30 MAR 2009 _______________________________________ *Israel Continues Efforts To Restore FAA Safety Ranking *Airbus A320 Engine Failure (China) *Airliner returns to San Diego after smoke report *Continental Jet Lands in Houston After Passenger Disturbance, Brake Problems *Woman Starts Brawl On Flight Bound For Detroit *Anchorage airport clears volcanic ash, reopens *Aviation Safety Day is Thursday at Embry-Riddle *************************************** Israel Continues Efforts To Restore FAA Safety Ranking FAA International Aviation Safety Assessment Revealed Safety Issues Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration downgraded Israel's aviation safety standard rating from Category One to Category Two, putting it on the same level as Third World countries. The FAA assessment isn't a measure of airline safety - but is a determination of whether civil aviation authorities meet international safety standards. The move has significant consequences for Israel's air carriers, tourism and economy, and has spurred government officials to the matter in hand. Last week, a report presented by a panel of experts to Israel's Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the country's aviation safety rating, and provided recommendations to fix problems that caused the downgrade, Haaretz reported. "The panel understood that according to the director of the Civil Aviation Authority Major General Giora Rom, allocating the necessary resources will make it possible for Israel to restore its rank to '1' in the U.S. [in terms of flight safety]," the report said. The panel pointed out that "the steps that need to be undertaken could have been concluded two to three years ago," and outlined three major areas for improvement: quick legislation with high priority for Law on Flight; additional budget allocations for the Civil Aviation Authority; and approval for 10-15 more positions for supervisors at the CAA. "The lowering of the air-safety ranking makes it difficult for Israeli airlines, which are prevented from adding more routes and undermines their ability to establish joint ventures with foreign airlines," the panel said. FMI: www.mot.gov.il aero-news.net ************* Airbus A320 Engine Failure (China) Date: 27-MAR-2009 Time: Type: Airbus A320-200 Operator: China Southern Airlines Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 108 Airplane damage: None Location: Dayong - China Phase: Initial climb Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Dayong - DYG Destination airport: Shenzhen - SZX Narrative: The flight CZ-3992 returned to Dayong after the right engine failed about 10 minutes into the flight. The airplane entered a holding for about 40 minutes before performing a safe landing Passengers reported, that the airplane shook violently, a loud bang was heard and they could see a streak of flame out of right engine's outlet. Sources: http://avherald.com/h?article=4173a185&opt=0 (aviation-safety.net) ***************** Airliner returns to San Diego after smoke report SAN DIEGO (AP) — An American Airlines jet safely returned to San Diego's airport shortly after takeoff when the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit. Officials from the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration say the Dallas-bound MD-80 jet took off at 6:19 p.m. Sunday and turned around 17 minutes later. It landed safely back in San Diego at 6:45 p.m. None of the plane's 146 passengers was injured. Dozens of firefighters were waiting for the plane when it returned. After an examination of the plane that included the use of thermal imaging tools, they found no fire or any related problems. The passengers eventually arrived in Dallas about two hours later than scheduled, according to the American Airlines Web site. *************** Continental Jet Lands in Houston After Passenger Disturbance, Brake Problems HOUSTON — Police are investigating a disturbance involving a passenger on a Continental Express jet on a flight from Cincinnati to Houston's Intercontinental Airport. The aircraft also experienced a brake problem and sustained a flat tire when it landed about 9:30 a.m. Friday and then taxied to a gate. No details were immediately available. The Houston Chronicle said air traffic controllers had given the flight a higher landing priority after the crew reported a woman passenger had interfered with a flight attendant. No injuries were reported and passengers departed without further incident. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511097,00.html ****************** Woman Starts Brawl On Flight Bound For Detroit DETROIT, Mich. -- Southwest Flight 1402 from Phoenix, bound to Detroit, was delayed Saturday and airline officials said one woman was to blame. A company representative said a woman became unruly and began acting erratically, fighting with passengers and crew alike. Travelers walked off the flight at Metro Airport, around 7:30 p.m., shaken and relieved their in-flight ordeal was over. “We had to pretty much restrain her because she started hitting some of the passengers,” said witness Aaron Nichols. Other witnesses on the flight told Local 4 the woman was in line to use the restroom when a man bumped into her. “She just started going off on him. She accused him of trying to touch her and she just started slapping him in the face, going crazy on him,” said passenger Shelly Salemassi. “She hit him in the head twice and he had no clue what was going on,” said witness Bill Miller. A handful of passengers jumped up to helped the shocked man and restrained the woman to her seat, but she was having none of that. “Then she tried to go after the stewardess. Salemassi said, “It took 5 or 6 guys to detain her after that. I don’t know what was wrong with her.” “If the guys weren’t there, if all of us didn’t helped her, the stewardesses would have had a real problem. She was rather large woman,” said passenger Paul Lechner, ”She definitely had a...problem. She was not able to focus, and when she did, you could see her eyes change. It was not a good situation all the way around.” The airline is not releasing the identity of the woman though passengers describe her as in her 60’s. Shortly after the fight the crew decided to divert the plane and remove the woman. The pilot made an emergency landing at Denver International Airport. Passengers remained on the plane, the woman was removed, and the plane left without her. The woman was in federal custody in Denver Saturday evening and potentially faces federal charges for disrupting the flight. http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/19036931/detail.html *************** Anchorage airport clears volcanic ash, reopens Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport reopened Sunday, offering relief for thousands of passengers in Seattle and elsewhere stranded by gritty volcanic ash blanketing runways. Crews clean snow and ash from runways at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Sunday. Mount Redoubt has calmed down after spreading volcanic ash. The airport closed Saturday because the ash can damage engines, but two runways opened Sunday. Alaska volcano quiets down after making ashy mess Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport reopened Sunday, offering relief for thousands of passengers in Seattle and elsewhere stranded by gritty volcanic ash blanketing runways. The Anchorage airport was closed Saturday evening because of fallout from another eruption of Mount Redoubt. The dusting of fine ash poses a potential hazard for aircraft engines. Mount Redoubt emitted low-level tremors Sunday but no more eruptions, monitors at the Alaska Volcano Observatory said. Seismic activity increased when a plume rose 25,000 feet above sea level, but scientists said it appeared to be only vapor. They did not count those tremors among Redoubt's 18 eruptions during the past week. Anchorage is about 100 miles northeast of the volcano. Workers took advantage of snow to sop up the ash at the airport, said Christine Klein, deputy commissioner for aviation of the Alaska Department of Transportation. They spread snow over the runways, let it sit for a while, then scraped up the dark-colored mixture. "It's kind of like brownie mix, or cake-mix batter," Klein said. The cleanup took about 14 hours, Klein said. The last time the airport was dusted with ash, 16 years ago, cleanup took 3 ½ days. That's because without snow, the ash had to be washed away with water. Two runways opened Sunday, and a third was expected to open later. A spokesman for Alaska Airlines said a flight left Seattle for Anchorage at 4 p.m. Sunday. If Alaska determines swirling ash is causing problems for its aircraft, it could halt operations again. But that hadn't happened by 7 p.m. Since the volcano's latest outburst began Saturday afternoon, Alaska Airlines has canceled more than 70 flights, an airline spokesman said. Note to travelers To confirm the status of their flight, travelers should check alaskaair.com or call 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522). Since the volcano began erupting March 22, Alaska Airlines has canceled 235 flights, affecting more than 10,000 passengers. Spokesman Paul McElroy said extra flights could be added to handle the backlog. McElroy said the airline will not be able to accommodate standby passengers until after April 1. He also advised Anchorage-bound passengers traveling to Seattle from elsewhere to reconsider their plans, if possible. If their connecting flight to Anchorage is canceled, they could find themselves stranded in Seattle, McElroy said. And since an act of nature is to blame, the airline does not provide meals or accommodations. Flights to other parts of Alaska, including Fairbanks and Juneau, are not affected by the eruption. Nikiski, about 50 miles from Redoubt, was among the worst hit communities. Observatory volcanologist Game McGimsey said the ash accumulation there was as thick as a dime. The ash has the look and feel of dry, pulverized clay but is much more abrasive — it can seep through car filters into the engine. "Some of the hearty locals say, 'We didn't get any ash. Remember when we got three or inches?' " said station attendant Rick Olmsted, who was living in Northeastern Washington when Mount St. Helens blew with ferocious force in 1980. The town where he was — Cusick, Pend Oreille County — 285 miles away, got dusted, and so did other states. "Now, that's ash," Olmsted said. Feeling the sting Anchorage's dusting was more than enough for many residents, particularly in the southern sections where the ashfall was heavier, turning snow in yards a dark, dingy gray. Steve Morris, manager of the city's air-quality program, said most of the ash particles are very large and would be difficult to breathe in. Being caught unprepared in the ashfall could be uncomfortable: The particles exude a hint of sulfur and sting the eyes, nose and throat. After the ash began to fall Saturday evening, a neighborhood hardware store quickly sold out of face masks. People also were snapping up air filters and tarps and, on Sunday, cleaning supplies, said clerk Roger Foraker. "You really don't clean this," he said. "You let it clean itself off." He had a more pressing concern. His wife has been stuck in Seattle since Thursday, trying to get a flight home. The volcano last erupted in 1989-90. A 1989 eruption sent ash 150 miles away into the path of a KLM flight carrying 231 passengers, flaming out its four engines. Pilots ultimately restarted the engines and landed safely. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008946367_alaskaair30m.html ************** Aviation Safety Day is Thursday at Embry-Riddle PRESCOTT - The Master of Science in Safety Science Program and the International Society of Air Safety are sponsoring an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Robertson Aviation Safety Center during Aviation Safety Day at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Thursday, April 2. The open house includes tours of the aircraft crash lab every 15 minutes. Professor Fred Cone will speak at 2 p.m. in the Davis Learning Center. He will give his final presentation about his midair collision in an A-6 with a C141 in 1967. Cone is a member of the Aviation Hall of Fame. Dr. Harry Robertson will speak at 3 p.m. in the Davis Learning Center. He is the founder and CEO of Robertson Aviation, a designer of crashworthy fuel systems for helicopters and aircraft. Anyone interested in more information should contact Erich Skoor at (520) 831-4900 or Deborah Pfingston at (928) 777-6993. http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID=66411 *************** Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC