07 JUL 2009 _______________________________________ *Indonesian Merpati 737 loses wheel while taking off *Regional jet makes emergency landing in Mich. *Emergency stop in La for American Airlines flight *U.K. Pilots Seek Police Crackdown on Laser Attacks at Airports *Mexico's Aviacsa airline grounded for third time in a month *Passenger fixes faulty airliner *New FAA Chief Counsel Brings Long and Diverse Experience *FAA Issues SAFO On Certain Lithium Batteries *Airplane Crashes Put Strain on Insurers *Spirit Airlines To Buy Air Jamaica *US FAA gives pointers on latest aviation safety trends (Philippines) *EASA prepares for MRO oversight retaliation against USA *Yemenia instructed to update EU on safety progress *Garuda optimistic EU will lift ban soon *Cockpit group claims French pilots ousted before new age law **************************************** Indonesian Merpati 737 loses wheel while taking off A wheel on the landing-gear of a Merpati Nusantara Boeing 737-400 fell off yesterday as it was taking off from an airport in eastern Indonesia. "During the process of take-off, air traffic control [in Biak] informed the pilot-in-command that one of the wheels had fallen off," the Indonesian carrier's corporate secretary says from Jakarta. The corporate secretary gives his name only as Sukandi. He says the pilot-in-command decided "to continue with the take-off" because if he had aborted it would have been more trouble. Once the aircraft was in the air, the pilot did a go-around and burned fuel before landing safely back in Biak, says Sukandi, adding that there was no other damage to the 737 which was carrying 103 passengers and eight crew. The left-hand side landing gear had lost one wheel but it still had one other wheel left, he says. This aircraft, local registration PK-MBO, is now grounded in Biak and is subject to an investigation by the civil aviation authorities, adds Sukandi. According to Flight's ACAS database Jetscape is the aircraft's owner. This is one of two -400s in the fleet and Merpati also has four 737-300s, five 737-200s and several types of turboprop aircraft, he says. The airline is currently seeking to get eight 60-70 seat turboprop aircraft to meet passenger demand, says Sukandi. It was suppose to add more Xian Aircraft MA60s but is involved in a dispute with the Chinese manufacturer so it is looking at alternatives. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news *************** Regional jet makes emergency landing in Mich. TITTABAWASSEE TOWNSHIP, Mich.(AP) - The Federal Aviation Administration says a regional jet has made a safe emergency landing at MBS International Airport. FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory says an emergency was declared aboard Northwest Flight 2902 flying from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to MBS shortly after 11 a.m. Monday. She says the plane landed without incident about 20 minutes later. Thirty-two passengers and three crew members were on board. Cory says the pilot "had an issue" with the flaps on the jet's wings. The incident is under investigation. MBS International serves the Saginaw-Midland-Bay City area. Joe Williams, a spokesman for Memphis, Tenn.-based Pinnacle Airlines Corp., which operated the flight, says the emergency was declared simply as a precaution. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-plane-emergencyla,0,7423042.story ************** Emergency stop in La for American Airlines flight LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) -- An American Airlines flight bound for Dallas-Fort Worth made an emergency landing in Lafayette, La. American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner said the decision was made after a smoky odor was detected in the cabin shortly before noon Monday. Wagner said the plane, which left Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was carrying about 145 people, including passengers, pilots and flight attendants. He said a plane from Dallas-Fort Worth was expected to arrive in Lafayette around 3:30 p.m. CDT to pick up the passengers. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1129687.html ************** U.K. Pilots Seek Police Crackdown on Laser Attacks at Airports July 7 (Bloomberg) -- U.K. pilots are calling for the government to invest in new technology to help curb laser- beam attacks on airliners after the number of incidents rose sevenfold last year. The British Airline Pilots Association has written to Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis asking him to ensure that police forces are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that can locate the origin of laser beams directed at planes. So-called laser guns, some no bigger than ballpoint pens, can be bought for as little as 10 pounds ($16.20) from Web sites and convenience stores, Balpa said. There were 206 reported incidents of beams being directed at pilots last year, mostly on takeoff or landing, compared with 29 in 2007, it said. “It’s happening all the time now, at a rate of about four or five times a week,” London-based Balpa spokesman Keith Bill said in a telephone interview. “It’s climbing again this year. It’s an epidemic fad.” Pilots are being targeted at almost all U.K. airports, including London’s Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, Bill said. Six people have been imprisoned in Britain after being convicted over laser-related incidents, he said. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=apBDCMVG5BGE ************** Mexico's Aviacsa airline grounded for third time in a month MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has grounded carrier Aviacsa for the third time in a month, saying the airline owes the government 292 million pesos ($22 million) for the use of Mexican airspace. The Transportation and Communications Department says in a statement that the suspension will end when the airline pays up. Aviacsa said Monday that it is paying the debt. It accused the government of launching a "new attack" on the carrier. The department suspended the airline twice last month after detecting irregularities in the maintenance of 25 planes. The airline resumed service after winning a court ruling overturning the orders. http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-07-07-aviacsa-grounded_N.htm **************** Passenger fixes faulty airliner The airliner landed at Glasgow only 35 minutes late Holidaymakers avoided a long delay to their flight home when a passenger fixed a mechanical problem with their plane. Passengers on Thomas Cook flight TCX9641 from Menorca were told to expect an eight-hour wait while an engineer was flown out from the UK. One passenger then identified himself as a qualified aircraft engineer and offered to try to remedy the fault. He was successful, and the plane landed in Glasgow only 35 minutes late. A spokeswoman for Thomas Cook said the company followed strict procedures to ensure the man was qualified to work on the aircraft, a Boeing 757-200, during the incident on Saturday. The passenger worked for another airline, Thomsonfly, which has a reciprocal maintenance agreement with Thomas Cook. It was reassuring to know the person who had fixed it was still on the aeroplane "When they announced there was a technical problem he came forward and said who he was, " she said. "We checked his licence and verified he was who he said he was, and he was able to fix the problem to avoid the delay. "We are very grateful that he was on the flight that day." Holidaymaker Keith Lomax, from Stirling, was travelling home from a week's break with his wife when the plane's captain announced the expected delay. "We were in the plane, ready for take-off, when he announced there was a technical problem and that an engineer might have to be flown out from Manchester to fix it," he said. "Then a stewardess told us there was an engineer on board and they were checking out to see if he could work on it. He was obviously successful. When he came back onto the plane there was a round of applause from the back of the aircraft. "It was reassuring to know the person who had fixed it was still on the aeroplane. What are the odds of something like that happening?" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8136193.stm **************** New FAA Chief Counsel Brings Long and Diverse Experience Babbit Names David Grizzle To The Post FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has announced the appointment of David Grizzle as the new FAA chief counsel. "David Grizzle has top-level experience and I'm looking forward to having him on the team," Babbitt said. "He understands the challenges of leading a diverse, international organization, as well as the complex interaction between governmental processes and our ultimate stakeholders, the American people." Grizzle comes to the FAA following a 22-year career with Continental Airlines, Inc. From 2005 to 2008 he served as senior vice president of customer experience, where he was charged with developing and implementing new operating strategies and improving product deficiencies and services. From 1986 to 2004 Grizzle served in many other leadership positions at the airline, including senior vice president of marketing strategy and corporate development, where he headed up a group of 150 finance, planning, operations and marketing professionals. From 2004 to 2005, Grizzle was tapped by the U.S. Department of State and took leave from Continental to serve as the transportation and infrastructure coordinator and attaché for the Afghanistan Reconstruction Group, Kabul, Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, he worked with the FAA and other government organizations to accelerate reconstruction efforts for air and surface transportation projects as well as power, and telecommunications. Babbitt Prior to his career at Continental, Grizzle served as vice president of administration and general counsel for New York Air, Inc. from 1984 to 1986. From 1978 to 1984 he practiced law at several New York-based law firms, including as a partner at Kellner, Chehebar, Deveney & Grizzle from 1983 to 1984. Grizzle is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He is married and has three children. FMI: www.faa.gov aero-news.net *************** FAA Issues SAFO On Certain Lithium Batteries Common In Consumer Electronic Devices Often Brought On Airplanes The two types of batteries commonly used to power consumer PEDs (Personal Electronic Devices) brought on aircraft are lithium batteries (disposable) and lithium-ion batteries (rechargeable). Both these types are capable of ignition and subsequent explosion due to overheating. Overheating results in thermal runaway, which can cause the release of either molten burning lithium or a flammable electrolyte. Once one cell in a battery pack goes into thermal runaway, it produces enough heat to cause adjacent cells to go into thermal runaway. The resulting fire can flare repeatedly as each cell ruptures and releases its contents. Based on testing by the Fire Safety Branch of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) William J. Hughes Technical Center, the following procedures are recommended for fighting a fire of a lithium-type-battery powered PED. The procedures consist of two phases: Extinguishing the fire. Cooling the remaining cells to stop thermal runaway. Utilize a Halon, Halon replacement or water extinguisher to extinguish the fire and prevent its spread to additional flammable materials. After extinguishing the fire, douse the device with water or other non-alcoholic liquids to cool the device and prevent additional battery cells from reaching thermal runaway. The FAA warns you should not attempt to pick up and move a smoking or burning device! Bodily injury may result. Additionally, do not cover the device or use ice to cool the device. Ice or other materials insulate the device, increasing the likelihood that additional battery cells will reach thermal runaway. FMI: http://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/2007Conference/proceedings.asp aero-news.net ************** Airplane Crashes Put Strain on Insurers Axa, Allianz and American International Group lead a group of airline insurers set to post the biggest monthly losses since September 2001, which may force them to raise prices to bolster reserves, Bloomberg News reported. The indemnity costs for families of victims of the Air France crash off the coast of Brazil and the Yemeni Airbus accident in the Indian Ocean will turn last month into the second most expensive month for the business, Aon, the biggest insurance broker, said Tuesday in a report. Insurance rates may jump this year after fatal crashes and near disasters, including the accident near Buffalo, New York, that killed 50. http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/with-airplane-crashes-a-bad-month-for-insurers/ **************** Spirit Airlines To Buy Air Jamaica NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--The owners of discount-carrier Spirit Airlines Inc. will purchase Air Jamaica, renaming the money-losing government-owned carrier Spirit of Jamaica, according to the Jamaica Gleaner. Indigo Partners and Oaktree Capital have reportedly bought the airline for an undisclosed sum, according to unnamed sources, the newspaper said. Sources close to the negotiations would only confirm that Trinidadian-owned Caribbean Airlines did not win the bid for Air Jamaica. The Jamaican government wants to privatize the airline. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090706-707856.html *************** US FAA gives pointers on latest aviation safety trends (Philippines) Officials of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently lectured airlines and major repair stations in the Philippines and its neighboring countries on the latest aircraft safety and maintenance practices to keep them abreast of international standards. During the first-ever Maintenance Safety Seminar in the Philippines, the US FAA San Francisco International Field Office (SFO-IFO) and FAA Safety Team (FAAST) provided comprehensive safety practices in civil aviation maintenance that airlines and repairs stations around the world should strictly follow. The three-day seminar was sponsored by flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) in cooperation with the Civil Aviation Administration of the Philippines (CAAP). A total of 165 participants from various airlines, repair stations and training organizations including the Philippine Navy joined the FAA safety seminar. There were 140 representatives from the Philippines and 25 from other countries in the Asia Pacific region. The Economic Section of the US Embassy sent two observers. Discussions focused on 14 areas in aircraft maintenance that FAA regularly monitors. These include: Parts and materials, record keeping, work away from fixed location, contract maintenance, certificate requirements, maintenance and alterations, technical data, quality control system, tools and equipment, manual system, training program, personnel, housing and facilities, and maintenance process. The FAAST Team also discussed Safety Management System, Risk Management and Human Factors which are required by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to avoid aviation-related accidents. "Safety consciousness is intrinsic to PAL's operations. It is part of our way of doing business," commented PAL President and COO Jaime Bautista. "It is second nature to our staff, whether at the frontlines or the back office. We put a very high premium on safety compliance." The flag carrier’s commitment to safety paid off since PAL earned the distinction as the only Philippine carrier that passed the strict IATA (International Air Transport Association) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), he added. http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/209241/us-faa-gives-pointers-latest-aviation-safety-trends *************** EASA prepares for MRO oversight retaliation against USA Europe's safety regulator is already preparing retaliatory action if the US Senate passes the controversial US Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, which would require the FAA to inspect Part 145-certificated foreign repair stations at least twice a year. In a letter to European Commission air transport director Daniel Calleja, European Aviation Safety Agency chief Patrick Goudou writes that "measures should be put in place to make sure that the European side will act in a reciprocal manner if the [reauthorisation] act is finally adopted". He specifies these measures as: "EASA to carry out oversight of all 1,233 US repair station approvals of stations located in the US that have been granted an EASA 145 and are currently surveilled by the FAA." The agency is already preparing an invitation to tender for a study to define "the most efficient way" to carry out such oversight, he adds. Negation of the US-European Union bilateral air safety agreement signed in June 2008 would impose higher costs on US maintenance organisations. Under EASA rules, organisations covered by bilateral agreements are charged €1,500 ($2,100) for new Part 145/147-equivalent approvals and €750 for renewals. However, those not covered by bilaterals are required to seek full maintenance organisation approval, for which charges are imposed on a sliding scale based on employee numbers. An organisation with more than 999 employees would face a €53,000 approval fee and a €43,000 surveillance fee. Goudou says EASA will write to its 1,233 approved US maintenance organisations to inform them of "the negative impact of the envisaged change". The study on how best to carry out oversight will be launched this month and conclude in September, with a choice of option to follow in October. Deployment would take place between November and June 2010. In an address to the International Aviation Club in March, US Congressman James Oberstar, who sponsored the reauthorisation bill, defended the inspection provision, saying it "will simply ensure that foreign entities conducting repair work on US aircraft adhere to US safety standards and regulations". He added: "I welcome the same scrutiny by the EU of US repair stations." The bill was passed by Congress in May and is due to face a Senate vote in August. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/07/07/329283/easa-prepares-for-mro-oversight-retaliation-against.html **************** Yemenia instructed to update EU on safety progress European Commission regulators have demanded that Yemenia presents an update on safety issues at the carrier by 10 July. The Commission disclosed the arrangement in a statement following a meeting with Yemeni transport minister Khaled Ibrahim Al-Wazeer in Brussels on 3 July. Yemenia has avoided being included on the Commission's airline blacklist but only after it made progress last year with a safety plan. But the airline has been instructed to submit "all information on safety matters" to the Commission by 10 July, after which a technical meeting with the airline is planned. The Commission says the safety standards at Yemenia - which suffered a fatal Airbus A310 accident near the Comoros on 30 June - need to be "addressed without delay", and has urged Yemeni authorities to "identify appropriate solutions to shortcomings that may exist". During the meeting with the minister the Commission also reiterated its intention to develop a "global list of banned airlines". Source: Air Transport Intelligence news **************** Garuda optimistic EU will lift ban soon Garuda Indonesia appears optimistic that the European Union will soon lift the flight ban on four Indonesian carriers. Garuda spokesman Pujobroto in Jakarta tells ATI that the EU air safety committee will recommend that flag carrier Garuda, Mandala, AirFast and Premiair be allowed to fly to EU memberstates. In recent years Indonesia's Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been introducing new requirements in an effort to improve the country's air safety and get Indonesia off a EU blacklist that bars all Indonesian airlines from operating to Europe. During the week of 29 June to 3 July an Indonesian delegation met with the committee in Brussels, says Pujobroto. "It is still ten days or two weeks before an official announcement" on the lifting of the ban, he says. He notes that the recommendation has to be translated into 22 languages, and signed by the commissioners of transportation affairs. If the ban is lifted, he says Garuda, which last flew to Europe in 2004, will only be able to resume flights to Europe in early 2010. "We will need to make preparations, which could take nine months." Pujobroto says Garuda would likely use Airbus A330-200s on European routes, requiring a stop in the Middle East. He notes that Garuda will receive 10 Boeing 777-300ERs in late 2010 and early 2011 and that the these could be used on non-stop European flights. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ***************** Cockpit group claims French pilots ousted before new age law A French pilot group is planning legal action against carriers which, it claims, are retiring flight crew over 60 ahead of introduction of new laws allowing them to fly until 65. The PNT65 group, representing 527 French pilots, claims that Air France alone has made 51 pilots redundant this year, but that Air France subsidiaries, Brit Air and Regional, as well as Air Austral and Corsairfly are also ending employment for those who turn 60 in 2009. New laws will raise pilot retirement age in France to 65 from 1 January 2010. But PNT65 chairman Jean Serrat claims 65 pilots have already lost their jobs. "[Airlines] are firing people as soon as they reach 60," claims Serrat. "We are saying the law does not allow them to do that. "We will sue the different companies collectively and will ask for €500,000 per person." Serrat maintains pilots who reach 60 this year cannot be made redundant and must be offered alternative ground-based employment until 1 January, when the law will allow them to fly again. Air France says, however, that it is "offering alternatives" to pilots over 60 - but that, if these are refused, the pilots have to leave. Serrat says PNT65 has the backing of several high-profile politicians in its campaign to reverse the redundancies. He cites a letter he has received from the leader of the Union Pour un Mouvement Populaire (UPM) political party, Jean-Francois Cope, confirming that pilots born in 1949 are able to return to flying duties from January 2010. This follows discussions with French labour minister Brice Hortefeux and transport minister Dominique Bussereau. But the letter does not appear to mention whether flight crew must be given the opportunity to have ground-based work until next January, although Serrat says this is already in the existing law. Serrat intends to raise the issue at the Air France-KLM shareholders assembly on 8 July. French pilot union SNPL has objected to the increase in retirement age. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news *************** Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC