08 MAY 2009 _______________________________________ *NTSB: Crashed Convair 580 had reversed elevator trim cables *Airport Runway Incursion Prevention Offered By Approach Systems *USTDA Awards Grant to Promote Aviation Safety in Azerbaijan *NTSB says pilot error caused fatal crashes that killed 4 in Hawaii *Boeing posts 25 cancellations for the 787 *TAM cites progress in FAA maintenance certification *************************************** NTSB: Crashed Convair 580 had reversed elevator trim cables US investigators have confirmed that elevator trim cables on a Convair 580 freighter had been reversed before the aircraft crashed in Ohio last September with the loss of all three occupants. The aircraft, operated by Air Tahoma, had undergone maintenance before the 1 September flight, including disconnection, rigging and reconnection of all flight-control cables in the empennage. "On-site inspection of the accident airplane revealed that the elevator trim cables were reversed," says the National Transportation Safety Board in an update to the inquiry. "As a result, when the pilot applied nose-up trim, the elevator trim system actually applied nose-down trim." It also points out that the flight-data recorder did not contain a record of the accident flight. The NTSB says the pilots "skipped" activation of this recorder while running through the checklist. The 52-year old twin-engined aircraft, which had logged almost 72,000 hours, had taken off from Columbus' Rickenbacker Airport, on a short flight to Mansfield, when the crew immediately attempted to return. It failed to reach the runway and crashed into a cornfield. In its update the NTSB states that an inspector did not, as was required, sign off cards for numerous checks during the aircraft's last phase inspection in August 2008. Among the items included in these checks was the crucial connection of elevator servo trim-tab cables. After the inspection the aircraft did not fly until the fatal departure. The flight lasted just 2min 40s, during which the cockpit-voice recorder showed the captain repeated the word 'pull' about 27 times while the pilots apparently battled in vain to trim the aircraft. US FAA regulators revoked Air Tahoma's operating certificate following a review in the wake of the crash. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news **************** Airport Runway Incursion Prevention Offered By Approach Systems Approach Systems Corporation is disclosing details of 'Approach EasyTaxi,' a free download of geo synchronized location of aircraft on all NACO Airport Diagrams. Approach is making this application free (for a limited time) in the spirit assisting the FAAs current effort to prevent runway incursions. With Approach EasyTaxi, the company hopes that will be absolutely no reason to line up on the wrong runway or inadvertently cross a runway while taxiing. Approach EasyTaxi is free and runs on any Windows based platform. Additionally, beginning with the May 2009 release, EasyTaxi free moving map software we will include airport diagrams for all airports that have a NACO airport diagrams (692 airports). Approach EasyTaxi allows the real time display of aircraft position on each NACO airport diagram. Approach EASYTAXI works with all Microsoft based platforms. Approach EasyTaxi uses detailed NACO database to dynamically render maps of all US airport diagrams and through the use of GPS technology show pilots their position on the airport surface. Now, when landing at an unfamiliar airport and being given confusing ground instructions you no longer have to ask for a "progressive." You'll know exactly where you are on the airport surface, greatly reducing the possibility of crossing a runway. Approach EasyTaxi is plug & play; the user does not need to "calibrate" any diagram. Calibration for all airport diagrams has already been performed by Approach. Approach EASYTAXI can interface to all standard GPS devices and virtual GPS connections. The cost of Approach EASYTAXI is free, zero, nada, zilch! Approach provides a new updates for changes every 28 days. Approach APIC provided modern glass cockpit technology on low cost Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) platforms based on Microsoft XP, VISTA and Windows Mobile based technologies. FMI: www.approach-systems.com aero-news.net *************** USTDA Awards Grant to Promote Aviation Safety in Azerbaijan Today, USTDA awarded a grant to the State Civil Aviation Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SCAA) to bolster aviation safety standards in meeting the country's increased demand for aviation transportation services. The grant will provide technical assistance to the SCAA that will assist Azerbaijan in meeting International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards in the areas of aviation safety and security oversight, thereby creating opportunities for U.S. exports of U.S. manufactured goods and services. "Today's grant is a step forward in the effort to establish direct air travel routes between Azerbaijan and the United States," said USTDA Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak. "In addition, the grant will significantly increase the capacity for trade and tourism between our two countries." The 0,200 grant was conferred during a signing ceremony held at USTDA's offices in Arlington, Virginia. Acting Director Zak and SCAA Director General Arif Mammadov signed the grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. and Azerbaijani governments, respectively. Mr. Ashraf Shikhaliyev, Counselor (Economic) at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the United States, witnessed the signing of the grant agreement. Azerbaijan's economy has grown at double-digit rates for the past nine years. As prosperity has improved, demand has increased for international air traffic. Azerbaijan Airlines and Silk Way Airlines - the national passenger and cargo carriers, respectively - have responded by placing orders for long-haul Boeing aircraft, one of the main objectives being direct flights to and from the United States. In order to help the Azerbaijanis achieve this goal, the USTDA grant awarded today will provide guidance to the SCAA on improving its civil aviation safety regulatory system and complying with ICAO guidelines. The SCAA has selected The Wicks Group PLLC of Washington, D.C., as the U.S. contractor that will carry out the USTDA-funded assistance. In addition to the USTDA grant, Azerbaijan Airlines and Silk Way Airlines will contribute additional funds toward the completion of the technical assistance program. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, early investment analysis, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair, open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services. http://www.isria.info/en/7_May_2009_45.htm *************** NTSB says pilot error caused fatal crashes that killed 4 in Hawaii Pilot error is being blamed for two fatal air crashes in Hawaii last year that killed four people. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the June 17 crash of an air tour plane on the rugged slopes of Mauna Loa found that Island Hoppers pilot Katsuhiro Takahashi, 40, deviated from his planned flight route and flew into mountainous terrain amid cloudy conditions. The single-engine, four-seat Cessna 172M slammed into a heavily forested area at the 4,500-foot elevation of the mountain near Pahala. The wreckage was not located until June 22. Also killed in the crash were Nobuhiro Suzuki, 53, and his wife, Masako Suzuki, 56, of Chiba, Japan. A separate NTSB report on the Jan. 14, 2008, crash of an Alpine Air cargo plane into the ocean 11 miles southwest of Lihue Airport found that pilot Paul Akita, 37, likely experienced "spatial disorientation" during the night flight and may have been distracted by cockpit duties that included monitoring an Aloha Airlines Boeing 737 jet flying ahead of him. Radar tracking of the Hawker Beechcraft 1900C's flight path indicated the pilot altered his flight course to the west, most likely for spacing from the jet, and descended into the water as he began a turn back toward the airport, the report said. The majority of the plane wreckage sank in 4,800 feet of water and was not recovered, so examinations and testing of the engine and other systems could not be performed. The report noted that although the skies were clear, no natural horizon and few external visual references were available during the pilot's visual approach. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090507/BREAKING01/90507059 *************** Boeing posts 25 cancellations for the 787 Boeing has received requests from customers to cancel 25 787s. Information from the latest orders and deliveries update on the airframer's website shows the cancellations, bringing the total number of 787 cancellations for 2009 to 49. Boeing was not immediately available to comment on the latest customers that have cancelled orders. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news *************** TAM cites progress in FAA maintenance certification As preparations continue for a possible spin-off of its maintenance unit, Brazilian carrier TAM is working towards FAA Part 145 certification to perform work on US-registered aircraft. Carrier executives recently said there's no specific time line established for a spin off since it will largely be driven by market conditions. Last year TAM received EASA certification to perform C and D checks for European-registered aircraft and says it is "making progress with the process to obtain the North American certification". In late 2008 TAM said it currently executes maintenance largely on its own fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft and A330s. Its approval for Fokker 100 maintenance remains intact even though TAM no longer operates that fleet type. TAM has also added three Boeing 767s to its fleet and plans in 2009 to "acquire the certification to realize services in the 767 aircraft, increasing the services we offer". In addition to obtaining 145 certification TAM says it is working to cut costs in its maintenance division through "increasing synergies with line maintenance, selling empty spaces in hangars to third parties maintenance and diluting the fixed costs". Source: Air Transport Intelligence news *************** Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC