05 MAY 2009 _______________________________________ *EASA cautions 737 operators of radio altimeter errors *NTSB Files Prelim On Neptune CFIT Crash *Open door forces jet to return to BR *New safety milestone for Gulf Air *Flight attendant arrested for trying to get guns through security *Chilean startup Principal Airlines gets AOC *Air India appoints new MD and chairman *787s Move Along, But Weight Problems Worry Analysts *Controllers Attack Incursion Woes With Sensis ASDE-X Equipment *************************************** EASA cautions 737 operators of radio altimeter errors EASA has published a safety information bulletin alerting Boeing 737 operators of an "erroneous low range radio altimeter (LRRA) indication" that has been linked to the fatal crash of a Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800 at Amsterdam Schiphol on 25 February. The accident killed nine of the 134 on board, including three pilots in the cockpit. Central to the investigation is a radio-altimeter fault that caused the aircraft's autothrottle to enter retard mode at too high an altitude, reducing thrust to idle speed before the aircraft was in position for its final flare above the runway. Pilots lost control of the aircraft after speeds decreased to 110kt (204km/h) at approximately 500ft (152m) above the ground due in part to the fault. The system is designed to automatically reduce thrust to idle when the aircraft enters its landing flare approximately 27ft (8m) above the ground. Dutch investigators revealed on 29 April that several radio altimeter failures had occurred on the accident aircraft in its previous eight flights. EASA notes that "there are reports of further incidents attributed to the same cause". In its 30 April alert, which references a flight operations technical bulletin published by Boeing, EASA says if one of an aircraft's two LRRAs provides erroneous altitude readings, the associated "flight deck effects" may typically include "inappropriate flight mode annunciation indication of autothrottle retard mode during approach phase with the airplane above 27ft above-ground-level." The agency is recommending that flight crews, whether operating in automated or manual flight modes, "carefully monitor" primary flight instruments including airspeed and attitude, for aircraft performance and the flight mode annunciation for autoflight modes. "When the autothrottle mode is selected during critical phases of flight, the pilot flying may consider to keep a hands-on position on the engine throttles to guard against and correct any abnormal behaviour," EASA continues, adding that, "Early intervention prevents unsatisfactory airplane performance or a degraded flight path." Source: Air Transport Intelligence news *************** NTSB Files Prelim On Neptune CFIT Crash Accident Took Lives Of Three Firefighters The NTSB has filed a preliminary report on the April 25th accident that took the lives of three crew aboard a P-2V Neptune fire fighting aircraft. The P2V Neptune went down in Utah, near Stockton Pass, with heavy fog reported along the route. The aircraft was enroute from Missoula, MT, to Alamogordo, NM, on Saturday morning and discovered at 1300 local time in the Oquirrh mountains. No distress call or other associated reports were received from the aircraft prior to its impact. Some reports indicate that the aircraft failed to negotiate its way through the pass and was found an eighth of a mile from its crest. The debris path was reported as being nearly 500 feet long. The Tooele County Sheriffs office confirmed the deceased as Pilot Tom Risk, 66, from Littleton, CO, along with crew members Mike Flynn, 59, from Alamogordo, NM, and Brian Buss, 32, from Alberton, MT. All three were employed by Neptune Aviation of Missoula, MT. The aircraft was loaded with fire retardant and was reportedly on the way to southern New Mexico to deal with a partially contained 19,000-acre wildfire that was still endangering homes and structures in its path at the time of the accident. NTSB Identification: WPR09GA216 14 CFR Public Use Accident occurred Saturday, April 25, 2009 in Stockton, UT Aircraft: LOCKHEED P2V-7, registration: N442NA Injuries: 3 Fatal. This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. On April 25, 2009, about 1005 mountain daylight time, a Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune, N442NA, impacted the terrain about one and one-half miles north of Stockton, Utah. The two airline transport pilots and their passenger were killed in the accident sequence, and the airplane, which was owned by Neptune Aviation Services, and under the operational control of the United States Forest Service, was destroyed by the impact. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 Public Use repositioning flight, which departed Missoula, Montana, about two hours prior to the accident, was en route to Alamogordo, New Mexico. At that time of the accident, the airplane was flying in an area of low ceilings and restricted visibility. No flight plan had been filed. According to two individuals who were near the crash site, the airplane could be heard proceeding in a southeasterly direction, and although to them it sounded low, it could not be seen because of the low clouds. In a matter of seconds after the airplane passed their location, they heard what sounded like the airplane impacting the terrain. The wreckage was eventually located about 250 feet below the top of a ridge on the eastern side of Stockton Pass. The point of initial impact was located about 5,630 feet above sea level, on the northwestern slope of the ridge. FMI: www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20090425X65240&key=1 aero-news.net ************** Open door forces jet to return to BR Pilots flying a 50-foot Northwest Airlines regional jet from Baton Rouge to Memphis, Tenn., had to make an emergency landing about 8:50 a.m. Monday after the door to the plane's navigation system came open, a Baton Rouge Metro Airport official said. Carrying 49 passengers, the plane landed safely after circling in the air for about 20 minutes, said Jim Caldwell, marketing and air service development manager for the airport. The plane circled before landing to burn off fuel and reduce its weight, Caldwell said. Commercial airplanes have a landing weight limit, and the pilots wanted to make sure they didn't exceed that limit, he said. The door to the plane's navigation system, on the outside of the plane's belly, was repaired, and the plane resumed its route to Tennessee about 9:50 a.m., Caldwell said. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/44338352.html ***************** New safety milestone for Gulf Air MANAMA: Gulf Air has successfully completed a key safety audit. It has completed the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and renewed its place on the IOSA Registry until 2011. "Gulf Air places safety as its top most priority and is fully committed to carry out its operations in line with the industry's best safety and quality practices," said Gulf Air chief executive officer Bj¹rn N©f. "The IOSA has become a benchmark for global aviation companies and I am delighted that we have successfully met with IOSA safety audit requirement and renewed our place in its registry. "Considering the fact that IOSA is now a prerequisite for airlines to be an IATA member, it confirms that Gulf Air continues its commitment to operate to the highest level of operational safety. "Besides the operational safety aspect, it also helps airlines in significant cost savings by reducing the number of redundant codeshare audits, provides continuous update on regulatory revisions and best practices," Mr N©f added. In order to renew its registration, Gulf Air has to conform to more than 900 standards in eight operational areas, including flight operations, operational control and flight dispatch, aircraft engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, ground handling, cargo operations and operational security. "The IOSA standards exceed the already stringent regulatory requirements that we have to meet. Our continued conformity with IOSA requirements is a clear message to our customers that operational safety and quality are our primary concern," said Gulf Air head of quality assurance Captain Donald D Broadfoot. "Five IOSA auditors spent five days reviewing Gulf Air's operational and maintenance practices, ensuring that we continue to meet all of the requirements of this comprehensive standard." The IOSA programme aims to standardise and promote air safety practices, and includes co-ordination with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the Federal Aviation Authority and many aviation authorities around the world. Gulf Air's IOSA renewal was carried out by Aviation Compliance Solutions. http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=249613 *************** Flight attendant arrested for trying to get guns through security A flight attendant for Great Lakes Aviation has been arrested when police discovered her trying to get two handguns through security at Denver International Airport. The woman's name is not being released to the public, according to KMGH-TV in Sacramento. Police nabbed the FA at a security checkpoint. They discovered two guns stuffed into her carry on. She was passing through security on her way to board a flight. Police say both guns were not loaded. Federal authorities are currently weighing whether to charge the FA with a crime. Always good to see the TSA alert to catch this stuff, given some of the weird items people try to get through security these days. http://www.gadling.com/2009/05/04/flight-attendant-arrested-for-trying-to-ge t-guns-through-securit/ ****************** Chilean startup Principal Airlines gets AOC The Chilean CAA (DGAC) has confirmed that it has awarded Principal Airlines its air operator's certificate (AOC), enabling it to operate national routes with Boeing 737-200 aircraft. Principal could not be immediately reached for comment, and its website currently shows no launch date. However, a DGAC source says that Principal has two Boeing 737-200 aircraft, and that its initial scheduled route will connect Santiago de Chile with Antofagsta and Iquique in the country's north. Principal's president is Carlos Musiet, a local industry veteran and co-founder of National Airlines in the 1990s. National underwent several changes in ownership and branding, operating first as Avant and later to Sky Airline, which is currently owned by Chilean-German businessman Jurgen Paulmann. In late 2008 Sky absorbed the remains of bankrupt Air Comet Chile, a subsidiary of the Spanish Marsans travel group, converting the domestic market into a dupoly with LAN, which is now challenged again by Principal. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news **************** Air India appoints new MD and chairman India's government has appointed Arvind Jadhav as managing director and chairman of Air India. A spokeswoman in Mumbai for the carrier confirms the government has appointed Jadhav as managing director and chairman. She says he started today and he was previously principal secretary infrastructure development for the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Air India had an interim chairman and managing director for a few days and before that Air India's boss was Raghu Menon who was in the job for about one year. One of the challenges Air India faces is completing its merger with its state-owned sibling Indian Airlines. Air India also faces stiff competition from privately-owned Indian carriers which have been winning market share. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news *************** 787s Move Along, But Weight Problems Worry Analysts The first significant 787 production line shuffle is under way at Boeing's Everett site this week with the movement of ZA001 to the flight line, ZA002 to the paint hangar and the subsequent aircraft due to move to make room for the first production-configuration aircraft, ZA100. But while 787 watchers are encouraged by the news that the first aircraft is due to be fueled for the first time on May 5, industry analyst Bernstein Research appears to be less optimistic. In a report published on May 1, it says weight problems on the first production batch could limit range capability by as much as 15%. In addition, it believes the first delivery to ANA will not be made in the first quarter of 2010 as Boeing currently plans, and that full-rate production of 10 aircraft per month will not be achieved until mid-2013, some six months later than planned. Bernstein says it "remains concerned about three issues: the timeline for certification; the resolution of weight and range issues on the aircraft; and the outlook for ramp-up of production rates. Boeing has failed to meet previous schedule goals on this program, and we believe that investors should adopt a conservative view on the timeline for certification." It adds that "first production airplanes are likely to be roughly 8% overweight, with range 10%-15% less than promised. These values are worse than for most development programs and suggest that substantial redesign work will be necessary. Finally, we see the planned production ramp-up as challenging. Management has said that it intends to ramp production up to 10 airplanes per month by the end of 2012. But, the Tier 1 suppliers have not yet validated their production capacities with the new production technology, and if substantial redesign is needed to reduce weight, it will further complicate a rapid increase in delivery rates." It adds that, given a potential "stretch" of six months in the overall schedule from first flight to full rate production, it sees Boeing reaching a rate of six per month by the end of 2012. Boeing, by contrast, says it is increasingly encouraged by progress on both the manufacturing and testing front. Boeing 787 VP and general manager Scott Fancher says results from the recent series of system, factory and gauntlet tests "give us confidence in our ability to move into further gauntlet testing using either ground power or the airplane's engines or auxiliary power unit. This is a significant milestone on the path to first flight." Over recent weeks the 787 has successfully completed build verification tests, structures and systems integration tests, landing gear swings and factory gauntlet, which is the full simulation of the first flight using the actual airplane. Boeing adds that "all structural tests required on the static airframe prior to first flight also are complete. The final test occurred Apr 21 when the wing and trailing edges were subjected to their limit load of around 2.5g, the highest loads expected to be seen in service. "We continue to analyze the data, but the initial results are positive," Fancher says. Boeing also confirms that ground vibration testing were concluded last week on the second test aircraft, ZA002, clearing a further hurdle to first flight. It adds that "ZA001 will undergo additional airplane power and systems tests as well as engine runs. After completing final systems checks and high-speed taxi tests, the airplane will be ready for first flight, which is on schedule for later this quarter." The aircraft, which has been undergoing final test system installation in its temporary home in Paint Hangar 45-03, was moved to Fueling Dock F-3 on May 3. The fuel test will calibrate the aircraft's Goodrich-supplied fuel quantity indicating system and fuel quantity data concentrators. The process will be controlled via refuel panels, also supplied by Goodrich. http://www.aviationweek.com **************** Controllers Attack Incursion Woes With Sensis ASDE-X Equipment Air traffic controllers at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Airport are now using Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X) to manage aircraft and vehicle movements. The Florida facility in recent weeks has become the 17th airport where the FAA has commissioned the advanced surface management system. ASDE installations are scheduled for 18 additional airports in 2009-2011. Sensis Corp. has a $550 million FAA contract to install the systems at 35 airports. ASDE-X fuses data from non-rotating, ground-based sensors of a multilateration surveillance system and surface movement radar, using a data processor. The information is displayed in the tower cab and presents controllers with important identification information, such as an aircraft's call sign. Aircraft data from the transponder can be correlated with FAA flight plans and with any of the agency's air traffic control programs, such as STARS and ARTS. The data are highly accurate and "are updated once every second," said Tony Lo Brutto, VP and general manager of Sensis Air Traffic Systems. The FAA says it covers targets as far as four miles out for the purpose of tracking landing aircraft and preventing runway incursions. ASDE-X is an upgrade of earlier ASDE models installed at airports since the 1980s. The new system with greater capabilities is part of the FAA's efforts to reduce runway incursions. In addition to greater accuracy of real-time information, the system contains advanced conflict detection and alerting technology. The technology analyzes aircraft and vehicle movement to predict future conflicts and provides visual and aural alerts to controllers. The new system can support Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), now in deployment by the FAA, as well as Runway Status Lights. Airlines may use the system for a surface picture of an airport. At Detroit Metro Airport, ASDE-X Precision Runway Monitor is deployed for simultaneously landing aircraft on parallel runways. In addition to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, commissioned sites include Bradley International Airport at Windsor Locks, Conn., Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Chicago O'Hare, Detroit Metro, General Mitchell at Milwaukee, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, John F. Kennedy, Lambert-St. Louis, Los Angeles, Louisville, Orlando, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Seattle-Tacoma, Theodore Francis Green at Providence, Washington Dulles, and William P. Hobby at Houston. Sites scheduled for installations are Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall, Boston Logan, Chicago Midway, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, Honolulu and Hickman AFB Airport, John Wayne-Orange County, LaGuardia, Las Vegas McCarran, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Newark, Philadelphia, Reagan National, Salt Lake City and San Diego International Airport. http://www.aviationweek.com **************** Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC