27 MAR 2008 _______________________________________ *Arrow Cargo DC-10 Sheds Engine Parts Over Brazil *American Airlines, pilots union will again join air-safety program *FAA announces safety audit of American Airlines *Lahood Says New Air-Navigation System Is FAA's Top Priority *Alaska Airlines cancels all Anchorage flights due to volcano **************************************** Arrow Cargo DC-10 Sheds Engine Parts Over Brazil Pieces Strike Homes, One Car No one was injured Thursday when a DC-10's engine began shedding parts as the Arrow Cargo frieghter flew over Manaus, Brazil early Thursday. At least 12 homes suffered roof damage, however, and one car was also hit by the falling debris. The Associated Press reports one large item of debris -- nearly 6-feet long, and weighing about 550 pounds -- came to rest outside a number of homes in the northern Brazil community. Residents described hearing a loud 'explosion' overhead, and said the chunks of metal were on fire as they came down. "You're sound asleep when suddenly you hear a noise and open your window to see something like that on fire on your doorstep," local resident Aparecida Silva told Brazil's Globo TV. "I didn't know what it was. Fortunately, it didn't hit anyone." The four persons onboard the plane were also not injured. Globo said the debris looked to be from the combustion chamber and engine outlet. Parts of the engine nacelle were also reportedly recovered. Rai Marinho, station manager for the Miami, FL-based company's operations in Manaus, said the company will reimburse local residents for any damage incurred from the debris. Somewhat oddly, the plane's flight crew opted to proceed to their destination of Bogata, Colombia... but weather rerouted the flight to Medellin, where it landed without any further problems. FMI: www.arrowcargo.com aero-news.net *************** American Airlines, pilots union will again join air-safety program WASHINGTON - American Airlines Inc. and its pilots union agreed Thursday to re-establish an air-safety program that regulators consider critical for preventing accidents. The two parties will resume participation in the Aviation Safety Action Program pending the approval of federal regulators. The Federal Aviation Administration has pressured American to resume participation in ASAP since the airline and the union dropped the program in October. ASAP allows pilots to self-report safety incidents without facing enforcement action from the FAA. The information is used to identify deficiencies that could cause accidents. To be accepted into ASAP, the pilot must be the sole source of information about the error, which can't be intentional or involve alcohol or drugs. The Allied Pilots Association said the program was suspended after American threatened pilots with disciplinary action related to ASAP reports. American says those pilots faced discipline because the incidents involved willful misconduct or otherwise didn't belong within ASAP. The new agreement prohibits the airline from taking disciplinary action against pilots who make ASAP reports that are accepted by a team that weighs them. It also requires that members of that team receive training about how the program should work. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-airsafety_27bus.A RT.State.Edition1.4a5bd4a.html *************** FAA announces safety audit of American Airlines The FAA plans to begin an in-depth audit of American Airlines' safety data next month, making good on a promise to Congress last year after the agency was criticized for lax oversight. "We told Congress last year that we would be doing some focused audits of the major air carriers," said FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette. The review will focus on records and documents, rather than aircraft inspections, she added. The FAA has already conducted similar audits at Southwest Airlines and Continental Airlines. Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas) ************** Lahood Says New Air-Navigation System Is FAA's Top Priority PHOENIX -- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said the development of a next-generation air-navigation system is the No. 1 priority of the Federal Aviation Administration, and predicted that the next FAA chief will jumpstart the controversial, multibillion dollar project. Mr. LaHood, a former Republican congressman from Illinois who was appointed to run the DOT by the Obama administration, was in Phoenix Thursday to announce stimulus grants to Arizona airports and to speak at an aviation conference. He declined to say who the next FAA administrator will be or when that person will be named. "The White House is making that announcement," he said. "You have to ask them." The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Randy Babbitt, an aviation consultant and former head of the big Air Line Pilots Association union, has been offered the job by the White House and is poised to take it, pending completion of background and finance checks. Mr. Babbitt, the moderator of the aviation conference in Phoenix, acknowledged the rumors Thursday but had no comment. His current employer, consultants Oliver Wyman, also declined to comment. Mr. LaHood said the new FAA chief needs to sit down with air-traffic controllers soon to work out labor problems. The two sides have been at odds for three years on controller pay and work rules. The DOT secretary also said the new FAA boss must forge industry agreement on what the new navigation system should look like and how much it should cost. "Nobody knows what the figure is," Mr. LaHood said. By some estimates, the new system could cost $20 billion and not be fully operational until 2020. It has been embroiled in funding battles. Mr. LaHood said the Obama administration has a strong commitment to fund the project. "It will happen under the watch of this president, this DOT secretary and the FAA administrator," he said. The DOT secretary announced more than $28 million for Arizona airports under the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including a $10.5 million grant for runway rehabilitation at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. "This Administration is committed to getting the U.S. economy going again and these grants are part of making that happen," he said in a statement. The Phoenix airport served 40 million passengers last year. The rest of the funds will go to projects at five other Arizona airports, including Tucson International. About 3,400 airports designated as part of the national airport system are eligible to receive Recovery Act funds. The FAA received $1.3 billion to disburse to qualified airport projects related to safety, security, infrastructure, increased capacity and the like. No local matching funds are required. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123810181998751549.html ************** Alaska Airlines cancels all Anchorage flights due to volcano Mount Redoubt erupted Thursday morning and Alaska Airlines canceled all flights in and out of Anchorage, about 100 miles away from the volcano, because of concerns about volcanic ash. The airline, a subsidiary of Seattle-based Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK), said all flights are canceled until daylight on Friday. According to the airline, the ash clouds are moving north and toward Anchorage, "posing a significant risk to air travel." Earlier this week, Alaska Airlines also canceled flights to and from some Alaskan cities because of the volcanic eruptions. http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/03/23/daily48.html *************** Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC