January 27, 2010 No.022 In This Issue FAA Seeks Checks of Pilot Oxygen Systems on Boeing Jets Planes Get Too Close on Approach to LAX Jet crash pilot took plane on wrong route Ethiopian 737 failed to maintain correct heading before crash Ethiopian plane black box found, toll reaches 32 French investigators to assist Ethiopian 737 FAA Releases Final 'Call To Action' Report On Airline Safety FAA Tells Boeing To 'Hack Proof' 747-8, -8F Nigerian naval helicopter crashes; 4 feared dead (Augusta 109E) Preliminary Accident Data; Nigeria FedEx wins key FAA approval to bolster approaches Airbus: Signs MoU On Aircraft Financing With Chinese Partners Japan Airlines gets new president 2002 Olympics official Michael Huerta flies toward No. 2 FAA job ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAA Seeks Checks of Pilot Oxygen Systems on Boeing Jets By ANDY PASZTOR U.S. aviation regulators have ordered inspections of emergency cockpit oxygen systems on roughly 1,300 Boeing jetliners operated by U.S. carriers, more than a decade after the manufacturer first warned airlines that certain parts posed potential fire hazards. Covering three separate Boeing models, from domestic workhorse 737 aircraft to the longest-range international 747 jumbo jets, rules proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration call for checks of some cockpit oxygen hoses that can catch fire if there is a short circuit in a nearby electrical panel. The proposed inspections and fixes, released at the end of last week, are expected to be embraced by foreign regulators. Starting more than a decade ago, Boeing received reports of problems caused by current flowing through part of the stowage box for pilot oxygen masks, which eventually can result in a hose melting or burning. The initial incident was reported on a Boeing 757 in 1997. In response, the company in 1999 issued its first round safety bulletins covering 757s and three other aircraft models, according to a Boeing spokeswoman. Boeing urged inspections of low-pressure oxygen hoses and, if necessary, replacing them with new parts that wouldn't conduct electricity. The work was to be completed "at the earliest opportunity when manpower, material and facilities are available." Complying with manufacturer bulletins is voluntary. The issue of hazardous hoses moved back into the spotlight in June 2008, when an Airborne Express Boeing 767 cargo plane caught fire while preparing to push back from a gate at San Francisco International Airport. The fire burned a hole through the top of fuselage before it was extinguished, but the crew escaped without injury. About a year later, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a series of broad safety recommendations, including replacement of the oxygen hoses on Boeing jets and those manufactured by other companies, and more thorough rules covering inspections of older hoses. The safety board's recommendation criticized the FAA's failure to mandate safety inspections and repairs by promptly following up on Boeing's safety recommendations. The agency "missed the importance of this safety issue for undetermined reasons," according to the board's July 2009 letter. At the time, the safety board made more than a dozen recommendations aimed at reducing potential fire hazards from electrical wiring located too close to oxygen in different systems on various commercial aircraft types. On Friday, the FAA issued separate but identical proposed safety directives for 737s, 747s and 767s. It had previously issued essentially the same proposals covering more than 480 Boeing 757s in September 2009. It's unusual for the FAA to wait so long to mandate safety actions in the wake of a manufacturer's recommendation. A spokesman for the FAA and a spokeswoman for Boeing didn't have any comment on the timing of the latest proposal. Despite the safety board's concerns, the FAA apparently doesn't consider the hoses high-priority safety hazards because it proposed giving carriers three years to complete the inspection and replacement efforts. http://online.wsj.com [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102966365048&s=6053&e=001g8Q7d8rKHvcmCXJ8FvQS1G3p9cvpFm5pOs_vbos9ffRTmI3FY5dBpY2LWHma04G60jdmVe-r15MDBzXxpt2MAwmyxNAITub2e--Ka2Os_v0AeS84dcz4TN0QaKHqwwPr2P8No8-0ZrnAVZ6_kUjrSMBDJ9ICw950ClFI9x-9nDL-_vqkdk89wPLMcqDREGA7qPgYVhh2B3rm_6OFlVs5CsTQQJBm6mMP2Y9Btyi2qfSc59Ebq18Qyw==] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Planes Get Too Close on Approach to LAX FAA: Controller error causes planes to get too close near LA airport, no danger to planes LOS ANGELES January 27, 2010 (AP) Federal Aviation Administration officials say an error by an air traffic controller allowed a commuter plane to get too close to a Boeing 767 on approach to Los Angeles International Airport last week. FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said Tuesday that an American Eagle Embraer E135 came within three miles of the tail of the Chilean-based LAN Airlines plane on Jan. 19 while flying at about 7,000 feet. Pilots are required to maintain five miles of separation to avoid wake turbulence that can send smaller planes out of control. Controllers union spokesman Melvin Davis told San Diego's KGTV that controllers are overworked and understaffed. Gregor called the error "serious" but said it was not caused by understaffing and there was no imminent danger to the smaller plane. http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9671861 [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102966365048&s=6053&e=001g8Q7d8rKHvfQlxYu08ipj_1FAdcq9wWz0K9K_gbUrX2Da_Bf7ZqU-PcJwP_rRBqbTRI3_94smFnoBM8NsepjzzBYJx0Vy1FORpKvDR6t61Br9ruUtG4OBbxwYe2ssSTWLmAD8VB07g-9LqJybyRh5X7n01MwudkY] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jet crash pilot took plane on wrong route INVESTIGATION The pilot of the Ethiopian Airlines jet which crashed into the sea flew in the opposite direction to the one suggested by air traffic control. All 90 people on board Monday's flight from Lebanon are feared dead after the plane went down in a storm. Lebanese transport minister Ghazi Aridi said: "They [air traffic control] asked him to correct his path but he did a fast and strange turn before disappearing from the radar. "Nobody is saying the pilot is to blame for not heeding orders, there could have been many reasons for what happened." The black box has yet to be found, but it could show the pilot, who had 20 years' experience, was avoiding the storm. Officials have ruled out terrorism or sabotage. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/01/27/jet-crash-pilot-took-plane-on-wrong-route-115875-21998205/ [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102966365048&s=6053&e=001g8Q7d8rKHvd3_8S1a0EHpRgdP9dOJ6JZLidYxC0TyqsCW0MhUxMo4IMCokaGEoIFuAKC-59Xku4tL9FlAqNIYc_gzs6W6faZ3KpfEXb7DlTMI7Ma7-MlQ_o3JN7fkNOuHwp6MB3J0FHKH8Bzn5wfKO-8GVJaq2JCI-PbqSHmtm14iIhA0xfJiZ4r5pZSt3N4LA4P0q31jsZP-a8MTl8N-Qs9FFy39kpvUHvy5WVWRZcba56UJzb0Ag==] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ethiopian 737 failed to maintain correct heading before crash Preliminary information about the final few minutes of yesterday's ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines flight out of Beirut indicates that the aircraft was struggling to comply with air traffic control instructions to change heading. The Boeing 737-800, bound for Addis Ababa as flight ET409, departed towards the south from Beirut's runway 21 in darkness, but initial information suggests that the jet turned north, and was cleared to climb to a minimum crossing altitude to transit through Syrian airspace. An air traffic control source familiar with the event tells ATI that an early exchange with Beirut centre focused on the aircraft's navigating relative to the VOR beacon identified as CAK, which lies on the Lebanese coast north of Beirut. But he says that air traffic control needed to ensure separation between ET409 and two aircraft which were on approach to Beirut's runway 16 at the time. In order to maintain separation, he says, ET409 was instructed to turn left onto a heading of 270° but the crew apparently failed to comply. "Instead it turned left, further," says the source, adding that the turn continued until the 737 reached a heading of about 140°, a course which took the aircraft towards high terrain. Controllers tried ordering the aircraft to turn right, warning that it was proceeding towards a mountainous area, but the source says that radar contact was lost with the jet shortly afterwards. It came down off the Lebanese coast south of Beirut. Ninety passengers and crew were on board the jet but rescue teams have not found any survivors. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ethiopian plane black box found, toll reaches 32 Beirut: Two more bodies were recovered Tuesday after an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing carrying 90 people plunged into the sea off Lebanon's coast shortly after take-off from Beirut the day before. Officials said the find brought to 32 the number of bodies recovered from the crash in which all occupants of the plane are presumed to have died. At various points along the coastline, Lebanese soldiers were seen carrying bodies, body parts and large pieces of the plane. Lebanese media said late Tuesday that US rescue teams managed with their advanced equipment to pinpoint the location of the black box of the Ethiopian plane. The reports said the black box was found at a depth of 500 metres and was to be recovered Wednesday. Rescue teams meanwhile continued to scour the Mediterranean in better weather a day after the crash. Flight 409 from Beirut to Addis Ababa lost contact with air traffic control at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport in stormy weather shortly after takeoff. Minutes later, the aircraft crashed off the coast. Health Minister Mohammed Khalifeh said some of the bodies that have been recovered since Monday were transferred to Beirut Governmental Hospital for DNA analysis. "We already today identified some three bodies and they were handed to their families," Khalifeh said. A hospital source told DPA that most of the bodies taken to the hospital showed severe neck and head injuries. A Lebanese army officer told dpa that foreign rescue teams using advanced equipment had pinpointed the exact location of the crash. He said rescuers believe the bodies of the remaining victims were still strapped in their seats inside what was left of the plane. Initial information from air traffic control tower recordings indicate that the airliner appeared to have flown into a violent storm. "A traffic control recording shows that the tower told the pilot to turn to avoid the storm, but the plane went in the opposite direction," Defence Minister Elias Murr said. "We do not know what happened or whether it was beyond the pilot's control." According to an airport official, violent cumulonimbus - thunder clouds - can lead to the destruction of even the biggest aircraft. He added that airline pilots usually fly around them, guided by their own weather radar equipment or sometimes by ground controllers. "We have to find the black box because all the truth lies there," Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri was quoted as saying. Lebanon has ruled out terrorism and blamed the crash on bad weather conditions. The US embassy in Beirut said Tuesday the National Transportation Safety Board would dispatch an aviation investigator and technical advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing to assist Lebanese authorities in their probe. The US has provided a P-3 aircraft which has thermal radar that can detect bodies and metal under water for the search and rescue operation. Britain and France also sent helicopters. The passengers on the Ethiopian plane included Lebanese, Ethiopian, Iraqi, French and Syrian nationals. Several passengers with dual nationality were also on board. http://www.samaylive.com/news/ethiopian-plane-black-box-found-toll-reaches-32/673017.html [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102966365048&s=6053&e=001g8Q7d8rKHve8vE7PYN0ogxU_xcXWJzjKJzI8CLTMJXxaKEiWXfHVBlLHjv1r9ZZjxR7kWIuNFqKl1fjEpGIY4ehnvuGy_Yo7_Uh9tJxz0Oyvefo74lxJf6jwoJLiZtcNLPkaZ78CH_eNCxNE1PHqVnlx6J9zKBmiwyjhiq7tOKhV3pE_pDKu3qM11pnUpzZin6R_e5Vtui8=] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ French investigators to assist Ethiopian 737 crash inquiry French investigation agency Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses is to participate in the inquiry into the loss of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 off the Lebanese coast. Lebanese president Michel Suleiman stated shortly after the accident that the inquiry would seek specialist French assistance. The BEA states that it will send two investigators to Beirut to aid the inquiry, which is being headed by Lebanese authorities. Ethiopian flight ET409 had departed Beirut for Addis Ababa when it came down shortly after take-off. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAA Releases Final 'Call To Action' Report On Airline Safety 200 Page Document Covers Professionalism, Safety, Training The FAA Tuesday released its final 200-plus-page "Call to Action" on airline safety and pilot training. The document is the culmination of a half-year's work by the FAA, the NTSB, and the DOT. Following the Colgen Air crash in February of 2009, the NTSB held a series of field hearings about the incident. Congressional hearings highlighted issues with pilot safety, crew rest, training, and other areas which the "Call to Action" seeks to address. The executive summary states: "Recognizing that FAA, the airlines, and labor organizations all have a role to play in addressing and resolving these critical issues, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator J. Randolph Babbitt invited representatives from each of these groups to Washington, D.C. for a Call to Action on Airline Safety and Pilot Training. This event took place on June 15, 2009, with the goal of fostering dialogue to specify concrete actions and to elicit voluntary commitments in four key areas: ·Air carrier management responsibilities for crew education and support; ·Professional standards and flight discipline; ·Training standards and performance; and ·Mentoring relationships between mainline carriers and their regional partners." On release of the final report, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt issued the following statement: "Our "Call to Action Final Report" reflects the efforts of the FAA since June to further enhance safety for passengers who fly on any commercial airline regardless of whether it's a major or regional carrier. The report lays out our initial actions to improve and revise pilot training and to develop an effective pilot fatigue rule. We also share what we have done to begin what must be an ongoing dialogue with airlines and unions to strengthen professionalism in the aviation industry and create mentoring programs for our nation's pilots. This report is a snapshot of our work, which is by no means finished. We will continue to aggressively push forward with these initiatives that we believe will raise the safety bar even higher. " FMI: www.faa.gov/library/reports/media/call_to_action_Jan2010.pdf [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102966365048&s=6053&e=001g8Q7d8rKHvdmAlLxI-Wxui9N5WVHyJOfkFLBBPCQSEqePglhsEzkqCgExMsc3foE7P2YE1vqUEsOsSU1gom5INprI0fG7KLLA8hOi9C7nfwbPYx-yhoWk6Zvh6p0SqWOyxCRWdo9gNdd6OlnCtBPWj6xxBbylGRsVVtuDdFq3SbJZu6xONlebA==] aero-news.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAA Tells Boeing To 'Hack Proof' 747-8, -8F Says Some Computer Systems May Be Vulnerable To Outside Attacks The FAA published a notice in the CFR earlier this month indicating some computer systems on the 747-8 and 747-8F may be vulnerable to outside attacks due to the nature of their connectivity. And the agency said current airworthiness standards do not take the vulnerability into account. "This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with the architecture and connectivity capabilities of the airplane's computer systems and networks, which may allow access to external computer systems and networks," the agency published in the Federal Register. "Connectivity to external systems and networks may result in security vulnerabilities to the airplane's systems. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards." The suspect systems are described as digital systems architecture composed of several connected networks. The architecture and network configuration may be used for, or interfaced with, a diverse set of functions, including: ·Flight-safety related control, communication, and navigation systems (aircraft control domain). ·Airline business and administrative support (airline information domain). ·Passenger information and entertainment systems (passenger entertainment domain). ·The capability to allow access to or by external network sources. The FAA's concern is that the architecture and network configuration may allow the exploitation of network security vulnerabilities resulting in intentional or unintentional destruction, disruption, degradation, or exploitation of data, systems, and networks critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane. The existing regulations and guidance material did not anticipate these types of airplane system architectures. Furthermore, 14 CFR regulations and current system safety assessment policy and techniques do not address potential security vulnerabilities, which could be exploited by unauthorized access to airplane networks, data bases, and servers. Therefore, these special conditions and a means of compliance are provided to ensure that the security (i.e., confidentiality, integrity, and availability) of airplane systems is not compromised by unauthorized wired or wireless electronic connections. The FAA is requiring Boeing to ensure electronic system security protection for the aircraft control domain and airline information domain from access by unauthorized sources external to the airplane, including those possibly caused by maintenance activity. It further says Boeing must ensure that electronic system security threats from external sources are identified and assessed, and that effective electronic system security protection strategies are implemented to protect the airplane from all adverse impacts on safety, functionality, and continued airworthiness. The order currently applies only to the 747-8 and -8F, but the FAA says "Should Boeing apply at a later date for a change to the type certificate to include another model incorporating the same novel or unusual design features, these special conditions would apply to that model as well." FMI: www.faa.gov [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102966365048&s=6053&e=001g8Q7d8rKHvexqHZsGf5hvAkpuouc_asJ37VT3DdLpX541UbjyspV_4HilONvIAds0ORgbNOylBPgxH6Pyncrk8UTIkn45vPJdld7fGbTNGY=], www.boeing.com [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102966365048&s=6053&e=001g8Q7d8rKHvela0hwfJwmmmLKYb1Iwjstd-1GGBgoWb2395SjqFU3bSl_b91zxHBCvi0ZQaNCUscRl0CyaWWgqyEiW4MWajxsOhbrmqEjJBE=] aero-news.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nigerian naval helicopter crashes; 4 feared dead (Augusta 109E) PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (AP) -- A Nigerian naval spokesman says one of its helicopters crashed in the Niger Delta, likely killing the four people onboard. Commodore David Nabaida says the helicopter crashed Tuesday afternoon while searching for a ship that supposedly ran aground in the region. Nabaida says the helicopter went down near Port Harcourt International Airport. The three officers and a seaman onboard are feared dead. The commodore says an investigation will uncover what caused the crash, but he says the navy had no evidence it was brought down by hostile fire. Militants and oil thieves have attacked pipelines and security forces in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Preliminary Accident Data Date: 26-JAN-2010 Time: 1300 Type: Augusta 109E Operator: Nigerian Navy Registration: 06 C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Port Harcourt - Nigeria Phase: En route Nature: Military Departure airport: Warri Destination airport: Port Harcourt Narrative: The helicopter was on a cross country mission from Warri via Brass to Port Harcourt. The weather was VMC when the helicopter crashed into a swampy area about 2 minutes flying time to Port Harcourt International Airport. The forecast trend for Port Harcourt was 261550Z 2618/2724 29005KT 9999 SCT016 BECMG 2621/2623 00000KT 7000 NSW FEW009 TEMPO 2704/2707 3000 BR PROB30 TEMPO 2705/2706 0800 FG BECMG 2708/2710 23006KT 9999 BKN014= (aviation-safety.net) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FedEx wins key FAA approval to bolster approaches Cargo airline FedEx has received an exemption from the US FAA that allows the carrier to use a combination of vision enhancing equipment, procedures and training to expand foul-weather access to US airports. The 24 December 2009 approval, the first of its kind for the airline industry, permits FedEx to begin performing instrument landing system (ILS) approaches with ground visibility as low as 305m (1,000ft), significantly less than the usual 732m (2,400ft) runway visual range (RVR) airlines need to start a category 1 ILS, a horizontal and vertically guided approach for which the pilots must see the runway environment at 61m (200ft) in order to continue in for landing. The RVR prerequisite at the start of the procedure, widely referred to as the "approach ban", can cause aircraft to perform costly diversions to alternate airports even if visibility at the end of the approach turns out to be adequate for landing. FedEx to date has equipped 15 of its 59 Boeing MD-11s with Kollsman cooled infrared sensors and Honeywell/Elbit head-up displays, the two key components of an enhanced flight vision system (EFVS). Installations, which are being done standalone or as part of heavy maintenance checks at FedEx's Memphis hub or at its contract provider ST Aerospace in Singapore, are expected to be complete by early 2011. After the MD-11 installations are complete, FedEx will begin integrating the systems into is 76 MD-10s, which fall under the same supplemental type certificate (STC). In parallel, FedEx is working toward an STC for its fleet of 34 Boeing 757s, which will use a Rockwell Collins HUD. Installations are expected to commence in 2011. EFVS installations for the Boeing 777 freighter, for which FedEx has 30 on order and options for 15 more, will likely start in 2012, largely on the assembly line at Boeing, says FedEx managing director of strategic projects for air operations Joel Murdock. FedEx has received three 777Fs to date, with a fourth delivery expected in April. Following the 777, which will also have the Rockwell Collins HUD, FedEx will begin EFVS work with its 71 Airbus A300-600s and 51 Airbus A310s, completing equipage of its entire line in the 2015 timeframe. Murdock says FedEx has not made decisions on the HUD type for the Airbus fleet. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Airbus: Signs MoU On Aircraft Financing With Chinese Partners PARIS (Dow Jones)--Airbus, a unit of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company NV (EAD.FR), Tuesday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with China-based CDB Leasing Co. Ltd. to cooperate on leasing and financing Airbus aircraft projects. Under the agreement, CDB Leasing Co. will provide financing for airlines buying Airbus aircraft through sale and leaseback transactions worth up to $4 billion over the next five years, Airbus said in a statement. CDB Leasing Co. may purchase Airbus aircraft directly, the statement said. http://online.wsj.com [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102966365048&s=6053&e=001g8Q7d8rKHvdNsg2SONXn2lShdAG3NpumIzuvbzIl3K_7J1e2Z7bz_oBuimAVqcywVmXEPxXt_beauNtMWrjHPirvXA5PlVLtfR8klo2Ue3rTcCXwzaOjRceojN2Wxyb5I_THLkhi_PQukDJUoxSQzW-GH4RuT_Hs-3K35c95Xk6TbrveyAfgFnZP42revkHXhK5iigyEhDaFwbePrdkLKQ==] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Japan Airlines gets new president Japan Airlines Corp., undergoing major restructuring under bankruptcy protection, is appointing the head of a subsidiary as its new president. Japan Airlines said Wednesday it will promote Masaru Onishi, 54, to president. The appointment will be effective on Feb. 1, the airline said in a statement. Onishi currently heads Japan Air Commuter Co. Ltd., a subsidiary operating in southern Japan. Saddled with massive debt, Japan Airlines, known as JAL, filed for bankruptcy protection last week. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DFR0O02.htm [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102966365048&s=6053&e=001g8Q7d8rKHvdP3tfpoAGzre0ozmxyswWLZLwpsYxRHgjUJoDT7loc6HxqYuDyVntVrgWAdgnpssy1tKkRqWEi5SuFFU-1SHanNcBG7R0NewQoPPrppwVQrV2WwDSL3_gavi_Uho3PdrbeYN2NAnfv691YmlOaBrNb-HLW7dj30Ek=] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2002 Olympics official Michael Huerta flies toward No. 2 FAA job WASHINGTON - Michael Huerta, a former transportation logistics manager for the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, flew through a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday toward becoming the new deputy director of the Federal Aviation Administration. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, introduced Huerta, a California native, to the Senate Commerce Committee as "an honorary Utahn" for his transportation, planning and logistical work during the Olympics. "It was in no small part due to his efforts that Utah's Olympic games were the first Olympics to have a fully successful transportation operation," Hatch said. Hatch noted that Huerta even returned to the Olympics committee - after leaving for a higher paying job elsewhere - when told that he was the only person who had enough experience to solve a potentially serious flaw found in planning a few months before the games began. Hatch said Huerta returned to help "because at heart he's a public servant and couldn't let an effort he worked on fail." Huerta told the committee that his work on the Olympics "taught me about how an immovable deadline can be extremely powerful in motivating and focusing a team toward a common objective. We had to be focused but flexible, and ready to adapt to the unexpected." He said such experience could help at the FAA with such efforts as deploying NextGen, its new air traffic control system, and working with Congress to reauthorize important FAA safety programs. Huerta faced only a handful of mostly friendly questions during the hearing, and was praised by committee members. "You're an organizer, and you understand priorities," Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said in praise of Huerta, who held senior positions in the Clinton Administration's Transportation Department and is currently President of MPH Consulting, and was a member of President Obama's transportation transition team. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who chaired the hearing, said he hopes for a quick vote to confirm Huerta, and said his "training and attitude and experience couldn't be better." http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705361245/2002-Olympics-official-Michael-Huerta-flies-toward-No-2-FAA-job.html [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102966365048&s=6053&e=001g8Q7d8rKHvcCR5NlqpHLgT34NbE7gOeiLmOk0ltxUfkidkfoTAux3Ye47MGIcv_nTzWT6HKhNla9KCytU_S9SZ8QZllFad1-1oUX2F_mhU9eAPaacYq3CXEtvA9_k9_rEK_q2i4h5GyUBI45PKt9c_w6hP-4G9s_-fWj2woQTfriX99wbtdTZxhWZFJz4hk5aV5a3zSaN5XGwwqqMO7-nPkXT260XPJ2nWj6kzgIWNE=] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC