16 DEC 2009 _______________________________________ *Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet takes off *Boeing Pilots: No Problems With First 787 Flight *Glitch grounds Air France's new A380 *Rough landing leaves debris *Documents in probe of wayward plane to be released *Million Air Dallas Earns Air Safety Kudos *Aviation prohibitions to be relaxed (Australia) *Angolan state airline TAAG close to flying in European air space without restrictions *Airline union blasts overseas plane maintenance **************************************** Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet takes off A Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger jet, escorted by a T33 chase plane, rises from the runway at Paine Field in Everett, Wash., on its first flight. BOEING'S beleaguered 787 Dreamliner jet finally took to the skies today after two years of setbacks that have weighed on the company's reputation. The 787 airplane took off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington at 10.27am local time in front of hundreds of company employees. As Boeing's next-generation, wide-body jet, the plane is made largely out of lighter composite materials - about 50 per cent of its entire weight - to increase fuel efficiency and extend its flight range. Problems with its production process and unforeseen complications in its composite design caused Boeing to postpone its maiden flight five times, with the latest delay in June. The plane was originally scheduled to fly in September 2007. The first flight is "a big boost for the company psychology, and will give investors a bigger sense that the technical [problems] they have been undergoing have been resolved", said analyst Phillip Finnegan at the Teal Group, an aerospace and defense consulting firm. The tested aircraft can carry up to 250 passengers for approximately 14.484km. Today's flight was scheduled to touch down back in the Seattle area later today. Boeing's stock has had a rocky ride for the year as the recession and drop in air-traffic demand worried investors about delivery deferrals and cancellations. The shares are up about 24% since January amid a broader recovery in global financial markets. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/boeing-787-dreamliner-jet-tak es-off/story-e6frf7ko-1225810795594 *************** Boeing Pilots: No Problems With First 787 Flight The long-awaited first flight of Boeing Co.'s (BA) 787 Dreamliner on Tuesday was cut short by bad weather. Otherwise, the two test pilots said, the maiden flight came off without a hitch. "We learned more about this airplane in the first 10 minutes of flying than we have in the last 100 days," pilot Mike Carriker told reporters after landing at Boeing Field in Seattle. A second flight is scheduled in a few days, he said. The 787 will undergo rigorous flight tests before the first plane is delivered to customers next year. Boeing has six aircraft to use for flight tests. At the same time, "we're ramping the production system up as we speak, and looking forward to customer delivery next year," said Scott Fancher, program manager of the 787. He said the 787 is on track for delivery to its first customer, Japan's All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. (ALNPY), late in 2010. The 787, while two years late to market, remains popular with airline customers because they plan to save about 20% on fuel compared with current aircraft. But the lightweight composite materials used to save fuel have required additional work. Boeing experienced a number of costly delays as suppliers had trouble getting work done on time. But, with more than 850 orders for the 787 on its books, Boeing expects the aircraft to make money over the long term. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091215-715073.html *************** Glitch grounds Air France's new A380 Air France has become the first European airline to take delivery of the new Airbus A380 superjumbo passenger jet, which it says will make it great savings in tough economic times. Air France has become the first European airline to take delivery of the new Airbus A380 superjumbo passenger jet, which it says will make it great savings in tough economic times. Photo: Reuters A glitch on a A380 superjumbo forced Air France to ground the plane in New York, the airline said yesterday, the second technical fault reported since the Airbus started flying to the route last month. The Monday evening flight from New York to Paris, with 511 passengers on board, "was delayed due to a technical problem on the plane," a spokeswoman for Air France told AFP, citing a problem with the fuel tanks. Half of the plane's passengers were put on alternative commercial flights on Tuesday while for the other half, Air France laid on an A340 aircraft that was due to fly on Tuesday evening, the spokeswoman said. Maintenance teams were "determining the cause of the fault," she added. Air France started flying the giant double-decker jet, the world's largest passenger plane, on November 23. Days later an Air France A380 was forced to turn around and land in New York after a fault with its navigation system. A spokesman for the airline cited "a minor computer problem" in that incident. Another A380, flown by Singapore Airlines, had to return to Paris on September 27 after one of its four engines failed during a routine flight to Singapore. AFP ****************** Rough landing leaves debris airplane1216 Officials reportedly look into crew fatigue and dense fog as possible factors in plane's scary arrival in Charlotte. A passenger jet lands on a foggy runway at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport on Tuesday morning. On Sunday, an American Airlines flight scraped a wingtip and partially veered off the runway while trying to land. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com Federal aviation officials are investigating why an American Airlines plane landing in heavy fog Sunday night in Charlotte veered partially off the runway and then scraped a wingtip, as frightened passengers gasped and braced inside. The impact left parts of the wing and debris on runway 36C, but planes continued to land for another 11 minutes until the runway was closed for planned maintenance about 11 p.m. Officials couldn't say whether the debris posed a danger to the other planes. It wasn't clear how many more landed, but an airport spokesman said it was "a handful." Charlotte/Douglas International wasn't alerted to the incident until about 2:24 a.m. Monday. Airport officials said the debris was cleaned up shortly after the airport received word from the Federal Aviation Administration. The weather, possible crew fatigue, the plane's alignment for landing as well as its equipment are also under review, according to reporting by the Observer and the Wall Street Journal. None of the 110 passengers or the crew aboard American Flight 1402, inbound from Dallas, was injured in the rough landing. "It was just shaking, just jarring," said Randall Calvert, 40, of Charlotte, who was returning from a company Christmas party and sitting in the 15th row of the plane, near the wing. "You know how it feels on a roller coaster when you're going on a bend and all the G-forces are going one way. Everybody in our area thought it was about to roll over." Calvert said he couldn't see out more than 20 feet because of the fog. He also said the plane didn't feel level as it came in for the landing. At one point, he said, it felt like the wing hit something. "It clicked or did something, then it flipped like the other way." Passengers gasped, and a few shouted. Then came sighs of relief - and applause for the captain. The ordeal lasted less than 10 seconds, Calvert said. Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the FAA, said airport personnel found debris on the runway, and that the damage to the McDonnell-Douglas MD-82 aircraft "was substantial." Bergen didn't know Tuesday night what type of debris was found, or how large it was. Airport spokesperson Haley Gentry was also unable to describe what was found. Investigators are reviewing what, if any, role fog played in the incident. Visibility was limited to about one-eighth of a mile at the time, and the same fog bank caused hundreds of flight delays and some cancellations Monday in Charlotte. "While weather certainly is something that the (investigators) will consider," Bergen said, "aircraft are equipped to land in those conditions." Officials are also looking at the actions of the flight crew and American Airlines' communication process after the 10:49 p.m. incident. Bergen said airlines are expected to promptly report incidents if an airplane is seriously damaged or someone is killed, but there aren't set timeframes in other circumstances. It's common protocol, she said, to consistently sweep airport runways and to stop using runways altogether if debris is reported. "If an airplane blows a tire or if a pilot reports seeing debris ... anytime something occurs, or there's a suspicion, we should stop using the runway and we would go out and sweep," Bergen said. American Airlines declined comment Tuesday, saying it's awaiting a report from the National Transportation Safety Board. The Wall Street Journal, citing investigators and airline officials, said the flight's crew was told by air traffic controllers on Sunday evening that the plane was slightly off-course as it approached for a landing. Controllers asked the crew if they wanted to make another attempt at landing, but the crew declined, according to the Journal. The newspaper reported that the crew then decided to shut off the autopilot shortly before landing, believing that it was not working properly. The Journal said investigators also will look into whether crew fatigue might have been an issue. The crew had been on duty about 14 hours before the landing, according to the report. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/1126918.html ***************** Documents in probe of wayward plane to be released WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal safety officials say they will release information gathered in their investigation of the Northwest Airlines plane that flew more than 100 miles past Minneapolis while pilots worked on their laptops. The National Transportation Safety Board says it will make public on Wednesday about 400 pages of interviews with Flight 188's pilots and flight attendants, as well as air traffic controllers, among other information. Since the board's investigation is continuing, investigators aren't expected to offer any conclusions. The plane carrying 144 passengers was out of contact with anyone on the ground for 77 minutes as it flew across a broad swath of the country on Oct. 21, raising national security concerns. ****************** Million Air Dallas Earns Air Safety Kudos December 15, 2009 - Today, Million Air Dallas has been formally "Audit Registered" by the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF). The Air Charter Safety Foundation conducted its new Industry Audit Standard which covered an in-depth Part 135 Regulatory review and evaluation of Million Air Dallas's Safety Management System (SMS) during the week of September 21-24, 2009. Million Air Dallas becomes the "First" non-beta test operator to gain the ACSF registration, and it was completed in record time. With only a few operators having met these standards to date, Million Air Dallas is now considered one of the elite Part 135 operators. The new Air Charter Safety Foundation Industry Audit Standards clearly defines an operator's commitment to the Safety of its organization. "I am very proud of our team's efforts and their commitment to ensure that we provide the highest level of safety standards and compliance for our owner, managed clients, charter customers and employees, who only deserve the very best," stated Jack Hopkins, President. This is not an easy audit to go through. Million Air Dallas spent an abundance of time and effort building our Safety Management System program over the years, and we were prepared for the new Industry Audit Standard, and are pleased our efforts have been verified by the Air Charter Safety Foundation. During the audit, the ACSF rated Million Air Dallas with a "Level 2" SMS rating. Few Part 135 operators have been able to achieve this level of Safety Standards. "This certainly shows that Safety is our number one priority," stated Bob Schmidt, Director of Operations. The ACSF Industry Audit Standard is the only audit program on the market today, which comprehensively evaluates both an operator's Safety Management System (SMS) and its Part 135 regulatory compliance. Million Air Dallas is continually rated Platinum by ARG/US (Aviation Research Group/US), and is Wyvern Recommended. Million Air Dallas also earned its original IS-BAO SMS Level one registration in May of 2008. In January 2009 Million Air Dallas received its Third Consecutive "Diamond Award" from the Federal Aviation Administration. Since 1984, Million Air Dallas has combined luxurious flight services with award winning excellence. By providing the highest level of service at competitive rates, Million Air Dallas continues to take the industry to new heights. Million Air Dallas offers the largest and newest fleet of aircraft to charter from in Texas. We offer outstanding service in aircraft charter, aircraft sales, aircraft management, FBO services, and aircraft maintenance. Customers receive 24-hour access to the fleet without having to purchase a membership, place a large deposit, pay capital or leasing costs, or monthly management fees. www.millionair.com http://www.elitetraveler.com/news_detail.html?nid=2160&n=million-air-dallas- earns-air-safety-kudos ***************** Aviation prohibitions to be relaxed (Australia) Knitting needles, tweezers and nail files will no longer be prohibited and metal cutlery reintroduced under an overhaul of aviation security planned by the federal government. With air travel expected to double in the next 20 years the government has released a white paper, outlining 130 ways to help ensure the future of the $6 billion industry. The paper highlights the continued need to prioritise safety and security, with baggage and passengers screening to be tightened. But as a concession, the list of prohibited items allowed on board will be eased. The government acknowledged restrictions on items such as corkscrews, umbrellas and tennis racquets are confusing and cause delays for little security benefit. It also hopes to bolster the industry by relaxing foreign ownership laws, increasing cooperation between the states and commonwealth in the building of new airports, which it said is crucial for the sector. Further, it wants to continue Australia's great safety record and improve access in regional areas by merging a number of different schemes, programs and funds into one. Slots and pricing arrangements for regional airlines at Sydney Airport will also be maintained. "Aviation isn't just about the major commercial airlines," Mr Albanese said, adding the government was committed to growth in general and sports aviation. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will establish a sport and recreational policy, strategic framework and a Sport Aviation Office. The organisation would be given an additional $3.8 million to improve oversight of foreign operators in Australia, overseas aircraft maintenance by local operators and the helicopter sector. CASA's direct regulatory charges to the industry will be capped in real terms for at least five years. Mr Albanese said aviation safety and security was the government's top priority, but it was time to focus on real threats. "The idea that nail clippers or knitting needles are a bigger threat to airline security than the metal forks which are handed out with meals ... distracts security staff from looking for items of much greater risk," he said. As a result, these items will soon be allowed back on board aircraft, as will proper cutlery. Mr Albanese said planning was another significant issue facing the industry. So Labor will work with the states to develop a national land use planning regime near airports and under flight paths. Mr Albanese said there would be greater community consultation about airport planning. "The tension between community and airport needs will never be completely resolved, but it needs to be better balanced," he said. Sydney has also been identified as needing another airport, but Mr Albanese said it would not be at Badgerys Creek. A joint planning taskforce between the federal and NSW governments will be established to investigate alternative sites. Mr Albanese said using more fuel-efficient planes and better air traffic management would help reduce the industry's impact on the environment. The aviation sector had been more resilient than most, he said, and things were looking good for its future. "There are signs of growth, including year on year growth for September 2009 growing by 11.3 per cent for international and 2.3 per cent for domestic," he said. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/aviation-prohibitions-to-be-re laxed-20091216-kvwq.html **************** Angolan state airline TAAG close to flying in European air space without restrictions Lisbon, Portugal, 16 Dec - Angolan airline Taag, which has been on the European Union black list of flying in EU air space since June 2007, has had its safety standards internationally recognised, Portuguese newspaper Sol reported. According to the paper, the chief executive of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Givanni Bisignani said in Geneva that "a giant step has been taken for Taag to return to flying in Europe." Bisignani told Sol that he had signed an authorisation from IATA recognising that Taag had the safety conditions to operate all over the world. Taag is in the group of airlines prohibited from flying in European air space due to a lack of safety conditions in its operations, based on IATA's reports. Since August the flagship Angolan airline has been authorised to fly to Lisbon, but not to the rest of Europe as yet. (macauhub) http://www.macauhub.com.mo/en/news.php?ID=8620 **************** Airline union blasts overseas plane maintenance A major airline union intends to launch a campaign today to tell passengers and Congress about what it perceives to be the risk of overseas aircraft maintenance. The Transport Workers Union, representing more than 200,000 workers and retirees, contends that all major U.S. carriers except Fort Worth's American Airlines Inc. are, to some degree, having their planes worked on outside the U.S., raising safety and even terrorism fears. The campaign already has the support of at least one U.S. senator. "Right now, maintenance is being performed at foreign stations that the Federal Aviation Administration has not certified or inspected," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., in a prepared statement scheduled to be released this morning. "To think that these types of stations are doing work on the airplanes that carry Americans across the country and around the world every day is incredibly scary." The union contends that most overseas stations don't have to follow the standards set for aircraft overhaul operators based in the U.S. Reports of potential terrorism activity at overseas bases should add to the concern for passengers, the union said. "Offshore maintenance is the airline industry's dirty little secret," said union president James Little. "Our union is going to tell the public that offshoring means your plane has a lower standard for maintenance, it means the licensure and security standard for the mechanics and their helpers who worked on that aircraft is questionable, and it means that federal regulators had limited access to facilities where the plane was repaired." The FAA believes otherwise, saying that it holds domestic and foreign stations to the same certification standards. Both kinds of repair shops must pass FAA inspections to remain certified and must pass other audits, said spokeswoman Laura Brown. The union aims to persuade Congress to use the FAA reauthorization process to prevent carriers from shipping maintenance work overseas. Airlines have defended the work as cost-effective and of good quality. American has kept nearly all its heavy maintenance work - where planes are stripped down and rebuilt - for its fleet of 620 jets at its bases in Tulsa and at Alliance Airport north of Fort Worth. It's closing its Kansas City maintenance base and shifting work there to its other bases. "The bottom line is that we believe in-sourcing is the right approach for us, and we remain committed to performing as much of our aircraft maintenance in-house as we are able to accomplish on a competitive basis," said Missy Latham, an American spokeswoman. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. said it's doing 95 percent of its heavy maintenance work at domestic repair stations and at its own facility in Dallas. Southwest has sent five planes of its fleet of 541 to El Salvador's Aeroman, an operator the union spotlights in its campaign for doing work whose quality some regulators have questioned. Southwest's Paul Flaningan said Aeroman's work has met or exceeded the airline's expectations and frequently has been completed ahead of schedule. The carrier can send a maximum of four planes to Aeroman at one time under the contract it has with its mechanics union. TWU members intend to give congressional representatives fake boarding passes as they fly home from Washington in coming days. The boarding passes ask questions about the plane's history and whether it may have been worked on at an overseas base. The union contends that mechanics at the bases may not have English proficiency and may lack crucial training to repair complex aircraft. "The level of oversight in these offshore repair facilities is scandalous," said Steve Luis, an aircraft mechanic and president of TWU Local 514 in Tulsa. "We have heard reports of kids as young as 14 working on planes, and we have seen evidence that in some cases you may have a hundred or more workers doing repairs inspected by one licensed mechanic." http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-twu_16bus.ART.Sta te.Edition1.3cf83a7.html ****************** Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC