02 OCT 2009 _______________________________________ *Airport Not Liable For Plane Crash *FAA preps call to action compliance list *Fatigue Expert Nominated to NTSB *NBAA Welcomes Rosekind Nomination to NTSB Board *Hong Kong Government To Shorten Aircraft Approach Routes Into Hong Kong Airport *Loss Of Second 787 Production Line Won't Kill Boeing In Everett *Mitsubishi Heavy Signs 100-Jet Order With US Airline *US' Trans States orders up to 100 Mitsubishi MRJs *ISASI Lederer Award *************************************** Airport Not Liable For Plane Crash The Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled Lexington's Blue Grass Airport cannot be held accountable for the Comair crash that killed 49 people in 2006. The court upheld a Fayette Circuit Court ruling the airport and its board members could not be sued because it's part of the Urban County Government and entitled to sovereign immunity. Comair's suit claimed the airport shared blame for the crash of Flight 5191 due to poor runway markings, bad signs, and lighting problems. The pilots attempted to takeoff from a runway too short to accommodate the jet airliner. The sole survivor was the First Officer James Polehinke, the copilot. Airport officials maintain the crash was caused by decisions made by the two pilots. http://wvlkam.com/skin/blurb.php?sectionId=208&contentId=4798730 ************* FAA preps call to action compliance list The FAA is close to releasing information about airline compliance with a request from administrator Randy Babbitt's that carriers adopt voluntary safety initiatives. The agency should post something on its web site today or tomorrow, an FAA spokesman tells ATI. Most major operators have already complied with the request, Babbitt said at the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) general meeting on 30 September. The majority of the outstanding responses are from small carriers with one or two aircraft, an FAA spokeswoman adds. Babbitt made the request of 105 airlines and a related request to eight unions in June following a fatal crash in February of a Colgan Air Bombardier Q400. He asked for a written outline of their commitment by 31 July; however, the FAA cannot require compliance with voluntary measures. Responses from airlines appear to have been delayed due to the FAA not specifying where within the agency carriers should submit information, Babbitt has said. In June, FAA asked carriers to implement a policy of asking pilot job applicants for voluntary disclosure of all FAA records as the agency works with the Congress to update the Pilot Records Improvement Act of 1996 to possibly require airlines to seek such information. Further, Babbitt asked all airlines to participate in voluntary safety reporting schemes such as the Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) and the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). In addition to participating in FOQA and ASAP, Babbitt requested that carriers develop data analysis processes to ensure "effective use of this information". Babbitt also asked unions to publish a code of ethics and to establish professional standards and ethics committees to develop peer audit and review procedures. Labour groups were also asked to support periodic safety risk management meetings between FAA and mainline and regional carriers "to promote the most effective practices, including periodic analysis of FOQA and ASAP data with an emphasis on identifying enhancements to the training program", Babbitt said in his June letter to unions. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news *************** Fatigue Expert Nominated to NTSB Mark R. Rosekind, Ph.D., president and chief scientist of Alertness Solutions, has been nominated for a term lasting until Dec. 31, 2014. Oct 02, 2009 The government's attention to fatigue has been increasing recently, with Federal Aviation Administrator Randy Babbitt creating a committee to develop recommendations for a new rule governing how much flying and duty time commercial airline pilots can log. On Thursday, the White House announced the president has submitted the nomination of a fatigue expert, Mark R. Rosekind, to the U.S. Senate. Rosekind, Ph.D., president and chief scientist of Alertness Solutions since 1998, has been nominated for a term on the National Transportation Safety Board that lasts until Dec. 31, 2014. NTSB's Most Wanted list of aviation safety improvements still lists as "unacceptable response" by FAA an item titled "Reduce Accidents and Incidents Caused by Human Fatigue." The two requested elements in this item are setting work hours for flight crews, aviation mechanics, and air traffic controllers based on fatigue research, circadian rhythms, and sleep and rest requirements -- areas in which Rosekind is a recognized expert; and develop a fatigue awareness and countermeasures program for air traffic controllers. The Colgan Air crash near Buffalo, N.Y., in February 2009, depicted in this NTSB animation, is one of the most recent near incidents investigated by NTSB in which fatigue was identified as a factor. Rosekind is one of several former NASA scientists who founded the California company. Its Web site says his Ph.D. is from Yale University, and he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in sleep and chronobiology at Brown University before becoming director of the Center for Human Sleep Research, a program of the Stanford University Sleep Disorders and Research Center. He headed the Fatigue Countermeasures Program at the NASA Ames Research Center and served as chief of the Aviation Operations Branch in the NASA Ames Flight Management and Human Factors Division. A November 2005 document on NTSB's site indicates Rosekind has been a consultant for the safety agency and has taught an "Investigating Human Fatigue Factors" course for the NTSB Academy. http://ohsonline.com/articles/2009/10/02/fatigue-expert-nominated-to-ntsb.aspx ************** NBAA Welcomes Rosekind Nomination to NTSB Board Washington, DC, October 1, 2009 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today welcomed the White House nomination of Dr. Mark R. Rosekind to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The White House announced the nomination on September 30. Rosekind, president and chief scientist of California-based Alertness Solutions, is an expert on the effects of fatigue on productivity, safety and flight operations. Throughout his career, Rosekind has studied and made recommendations to improve operations in the aviation industry, as well as the military and healthcare and energy industries. “We are pleased with Dr. Rosekind’s nomination to the NTSB,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “His exhaustive research and acclaimed studies have provided proven strategies that have helped many companies address challenges related to pilot fatigue. Given the aviation community’s renewed focus on fatigue in recent months, we believe Dr. Rosekind is the right addition to the Board at the right time.” Rosekind’s experience also includes work for NASA’s Fatigue Countermeasures Program in the Human Factors Division, and chief of the Aviation Operations Branch (human factors activities) in the NASA Ames Flight Management and Human Factors Division. “Dr. Rosekind has been a partner to the business aviation community for many years,” continued Bolen. “We’ve always been honored to welcome him as a featured speaker at some of our industry’s most important safety-themed events, including our U.S. and European safety standdown events. We look forward to continuing our productive efforts to promote business aviation safety when his nomination to the Board is confirmed.” http://www.amtonline.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=9376 ************** Hong Kong Government To Shorten Aircraft Approach Routes Into Hong Kong Airport HONG KONG -(Dow Jones)- Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department said Friday it plans to shorten some of the air routes for flights arriving into the city's international airport, in a move that could save up to 14 minutes of flying time for inbound flights. The government department said the new routes, to be launched Oct. 22, have been developed based on new satellite navigation technology, and will allow aircraft arriving in Hong Kong from the west and the north to make a shorter approach. When implemented, the new approach routes will shave up to 210 kilometers on the distance traveled for flights arriving in Hong Kong from mainland China, Southeast Asia or Europe, the department said. All of the world's commercial aircraft fly on pre-established flight routes, which are approved by local regulators and international aviation bodies in order to ensure safety. ************** Loss Of Second 787 Production Line Won't Kill Boeing In Everett But Washington Governor Chris Gregoire Says State Is Fighting To Win It As Boeing mulls where to put the second production line for the 787 Dreamliner, the Governor of Washington State says she hopes it will be in Everett, but if not, it's not the end of Boeing in Washington. Governor Chris Gregoire said Tuesday that labor issues remain a primary problem for Boeing in Washington. Boeing hopes for a no-strike agreement with its Machinists union, which staged an 8-week work stoppage in 2008. Boeing and the union are conduction negotiations, which the state is watching closely. Gregoire said she is making every effort to foster a good relationship, but declined to elaborate. The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that Boeing has told Gregoire it has all the information it needs about tax breaks and other state incentives, totalling billions of dollars, and that part of the process is "closed". "With regard to the second 787, very clear statement made to me: There's nothing more that you can do. We are on the road to making a decision, everything that is on the table is on the table," Gregoire said. Boeing recently bought a facility in South Carolina which has been the focus of much speculation about the second production line for the Dreamliner. South Carolina is what's known as a "right to work" state, which lessens the influence of labor unions on workers. Workers at Boeing's new South Carolina facility recently voted to oust the Machinists union. Still, Governor Gregoire said the second production line would account for about 900 jobs in the Seattle area, compared with the 80,000 aerospace jobs that already exist in the state. "If we should, beyond my control, lose that second 787 - I'm not throwing up my hands," Gregoire said. But "I'm taking nothing for granted, and I'm going to work to keep every single job in the Boeing Co. here." FMI: www.boeing.com aero-news.net *************** Mitsubishi Heavy Signs 100-Jet Order With US Airline TOKYO (Dow Jones)--Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. said Friday that it had secured a second customer for its planned regional jet, with an order for up to 100 aircraft from U.S.-based Trans States Holdings. The memorandum of understanding with Trans States follows a series of design changes that includes a new 100-seat version of the MRJ, with first deliveries to launch customer All Nippon Airways Inc. (9202.TO) expected in early 2014. Mitsubishi Aircraft, a 64%-held subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (7011.TO), is attempting to break the near-duopoly in the regional jet market held by Brazil???s Embraer and Bombardier Inc. of Canada, but faces rival new offerings from state-backed manufacturers in Russia and China. While the U.S. remains the world???s largest market for regional jets, the sector has been hit hard by the financial plight of major network airlines, which contract most of the aircraft from third-party franchise operators. Dozens of jets have been parked in the desert as falling traffic and high fuel prices made them uneconomic even as major airlines pushed through tougher contracts with their regional partners. Missouri-based Trans States operates flights on behalf of the United Airlines unit of UAL Corp. (UAUA) and US Airways Inc. (LCC). The MOU includes 50 firm orders and 50 options. The company operates two subsidiaries, Trans States Airlines and GoJet Airlines, and Mitsubishi said it is looking at all three versions of the MRJ, which range from 78 to 100 seats. All Nippon has 15 firm orders and 10 options for the aircraft. Mitsubishi Aircraft announced major design changes to the MRJ last month, delaying its planned first flight by six months until the second quarter of 2012. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091002-703309.html **************** US' Trans States orders up to 100 Mitsubishi MRJs Mitsubishi Aircraft has signed a deal with US regional carrier Trans States Airlines for 100 aircraft in the MRJ regional jet family. Under the agreement, Trans States has firm orders for 50 aircraft and options for 50 more, says Mitsubishi. This is the second firm order for the MRJ. Japan's All Nippon Airways has firm orders for 15 MRJs and options for 10. Delivery dates have yet to be set, and Mitsubishi says the US carrier is interested in all three variants: the 92-seat MRJ90, the 78-seat MRJ70, and the proposed stretched variant of the aircraft with 100 seats. Mitsubishi Aircraft announced the stretched variant on 9 September after discussions with potential customers in Europe and the USA, and the final design will now be frozen in mid-2010 instead of the third-quarter of 2009. As a result, the first flight is delayed from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the second quarter of 2012. Launch customer All Nippon Airways will receive its first aircraft in the first quarter of 2014 instead of the fourth quarter of 2013. Trans States is a regional airline providing feeder services for American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ************** ISASI Lederer Award INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATORS “Air Safety Through Investigation” FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct 1, 2009 Contact: E. Martinez, 410-990-0865, email espmart@comcast.net Captain Richard B. Stone, Australian Transport Safety Board Earn ISASI “Lederer Award” The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) has for only the second time in its 45-year history selected two recipients for is coveted Jerome F. Lederer Aviation Award. Named as year 2009 recipients are Captain Richard B. Stone and the Australian Aviation Transport Safety Board. The award is given for outstanding lifetime contributions to technical excellence in furthering aviation accident investigation and achieving Society objectives. ISASI is an organization dedicated to enhancing aviation safety through the continuing development and improvement of air accident investigation techniques. To this end its membership is made up of persons from 57 countries who are actively engaged in the investigation of aircraft accidents or in prevention activities that identify, eliminate or control aviation hazards before accidents result. A retired (1992) Delta Captain, Stone began his aviation career as a US Air Force pilot and his civil aviation career with Northeast Airlines in 1957, which was later absorbed by Delta Airlines. He has remained active in aviation as a consultant for various government and industry aviation interests until the present day. Captain Stone was deeply involved in aircraft accident investigation and prevention for the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) for over two decades, having served in areas of Human Performance, Accident Investigation and Aeromedical Resources. Captain Stone joined ISASI July 1969, and has served as US Councilor, President and is presently the Society’s Executive Advisor and Chairman of its International Working Group on Human Factors. The Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB) holds a worldwide reputation for excellence based on its operational independence, objectivity and technical competence in accident investigation. Its expertise and contribution to the field of human factor at both the individual and organizational level is acknowledged as world class. The bureau was one of the first world’s civil aviation safety investigation organizations to develop a capability in human factors, and system safety. Subsequent advanced research work has led the Bureau to become a world leader in proactive accident prevention and safety enhancement as well as core accident investigation. The Bureau’s ongoing commitment to the behavioral science of human and organizational factors in transport safety is at the heart of its credibility and underlies its reputation as a leading safety investigation agency in the world arena. www.isasi.org *************** Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC