12 MAY 2009 _____________________________________   *Colgan 3407 Drama About To Reach Fever Pitch *NTSB hearing to probe pilot training, behavior *Jetstream 32 Forced Landing (Honduras) *Metal baggage container sucked into jet engine at LAX *FAA cancels Navy's New York flyover *Civil Aviation Safety Authority poorly resourced *Veteran AA workers receive awards *Oregon airport hires herding dog to cut down on "bird strikes" *Boeing sued for 2008 Spain jet crash **************************************   Colgan 3407 Drama About To Reach Fever Pitch   The widely anticipated release of the cockpit voice transcript for Continental Connection 3407 happens today at a hearing in Washington, DC. The plane went down on approach to Buffalo Niagara International the night of February 12th, killing all 49 onboard and one on the ground.   While the exact contents of the recordings have not yet been disclosed, one investigator anonymously told the New York Times the recording reveals the pilots', quote - "...heads weren't in the game."   The crew was based in Newark, New Jersey, but 24-year-old First Officer Rebecca Shaw lived in Washington State. Sources familiar with the cockpit recordings say she was complaining of feeling congested after taking a long red-eye flight to work from Seattle that morning, and reflecting that she should have called in sick, among other idle banter which violated the sterile cockpit rule on approach below 10-thousand feet.   It has been learned that 47-year-old Captain Marvin Renslow failed five previous check rides in his career.   The Wall Street Journal reports Colgan Air, the division of Pinnacle that was operating Flight 3407, recently removed several of its check airmen, saying it does that from time to time if they fail, quote - "to perform to the company's high standards."   All in all, today could get interesting. We'll keep you posted. FMI: www.ntsb.gov aero-news.net ***************   NTSB hearing to probe pilot training, behavior   WASHINGTON (AP) — The training and behavior of the pilot and first officer in the worst U.S. air crash in more than seven years are prominent on the agenda of an unusual three-day safety hearing beginning Tuesday.   All 49 people aboard Flight 3407 and one man on the ground were killed the night of Feb. 12 as the Dash 8-Q400 Bombardier, a twin-engine turboprop, experienced an aerodynamic stall on approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport in New York in icy conditions.   The National Transportation Safety Board is holding a hearing on safety issues that have arisen during its investigation a mere three months after the crash, rather than waiting the year or more that such investigations typically take to complete. A second hearing will be conducted when the investigation is complete.   All four of the board's members will be present, underscoring the seriousness of their concerns. The board hasn't held such an "en banc" public hearing in more than five years.   A top concern is the training the flight's captain, Marvin Renslow, received from Colgan Air, a regional airline based in Manassas, Va. The airline acknowledged Monday that Renslow didn't receive hands-on training on the Dash 8's stick pusher, one of the plane's critical safety systems.   A stick pusher automatically kicks in when a plane is about to stall, pointing the aircraft's nose down into a dive so it can pick up enough speed to allow the pilot to guide it to a recovery.   However, when Flight 3407's stick pusher kicked in, Renslow pulled back on the plane's control column, apparently trying to bring the aircraft out of the sudden dive by raising the nose. The plane then stalled, rolled over and plunged in a house.   Colgan has said the airline's training for Dash 8 pilots conformed with Federal Aviation Administration regulations and the aircraft manufacturer's guidance.   Aviation experts, however, said there has long been a debate in the industry about whether FAA and air carriers put too much emphasis during pilot training on how to avoid a stall, neglecting practice in stall recovery.   Other issues include whether Renslow and first officer Rebecca Shaw violated "sterile cockpit" rules by conversing about nonessential matters and thus failed to notice that the plane had slowed to an unsafe speed until moments before it plunged into a dive.   The crash was the deadliest U.S. aviation accident since American Airlines Flight 587 crashed into a Queens neighborhood shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport on Nov. 12, 2001. All 260 people aboard and five on the ground were killed.   Colgan, a subsidiary of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. of Memphis, Tenn., operates more than 350 daily flights to 53 cities in 15 states. Colgan Air employs more than 1,300 people and transported nearly 2.5 million passengers in 2008. ******************   Jetstream 32 Forced Landing (Honduras)   Status: Preliminary Date: 10 MAY 2009 Time: ca 02:00 Type: British Aerospace 3201 Jetstream 32 Operator: ? Registration: YV1467 C/n / msn:  First flight:  Crew: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 3 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 Total: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 3  Airplane damage: Written off Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: near Utila Airport (UII) (Honduras)  Phase: () Nature: Illegal Flight Departure airport: ? Destination airport: ? Narrative: A twin engined plane was destroyed during an accident near Utila Airport (UII), part of the archipelago of Islas de la Bahia. One of the crew members was killed, two others sustained minor injuries. Authorities found and confiscated 1500 kgs of cocaine on board the airplane. Reportedly the aircraft ran out of fuel in rainy weather and attempted a forced landing. Hondran newspapers report that the airplane carried the Venzuelan registration YV1467. This airplane was reported missing during a domestic flight from Metropolitano International Airport (SVMP) to Carora (SVCO). (aviation-safety.net) *****************   Metal baggage container sucked into jet engine at LAX   Airport officials say the vacuum created by an engine on the Japan Airlines Boeing 747 pulled the container off a baggage cart. Other arrangements were made for the 245 passengers and 18 crew members.   A large metal baggage container was sucked into the engine of a Japan Airlines Boeing 747 on Monday as the giant jetliner prepared to depart with 245 passengers from Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said.   The accident occurred about 1:30 p.m. when Flight 61 to Narita, Japan, pulled back from Gate 101 at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Airport officials said the vacuum created by the air intake of the left outboard engine was so strong it pulled the empty container off a baggage cart that was either parked or driven too close to the aircraft.   The metal box, which is used by airline baggage handlers to haul luggage to and from aircraft, measures approximately 5 feet by 5 feet by 4 feet.   Officials said the container became lodged in the engine's housing.   Japan Airlines took the crippled 747-400 out of service and made other flight arrangements for the passengers and 18 crew members, who were returned to the Bradley terminal. The airplane, which has four engines, was towed to a hangar for inspection.   The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident, said Ian Gregor, an agency spokesman. Japan Airlines could not be reached for comment. *****   Date: 12-MAY-2009 Time: 0107GMT Type: 747 Operator: JAL Registration:  C/n / msn:  Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:  Airplane damage:  Location: LAX -    United States of America  Phase: Pusback / towing Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport:  Destination airport:  Narrative: cargo container sucked into po engine (aviation-safety.net) ******************   FAA cancels Navy's New York flyover   Navy requested to fly P-3 over Hudson River on Monday      NEW YORK (CNN) -- Less than a month after an unannounced government-sanctioned lower-Manhattan flyover frightened New Yorkers, the Federal Aviation Administration turned down a U.S. Navy unit's request to fly a military plane 3,000 feet over the Hudson River in New York on Monday morning.   A 747 flyover of New York for a photo shoot caused a scare late last month.    In a statement, Jim Peterson, a spokesman for the FAA, said that after receiving the Navy's request to fly a P-3 patrol aircraft over the area, the FAA notified the New York mayor's office.   A spokesman for the mayor's office said that after the April 27 Air Force One flight for a photo session, a new notification procedure was instituted for potential flyovers.   "We were notified by the FAA this morning," said Jason Post of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office.   "We told the FAA we didn't think there was enough notice given, and then the FAA -- on their own -- made the decision to cancel the flight," Post said, adding that the city itself does not have the authority to tell the FAA to cancel a flyover but can make recommendations to the agency.   Peterson said, "When higher-level FAA officials learned about the request, they informed the Navy that the flight was not approved and would not be allowed to fly the requested route."   Navy spokesman Cappy Surette said later that a P-3 squadron based in Brunswick, Maine, had planned to fly in a training exercise.   Surette explained that more than two dozen such Navy training flights have occurred over the Hudson since 2005.   "It allows the squadron to practice complex air-traffic handoffs in a busy quadrant," he said.   "The request was made; they said 'Not this time'; we said 'OK,' " Surette added.   On Thursday, President Obama accepted the resignation of Louis Caldera, the director of the White House Military Office responsible for the controversial low-altitude flyover of New York by a 747 used as Air Force One.   The flyover, officials said, was both a training mission and a government-sanctioned photo shoot.   Military officials estimated that the mission and the photo shoot, aimed at updating file photos of Air Force One, cost $328,835 in taxpayer money.   The low-flying plane, accompanied by an F-16 fighter jet, sent some New Yorkers into the streets and into a panic, amid memories of the September 11 attacks on the city. Building evacuations also took place across the Hudson River in Jersey City, New Jersey. ****************   Civil Aviation Safety Authority poorly resourced   AUSTRALIA'S air traffic regulator does not measure up to international air safety standards, according to an audit by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.   It found the Civil Aviation Safety Authority was poorly resourced and standards had suffered because of inadequate laws, staff shortages, poor training and lax record keeping.   The UN air safety group's audit says Australia had not legislated to limit flight time and flight duty periods.   Applicants seeking a medical clearance from CASA were not required to tell the examining doctor they had been previously refused a certificate, or had the certificate revoked or suspended.   Australian law also failed to safeguard flight recorder records in the event of an aircraft accident.   "The Australian regulations do not require air operators to ensure that, in the event of an accident or incident, that all related flight recorder records and associated flight recorders are preserved," says the report released this week.   It also notes that CASA employs just two dangerous goods inspectors and a comprehensive surveillance program had not been developed to allow regular and random inspections of air carriage of dangerous goods. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25464769-662,00.html ******************   Veteran AA workers receive awards   American Airlines mechanics Jim Hyder (left), Russ Law and Ray Wisner were honored by the company and the Federal Aviation Administration with the "Master Mechanic" Award named for Charles Taylor, whose bust is shown. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World    Among them, Ray Wisner, Russ Law and Jim Hyder have more than 150 years of aircraft maintenance experience, most of them with American Airlines.   "There isn't much you haven't seen in 40 years," Wisner said.   His career included 34 years with American, five years in U.S. Navy aviation and 1   1/2 years teaching at what is now Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology.   "When I started out (in 1958), the first plane I dealt with was a F6F, a World War II fighter," Wisner said. "The last one was a (Boeing) 777.   "When computers started coming out, it was the big change, an important change."   Wisner, Law and Hyder witnessed firsthand big changes in commercial aviation over the past half century.   American and the Federal Aviation Administration recognized their dedication and expertise on Monday by presenting them with the Charles E. Taylor Master Mechanic Award.   A recipient of the Taylor award must have served 50 years as an accredited aviation mechanic and been a FAA-certified mechanic for at least 30 years.   Since American was founded in 1934, 24 American mechanics have received the Taylor award, named for the Wright Brothers' inventive aircraft mechanic.   "Everyone knows the Wright Brothers invented (powered) flight," said Carmine Romano, American's senior vice president of maintenance and engineering. "The third man was Charles Taylor, a quiet man who was a mechanical genius without whom the first flight might not have gotten off the ground."   Romano said Wisner and Law taught him as a young mechanic and "helped get me where I am today."   He described the Wright Brothers as visionaries who leaned on Taylor to build an engine the auto companies wouldn't.   "The winter of 1902 he started building the engine and finished it in six weeks," Romano said.   "The task at hand was to build it with a lathe, drill press and hand tools.   "On Dec. 17, 1903 — a year later — the Wright Brothers airplane took off and flew 120 feet in 12 seconds.   "Charles Taylor was a craftsman, a genius," Romano said.   Standing next to the bronze bust of the pioneering mechanic, Wisner, Law and Hyder said they never anticipated they would be honored with the award when they began their aviation careers.   "There are so many memories," Hyder said.   "I traveled the world, worked for four airlines — Air America, Gulf Air, Eastern Airlines and American Airlines. American is the finest, most professional of all," he said.   Law said the aircraft he is most fond of is the Boeing 727.   "I was with that airplane for so long, from 1962 until we got rid of them in the late 1990s," Law said. "It was a good, solid airplane."   Law said he doesn't miss changing power recovery turbines on DC7s.   "It used to tear up your hands," he said.   The three American mechanics said they wouldn't have traded their lives in aviation for any other.   "I just loved airplanes — even when I was growing up on the farm" in Ferndale, Wash., Wisner said. http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=45&articleid=20090512_45_E2_Americ128830 ********************   Oregon airport hires herding dog to cut down on "bird strikes"   >From 1990 to 2008, aircraft at LAX struck more than 900 birds and other animals, according to data released last month by the FAA.  Our colleague Robert J. Lopez reported:   Only 36 of the incidents, or 3.8%, resulted in substantial damage, records show. There were no fatalities. At least five times, planes reported hitting foxes. The records are part of a newly available database that lists 112,387 reports of aircraft striking wildlife, including reptiles and mammals, at 2,008 airports in the United States and Canada from January 1990 through November 2008.   The records show that the number of wildlife strikes has increased dramatically nationwide in the last decade. Since 2000, the list of airports with the greatest number of serious incidents is led by New York's John F. Kennedy International, with 30 strikes, and Sacramento International, with 28. LAX, with 16, is tied for ninth place.   The "bird strike" issue, of course, became water-cooler fodder in January, when US Airways Flight 1549 went down in the Hudson River.  Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, Flight 1549's pilot, became a national hero for setting the Airbus down in the river with no casualties.  Windshield- and wing-hitting birds like mourning doves, gulls and pigeons became something of a national scourge, although the FAA's data shows it's nothing new.   What's an airport to do?  Why, hire a specialist, of course!  That's why the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in Bend, Ore., hired Filly -- a border collie whose official title is "wildlife management canine."    "She's chased flocks of geese into the water," said Bob Hood, the airport's wildlife manager. "She's really good at her job and she really likes her job."    Filly is the third wildlife management canine Hood has trained to shoo away birds like Canada geese at the airport.  (He's trained police dogs and search-and-rescue dogs as well.)   The birds, of course, probably don't much like having Filly around -- but it's certainly preferable to the alternatives, not the least of which is being hit by a plane.  From the Coos Bay World:   The dogs don't hurt the birds, because they usually can't catch them, although Filly did catch a goose once.   "She's fast," Hood said. "I saw her run and jump up in the air. There was a big fight on the ground by the time I got there."   The Coos County Animal Shelter donated the 2 1/2-year-old about a year ago. She had about two months of training before going out in the field.   Every day Hood and Filly arrive at the airport at 5:30 a.m. and stay until dark when an operations crew takes over.   As they ride around in his truck, Hood communicates by radio with the air traffic controllers, who monitor aircraft arrivals.   Other airports have tried similar techniques to cut down on bird strikes.  One notable case study, at Durban International Airport in South Africa, reported a 57% reduction in bird strikes once the airport procured a wildlife management dog.   The dog used in the South African airport, named Mac, was also a border collie.  Coincidence?  We think not. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/05/oregon-airport-hires-dog-to-cut-down-on-bird-strikes.html ****************   Boeing sued for 2008 Spain jet crash   Chicago-based Boeing Co. was sued today in connection with a 2008 jet crash that killed 154 people in Spain.   On Aug. 20, a Spanair MD-82 crashed on takeoff, slid into a river and burst into flames. There were only 18 survivors. The airliner’s wing flaps were not activated and a cockpit alarm did not go off to alert the pilots, Spanish investigators found.   In the United States, 55 airliners have taken off since 2000 without a pilot putting the wing flaps in the takeoff setting, according to a recent analysis of NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System. None of those errors resulted in a crash.   Chicago attorney Donald A. Shapiro filed today’s lawsuit on behalf of two injured survivors and three people who died in the accident, all of them Spaniards. Other families have already sued Boeing over the accident.   The lawsuit says a defect in one of the aircraft’s systems prevented the cockpit alarm from going off. The lawsuit also blames mechanics for failing to spot the problem before the jet taxiied onto the runway.   Boeing is among several companies, including Spanair and aircraft maker McDonnell Douglas, that were named in the lawsuit. McDonnell Douglas and Boeing merged in 1997.   A similar MD-82 crash killed 156 people in 1987 in Detroit. U.S. investigators said the pilot of Northwest Airlines Flight 255 forgot to set the wing flaps and slat panels on the wing’s leading edge. http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1568351,boeing-spain-crash-lawsuit-051109.article **************** Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC