17 JAN 2009 _______________________________________ *Left engine missing from jet ditched in Hudson *US Airways pilot rejected emergency landings at two airports *US Airways supplies latest information on accident aircraft *Jet lands safely in Baltimore after emergency call *FAA Awards Ground Surveillance Contract To Thales ATM *IOSA certificate confirms Estonian Air's safe and proper operations *Cleburne (TX) company named in 2005 airplane crash suit *American flight attendants focus on safety *************************************** Left engine missing from jet ditched in Hudson (AP) - A submerged airplane that crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday and was towed to the west side of . "Once we get the flight data recorder it will give us the radar so we can figure out where the engine separated from the plane," said NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson. As investigators scoured the wreckage of the Airbus A320, many of the 155 people aboard recounted survivor stories and hailed the pilot as a hero who delivered them from certain death. The pilot, Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, was in good spirits and showing no outward signs of stress from the ordeal, a pilots union official said. His wife, in an interview outside their California home, called him "a pilot's pilot" and said talk of him being a national hero was "a little http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090116/ap_on_re_us/plane_splashdown *************** US Airways pilot rejected emergency landings at two airports (AP) The Airbus 320 US Airways plane that crashed into the Hudson River, New York. Photograph: Edouard Gluck/AP The US Airways pilot who was forced to land his plane in the Hudson River yesterday had considered emergency landings at two airports, but twice told air controllers he was unable to make them, before saying that he would go into the river instead. That account was provided by a person briefed on pilot Chesley B "Sully" Sullenberger's radio communications after his Airbus A320 apparently struck birds as he climbed to 1,500ft (457m) after takeoff from LaGuardia airport. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the investigation, gave this account: When Sullenberger advised his controller at the New York TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control Center) of the "double bird strike," the controller gave him a heading to return to LaGuardia and told him Runway 13 was open, but Sullenberger replied: "unable." By "double bird strike," controllers believed Sullenberger meant that both his jet engines had been damaged by bird impacts. Then Sullenberger saw an airstrip in the northern New Jersey suburbs, asked what it was and if he could go there. The controller told him it was Teterboro, which is a smaller field that serves mainly commuter and private planes. The controller gave him clearance to make an emergency landing on Teterboro's Runway 1. But Sullenberger again replied: "unable." It was not immediately clear whether Sullenberger had by then decided he could not reach Teterboro or that he would not be able to apply the reverse thrusters on his jets to safely stop the aircraft on the Teterboro runway. The pilot then advised the controller he was going into the Hudson River. The TRACON notified New York harbour authorities of the imminent ditching. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/16/new-york-plane-crash-hudson-rive r-sullenberger-pilot ************** US Airways supplies latest information on accident aircraft US Airways has operated the Airbus A320 that had a controlled landing on 15 January into the Hudson River in New York City for nine years on lease from Wells Fargo Bank. In a statement the carrier says the twin engine jet was built in June 1999 and started operations with US Airways in August of the same year. At the time of the accident flight the aircraft had logged 25,241.08 flight hours, with 16,299 cycles completed. Technicians performed the last A-Check - an inspection performed every 550 flight hours - in December 2008. The last heavy C check was performed in April 2008. The left CFM56-5B4/P engine was installed on 15 January 2008 and had 19,182 flight hours, while the right engine had logged 26,466 hours since its 28 May 2006 installation. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/01/16/321234/us-airways-supplies-l atest-information-on-accident-aircraft.html ****** Status: Preliminary Date: 15 JAN 2009 Time: 15:31 Type: Airbus A320-214 Operator: US Airways Registration: N106US C/n / msn: 1044 First flight: 1999 Engines: 2 CFMI CFM56-5B4/P Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 150 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 155 Airplane damage: Written off Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Hudson River, NY (United States of America) Phase: Initial climb (ICL) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: New York-La Guardia Airport, NY (LGA/KLGA), United States of America Destination airport: Charlotte-Douglas Airport, NC (CLT/KCLT), United States of America Flightnumber: 1549 Narrative: US Airways flight 1549 is a passenger flight from New York-La Guardia Airport, NY (LGA) to Charlotte-Douglas Airport, NC (CLT). The airplane took off at 15:26. The flight is believed to have encountered multiple bird strikes within two minutes after takeoff. This resulted in a complete or partial loss of thrust from the plane's two engines. The airplane ditched in the Hudson River less than six minutes after takeoff. All occupants evacuated the airplane, climbing onto the wing and entering life rafts. Coast Guard vessels and commuter ferries rescued everyone on board. According to FlightAware.com the maximum altitude was 3200 feet before the aircraft began a descent into the water. The last radar return received by FlightAware showed the aircraft at 300ft and 153kts (176mph). (aviation-safety.net) ************* Jet lands safely in Baltimore after emergency call LINTHICUM, Md. (AP) - A commercial passenger jet that had reported a possible nosegear problem touched down safely Friday at Baltimore's airport. AirTran Airways Flight 149 returned to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at about 12:07, then taxied to a gate, according to airport spokespeople. AirTran spokesman Tad Hutcheson said the Boeing 737 took off from BWI at 11:08 a.m. with five crew members and 133 passengers, including two infants. Hutcheson said the flight crew reported seeing an indicator that the nosegear did not retract after take off. The plane did a low fly-by of the airport tower and officials could see that the gear was up, Hutcheson said. The captain did not declare an in-flight emergency but returned to BWI for maintenance. "He handled it by the book," Hutcheson said. Fire and rescue teams responded to the airfield and waited for the circling jet to land. Mechanics were inspecting the plane to determine if the indicator light was faulty or if there was really a nosegear problem. The plane was taken out of service, Hutcheson said. According to Hutcheson, the plane was making its first flight following a maintenance check Thursday night at the airport. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gvHOjJ6tpJXCNtgnMILo5g5vV1 ugD95ODKK00 ************** FAA Awards Ground Surveillance Contract To Thales ATM System May Replace Higher-Cost ASDE-X Installations The first contract to install and test a low-cost ground surveillance system intended to improve runway safety at small to medium-sized airports was recently awarded to Thales ATM by the Federal Aviation Administration. "Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ideas," said Acting Administrator Robert A. Sturgell. "Our goal is to get this technology to airports as quickly as possible. It's a real boost for pilots and controllers. These low-cost systems will have a direct effect on runway incursions." Thales ATM, based in Shawnee, KS is one of several companies interested in testing a low-cost ground surveillance system that would be installed at airports not among the 35 scheduled to receive the more expensive Airport Surface Detection Equipment-Model X (ASDE-X). The FAA asked interested companies to submit proposals and will use the field tests to determine which systems will be deployed nationwide. Under the contract, Thales ATM will deliver, install and test a ground surveillance system at airports chosen by the FAA. Additional contracts are expected to be awarded soon to other companies interested in testing their products. The FAA believes low-cost systems would provide an added layer of safety by giving air traffic controllers basic ground surveillance for aircraft and vehicles operating on runways and adjacent taxiways. They would also provide a foundation for future radar-based runway safety systems. FMI: www.faa.gov, www.thalesgroup.com aero-news.net *************** IOSA certificate confirms Estonian Air's safe and proper operations In 2005 Estonian Air obtained the most respected recognition of quality in the aviation industry, the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certificate. This certificate confirms that Estonian Air's activities conform with the highest air safety requirements. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has decided to extend the IOSA certificate for another two years. To extend the certificate, a thorough audit was carried out by IATA at Estonian Air in autumn which proved Estonian Air's operations conform with the strict requirements of the certificate. IATA's airline operations specialists examined in detail the conformity of Estonian Air's current procedures and operational management with IATA requirements, and suggested that several procedures be reworded for the sake of clarity. A follow-up audit was carried out in December after updating manuals with the suggested changes. As a result of the audit Estonian Air and its activities were certificated to be in accordance with the international requirements. "Ensuring flight safety is a continuous process, where the reason of every minute deviation from the standards is examined in order to avoid their recurrence in the future. When necessary, the internal procedures are amended or changed and the personnel is trained permanently," explained Rait Kalda, Estonian Air Vice President Operations and Management Board Member. "In addition, all air safety areas are regularly audited by Estonian Civil Aviation Authority. Consistent control by the airline's own quality assurance department and flight safety inspectors as well as the CAA made it possible for Estonian Air to accomplish the IOSA audit successfully on time," Rait Kalda continued. http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/28935 **************** Cleburne (TX) company named in 2005 airplane crash suit Two recently filed lawsuits name Frakes Aviation of Cleburne in connection with an airplane that crashed off the southern tip of Miami Beach in 2005 killing all 20 aboard, according to the Miami Herald. Chalk's Ocean Airways, the former seaplane company, and AIG Insurance have both sued Northrop Grumman and Frakes Aviation in actions filed in Miami and New York. The suits claim the 58-year-old Grumman Mallard aircraft, manufactured by Northrop Grumman was defective and dangerous, which caused the crash. Frakes, the certificate holder of the plane, was responsible for designing and testing the plane, according to the suits. Company president Joe Frakes did not return a phone call asking for comment. Frakes Aviation installed new engines and refurbished the Chalk Seaplanes, including the one that crashed in 2005, in 1980, according to a 2005 Times-Review article. Killed in the crash were 18 passengers, including three infants, and two crew members. The plane burst into flames and crashed into the water while en route to Bimini, Bahamas. In 2007 The National Transportation Safety Board found separation of the plane's right wing caused the crash, according to the Miami Herald. The NTSB also blamed Chalk's failure to identify and repair fatigue cracks and the Federal Aviation Administration's failure to detect and correct deficiencies in Chalk's maintenance program for the crash. Chalk's owner, Jim Confalone, disputes the NTSB's findings and said the cracks were caused by the plane's manufacturer, not Chalk's maintenance program. AIG, in a separate lawsuit, filed against Northrop Grumman and Frakes Aviation seeking reimbursement for the $50 million in damages the company paid out to families of the crash victims. http://www.cleburnetimesreview.com/local/local_story_016124948.html *************** American flight attendants focus on safety American Airlines Inc. is making it easier for flight attendants to report safety concerns without the fear of retribution. The Fort Worth-based airline said Friday it has joined forces with the Association of Professional Flight Attendants and the Federal Aviation Administration to launch the Aviation Safety Action Program, also known as ASAP. The partnership is designed to open the channels of communication so that flight attendants will feel comfortable reporting safety-related incidents or information that could potentially derail future safety problems for the airline. The ASAP program at American is the largest in the world, with 18,000 flight attendants involved, the airline said in a statement Friday. "Our flight attendants have made a huge commitment to supporting safety at American - one of our top priorities," said Lauri Curtis, American's vice president of onboard service. "We have initiated this program with the best flight attendants in the industry to help us remain one of the safest airlines." Flight attendants who file reports through ASAP will be able to do so on a voluntary and confidential basis, the airline said. http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2009/01/12/daily53.html ***************