establishing by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), having been certified with a cumulative margin of 33 EPNdB. The highly intuitive Phenom100 man-machine interface, based on a quiet and dark cockpit philosophy that offers full situational awareness and automation for a low workload, enabled the certification for single-pilot operation. The Phenom 100's Prodigy(R) flight deck, based on the acclaimed Garmin G1000 avionics suite, was also certified. The interior of the Phenom 100 was certified with its innovative features and collections of finishing materials. The Oval Lite cross-section benefits passengers with greater space and comfort, enhanced by an abundance of natural light from the largest windows in the entry level category. In addition, the forward wardrobe and private rear lavatory with storage space add convenience for a premium travel experience. "We congratulate all Embraer teams and our partners, who made this best-in-class jet a reality, in such record-breaking time," said Affonso. "Embraer's hundreds of employees involved in the Phenom 100 program can be proud of having achieved, and even surpassed, the jet's challenging design goals. This achievement goes well beyond the certification of an aircraft. It represents a major building block for the future of Embraer Business Aviation." Embraer's Executive Jets Customer Support and Services organization is ready for the Phenom 100 to enter service. Four new Embraer Executive Jets service centers were recently inaugurated in the U.S. and Europe. The entire network will be comprised of seven wholly-owned and 38 authorized service centers, worldwide The first Phenom 100 customers have already been trained by the Embraer CAE Training Services joint venture, and service center professionals have received training to perform technical and mechanical services on the Phenom 100. A newly-implemented customer contact center is operational, ready and standing by to provide customers with complete and timely assistance for operational, technical and maintenance needs. Embraer's new parts distribution center, operated by UPS Supply Chain Solutions in Louisville, Ky., in the U.S., is certified, operational and stocked with a complete inventory of repairable, expendable and structural parts for the Phenom jets. Certification of the Phenom 100 by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected soon. Both the Brazilian and the U.S. certifications will enable the Phenom 100 deliveries to begin in the coming weeks. As of January 5, 2009, the Phenom 100 will be priced at US$ 3.18 million for FAA certification, and US$ 3.25 million for ANAC certification, both based on January 2005 economic conditions for a baseline configuration. Brought to January 2009 economic conditions, the price will be US$ 3.6 million for FAA certification and US$ 3.68 million for ANAC and EASA certifications, subject to escalation until delivery. SOURCE Embraer ************ Some charges out against US pilots in Brazil crash SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — A Brazilian judge has thrown out negligence charges against two American pilots accused of contributing to the crash of a passenger jet in the Amazon that killed 154 people two years ago, state media and a lawyer for the pilots said Tuesday. But the federal judge overseeing the case refused to dismiss charges similar to involuntary manslaughter for pilots Joseph Lepore of Bay Shore, New York, and Jan Paladino of Westhampton Beach, New York, according to their lawyer, Joel Weiss. Judge Murilo Mendes also dismissed some charges lodged against four Brazilian air traffic controllers accused of failing to keep the Embraer Legacy 600 flown by the American pilots from a collision course with a Brazilian Boeing 737, according to Agencia Brasil, the official news agency for Brazil. The larger Gol airlines jet plunged into the jungle after the two planes collided. It disintegrated on impact in thick jungle on Sept. 29, 2006, killing all aboard. The smaller plane was damaged but landed safely at a remote Brazilian military base deep in the Amazon. The crash was Brazil's worst air disaster until a jet ran off a slick runway less than a year later at Sao Paulo's airport for domestic flights and burst into flames, killing 199 people. The back-to-back disasters raised serious questions about Brazilian passenger air travel safety. They coincided with massive weather-related delays and cancelations, plus an Amazon area radar outage that forced passenger jets en route from the United States to reverse their courses in midflight. The dismissal of negligence charges against the American pilots in the Gol crash "is to an extent good news," Weiss said in an interview. "The judge is certainly on the right track in reducing the charges. But all the charges against the pilots deserve dismissal." The case is on track to be tried next year, and the charge equivalent to involuntary manslaughter is punishable by as much as three years in prison. The dismissal came a day before results of a Brazilian Air Force investigation into the crash are due to be made public. Brazil's Estado de S. Paulo and Folha de S. Paulo newspapers reported over the weekend that Air Force investigators determined the two American pilots had inadvertently placed their plane's transponder and the collision-avoidance system on standby. The newspapers said the Air Force also concluded that flight controllers failed to alert the pilots that they were on a collision course and failed to notice that the transponder was turned off. The 737 was operated by Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA and the executive jet by ExcelAire Service Inc. of Ronkonkoma, New York. The pilots have denied turning off the transponder and have said they were flying at an altitude designated by the air controllers. They were allowed to leave Brazil after agreeing to return if courts summon them. **************** HAI Announces Recipient of the 2009 Joe Mashman Safety Award HAI is proud to announce the 2009 Joe Mashman Safety Award recipient, Tony Cramp; Senior Advisor Air Safety and Global Projects, Shell Aircraft International, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Cramp started his aviation career in the Royal Navy as a Lynx helicopter pilot, serving as a flight instructor and aircraft flight commander. He saw active service on operations in the Middle East, East Timor, and Sierra Leone, and commanded the warship HMS Ledbury, before completing his service as the Commanding Officer 815 Naval Air Squadron, based in the United Kingdom. Tony is committed to achieving the International Helicopter Safety Team’s goal of an 80 percent reduction in helicopter accidents. For the last 6 years he has been an aviation safety advisor for Shell Aircraft International, four of which as Senior Advisor for North and South America, implementing policies and practices to improve the safety and efficiency of Shell’s helicopter operations. Interpreting complex programs into procedures that are readily understood, and being practical and responsive to operator needs, Cramp has provided operators the opportunity to improve their safety culture and realize benefits of reduced operating costs, as well as improving the interface between customers and operators. Cramp has led, within the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers, the development of improved guidelines for seismic helicopter support and, within the Helicopter Safety Advisory Council, led the development and publication of a new helideck marking scheme for the Gulf of Mexico, designed to harmonize current US and international schemes. His willingness to listen and understand the challenges of the various sectors of the industry has also contributed to the formation of an Oil and Gas working group within Canada. Over the years Cramp has worked very closely with a great many helicopter operators and organizations, encouraging operators to learn new skills, expand the learning process, and to increase overall safety. All winners will be recognized at HELI-EXPO 2009’s annual “Salute to Excellence” Awards Banquet on February 23, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. in Anaheim, California. For more information about the 2009 “Salute to Excellence” Awards Banquet, contact HAI’s Communications Department at 703-683-4646, fax: 703-683-4745, or email: rotor@rotor.com. For more information on HELI-EXPO 2009, visit www.heliexpo.com. http://www.rotor.com/Default.aspx?tabid=510&newsid905=60289 ************** Learjet 23 Accident (Mexico) Status: Preliminary - official Date: 07 DEC 2008 Time: ca 18:20 Type: Learjet 23 Operating for: Gobierno de Tlaxcala Leased from: Servicio de Administración y Enajenación de Bienes (SAE) Registration: XC-LGD C/n / msn: 23-037 First flight: Crew: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 Total: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Lake Atlangatepec, Tlaxcala (Mexico) Phase: Approach (APR) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Puebla-Huejotsingo Airport (PBC/MMPB ), Mexico Destination airport: Atlangatepec Airport, Mexico Narrative: Learjet reported as making a 2nd landing attempt, suddenly began rapid ascent, then nose-dived into Lake. Aircraft located in 30 meters of water. Aircraft reported as operated by Mexican Govt., Management System Disposition of Assets (SAEB). . (aviation-safety.net) *************** NTSB investigates Heathrow-like Trent 800 engine issue US NTSB senior investigator Bill English is meeting with Boeing regarding an in-flight power rollback on the right-hand Rolls-Royce Trent 895 engine powering a Delta Air Lines Boeing 777-200ER during a 26 November flight. English earlier this year took part in the UK air accident investigation branch's analysis of a Trent-powered British Airways 777-200ER landing accident at London Heathrow International Airport. The gliding touchdown 300m short of the runway destroyed the aircraft but caused no fatalities among the 136 passengers and 16 crew. An NTSB spokesman says English is "looking into the incident" with an eye on seeing if there are similarities with the BA accident. Investigators in that case have identified water icing as the likely cause of the fuel restriction and dual-engine rollback in that accident, though the final report is not yet complete. FAA in September issued an airworthiness directive calling on operators of 777-200 and -300 aircraft equipped with Trent engines to revise flight manuals to include in-flight procedures for pilots to follow during certain cold-weather conditions and for operations on the ground. In the latest incident, the NTSB says Delta Flight 18, enroute from Shanghai to Atlanta at 39,000ft, experienced an "uncommanded rollback" on the right hand Rolls-Royce Trent 895 engine. "Initial data indicates that following the rollback, the crew descended to FL310 (approximately 31,000ft) and executed applicable flight manual procedures," according to the agency's preliminary report. "The engine recovered and responded normally thereafter," investigators state, adding, "The flight continued to Atlanta where it landed without further incident." English and his team are analyzing the aircraft's flight data recorder "and other applicable data and components" retrieved from the aircraft, according to the report. A Delta spokesman says the airline "will partner closely with (the NTSB) and comply with any recommended actions as soon as possible to ensure that there is no operational impact to our customers or communities." http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/12/10/319956/ntsb-investigates-hea throw-like-trent-800-engine-issue.html *************** FAA Certifies Alakai Technologies’ Wireless Broadband Unit on Cirrus Aircraft -- Enables Affordable FOQA Reporting and Safety Improvements for General Aviation The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an amended Supplemental Type Certificate for installation of Alakai Technologies’ wireless Broadband Units on Cirrus SR20 and SR22 aircraft. The certification allows Alakai’s Broadband Units to be permanently installed on Cirrus aircraft, where they are used to upload flight data and embedded Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) results via secure Internet connections at the conclusion of every flight. Hopkinton, MA, December 10, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Systems developer Alakai Technologies (http://www.alakai1.com) and safety analyst CAPACG (http://www.capacg.com), announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an amended Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for installation of Alakai’s wireless Broadband Units on Cirrus SR20 and SR22 aircraft. The certification allows Alakai’s Broadband Units to be permanently installed on Cirrus aircraft, and to upload flight data and embedded Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) results via secure Internet connections at the conclusion of every flight. “We are pleased to achieve FAA certification of Alakai’s Broadband unit to enhance our Engine Trend Monitoring and Flight Data Monitoring products,” said Brian Morrison, president of Alakai Technologies. “Users of our system now have access to near-real-time engine maintenance (MOQA) and flight (FOQA) evaluation reports as soon as they land, and can easily review safety reports, operational and logbook data, or replay their flight from any Mac or PC.” Alakai Technologies and CAPACG operate under a teaming agreement using the brand name GA-FDM (http://www.ga-fdm.com). “With the pending FAA requirements for Safety Management Systems (SMS), a solid FOQA program becomes an indispensable part of Risk Management and Safety Assurance at the core of every company’s SMS”, said Larry McCarroll, CEO of CAPACG. “Our mission is to provide the most cost-effective methods for implementing an SMS, allowing users to actively manage and mitigate risk and to become the best, safest pilots in the history of General Aviation. Now, with the approval of Broadband, objective data needed for SMS can be uploaded seamlessly at the end of every flight, with no action required by pilots or maintenance personnel. We are excited to be bringing this critical enabling safety technology to the GA community.” GA-FDM provides an automated web-centric system that uses embedded (real-time) expert analysis of engine operational and flight operational data to: • Perform real-time engine trend and flight analysis to identify performance issues and reduce operating costs; • Analyze maintenance and flight data, and summarize fleet (or virtual fleet) performance; • Analyze reams of operational data from its relational database to identify risks and pre-cursors to accidents; • Enable users to take preventive and corrective measures based on regular reports, event studies, mentoring, and proficiency training. Real-time analysis performed during each flight produces reports that contain concise indicators of aircraft and pilot performance. Using the Broadband unit, these reports are emailed from the aircraft to the laptop or PDA of the pilot or maintenance personnel, and are uploaded to Alakai’s relational MySQL database. GA-FDM experts then use automatically generated web reports, analyses, and summaries of each flight to review engine trends, examine anomalies, replay flights, examine GoogleEarthTM trackfiles, and determine what advisories to provide to maintenance personnel, pilots and fleet operators. Users have already experienced significant operational savings, including reduced fuel consumption, increased maintenance intervals, and lower insurance costs, to name a few. The GA-FDM system with Broadband link is available to Cirrus owners and operators for after-market installation. To learn more about this option or to locate a Dealer, please visit http://www.ga-fdm.com. About the GA-FDM team Alakai Technologies is a Hopkinton, Massachusetts-based corporation that develops, manufactures, and integrates products to enhance aircraft safety. Alakai (pronounced “al-uh-ki”) is the Hawaiian word for “leader” or “guide.” Additional information can be found at www.alakai1.com. CAPACG is a consulting firm and systems integrator focused on helping hardware and software companies develop products specifically for the General Aviation FDM market. CAPACG is an expert in helping operators develop, implement and operate their FDM programs. Additional information can be found at www.capacg.com. Contact Information Alakai Technologies Corporation Brian Morrison 774-248-4964 pr@alakai1.com www.alakai1.com **************