Flight Safety Information April 20, 2010 - No. 078 In This Issue 'Professionalism In Aviation' Public Forum Announced By NTSB FAA Proposes More Light Jet Testing Boeing 747-8F tests move to Palmdale IATA furious at 'theoretical' basis for airspace closures Plane truth: Collision averted on runway...MUMBAI ISASI 2010 FAA MX Fatigue Focus Newsletter European Aviation Legislation and how it affects...Middle East Operators and Regulators...Workshop ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'Professionalism In Aviation' Public Forum Announced By NTSB Tue, 20 Apr '10 Three-Day Meeting On Professionalism At All Levels, Disciplines The NTSB will hold a safety forum on professionalism in aviation beginning Tuesday, May 18, 2010. The three-day, forum will be chaired by NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "NTSB's investigations into the midair collision over the Hudson River last August, the crash of Colgan Air flight 3407 in February 2009, and the October 2009 Northwest pilots' overflight of their intended airport provided the impetus for this forum because all of them clearly demonstrated the hazards to aviation safety when pilots and air traffic controllers depart from standard operating procedures and established best practices," Hersman said. "During the forum, we will gather information on the screening, selection and training of pilots and controllers and methods to reinforce professionalism and excellence." The forum is not limited to looking at just pilots. Panelists participating in the forum will represent industry, government agencies, labor, academia, and professional associations. A technical panel composed of NTSB staff from the Offices of Aviation Safety and Research and Engineering, and the NTSB Board Members, who will make up the Board of Inquiry, will question the panelists. Dr. Tony Kern, an internationally recognized human factors and pilot performance expert, is the forum's keynote speaker. The names of the participating panelists and the agenda will be provided in early May. The forum, titled "Professionalism in Aviation: Ensuring Excellence in Pilot and Air Traffic Controller Performance," will be held at the NTSB's headquarters in Washington, DC. The public can view the forum in person or by webcast on the NTSB web site. FMI: www.ntsb.gov Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAA Proposes More Light Jet Testing The FAA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that could significantly complicate the certification process for several small jets currently in development and future aircraft weighing less than 6,000 pounds with turbine engines. The FAA is proposing that all turbine-powered aircraft be put through function and reliability tests. Function and reliability testing is real-world testing of airframes and engines in the full spectrum of weather, missions and flight envelopes the planes are expected to encounter in service and is designed to catch snags that tend to show up soon after the aircraft are put into service. It can add as much as 300 hours to the certification flight testing. In 1950, the FAA exempted aircraft weighing less than 6,000 pounds from that type of testing since the small aircraft of the day were aimed at the private market and were exclusively powered by piston engines. New piston designs weighing less than 6,000 pounds and gliders will continue to be exempt. In the NPRM, the FAA cites problems with freshly certified Eclipse 500 aircraft as part of the foundation for the proposed rule. "This reconsideration was driven in part by difficulties encountered with the voluntary application of the requirement during the FAA type certification of the [Eclipse 500] and the subsequent problems experienced during that airplane's entry into service," the NPRM states. The FAA says it likely would have spotted five problems that developed with the Eclipse if they'd done the function and reliability tests, including pitch and rudder trim issues, pitot system moisture trap, engine surges caused by carbon buildup on the static vanes, brake problems and tire problems. The comment period for the rule ends July 8. The rule, if made final, would affect Piper, Cirrus and Stratos jet programs. Diamond's D-Jet is being certified in Canada so the effect is less clear. Calls placed to Piper and Diamond were not immediately returned. http://www.avweb.com/ [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103325976702&s=6053&e=0010jLFoj0yGtHu546slPWIHnm56hFQ9PsJQSKCL99JUJwLxupgIwBYtRibU6SxrO_a3XD1dY9d-NgyIvCMSbyovxObHollX4jA8mBYBIK3BdM=] Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boeing 747-8F tests move to Palmdale Boeing has brought its second 747-8 Freighter, RC521, to Palmdale, California for the next phase of tests. The move from Seattle, Washington, marks the start of a planned transition of 747-8F testing to southern California, says Boeing. During the flight from Seattle, Boeing conducted testing on avionics and cruise performance. "Taking the airplane to Palmdale is a big step," says Mo Yahyavi, vice-president and general manager of the 747 program. "The team is focused on ensuring a seamless transition into the next phase of the flight-test programme as we prepare to expand testing of the 747-8 Freighter's performance characteristics." Boeing will conduct several tests at Palmdale, with fuel-mileage and engine-performance testing as key focus areas. This will allow it to meet the flight-test requirements needed to obtain the amended type certification, says the airframer. In the coming weeks, the two other 747-8 airplanes in the flight-test fleet will join RC521 in southern California. The entire flight-test programme calls for the three aircraft to perform a total of about 3,700 hours of ground and air testing. Delivery of the first 747-8F to Cargolux is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2010. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IATA furious at 'theoretical' basis for airspace closures IATA is heavily criticising the European response to the airspace crisis caused by the Icelandic volcano, accusing governments of basing critical decisions on unreliable or incomplete information. The organisation is urging Eurocontrol to set up a volcanic activity contingency centre and is seeking an urgent ICAO meeting to review the decision-making process and ensure airspace closure is the result of co-ordinated efforts and detailed data. In the wake of several airlines' execution of test flights into the volcanic ash cloud, the airline organisation says that decisions on operational safety should be founded on "fact, not theory", referring to the computer-based modelling of the ash-cloud's development. "Governments have not taken their responsibility to make clear decisions based on facts," says director general Giovanni Bisignani. "Instead, it has been the air navigation service providers who announced that they would not provide service - and these decisions have been taken without adequately consulting the airlines." He claims that the "blanket" closure of airspace means a number of airlines have unreasonably been denied opportunities to operate safely. "This is not an acceptable system particularly when the consequences for safety and the economy are so large," he says. "Risk assessments should be able to help us re-open certain corridors, if not entire airspaces." European ministers are holding an emergency teleconference today, but this has done little to reassure IATA. "We are far enough into this crisis to express our dissatisfaction on how governments have managed it - with no risk assessment, no consultation, no coordination, and no leadership," says Bisignani. IATA last week estimated the daily cost of the shutdown, which began on 15 April, at $200 million. "In the face of such dire economic consequences, it is incredible that Europe's transport ministers have taken five days to organize a teleconference," says Bisignani. "Governments must place greater urgency and focus on how and when we can safely re-open Europe's skies. This means decisions based on risk-management, facts and utilising operational procedures that maintain safety." Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Plane truth: Collision averted on runway MUMBAI: Two aircraft at Mumbai airport came too close for comfort on Monday afternoon raising fears of a collision. The situation was, however, controlled well in time, while the aircraft were still a safe distance away. A third flight, which was supposed to land a few minutes later, also came in the approach path while officials were busy controlling the situation. However, it was given landing clearance as the situation on the tarmac had been sorted out by then. "The incident occurred when one aircraft was on the runway and still to vacate it while the other flight had already started to roll for a take-off in the same direction. The departing flight, a Kingfisher flight to Bhavnagar, was asked to abort take-off to make sure that the Go Air G8-230 flight from Delhi, which had already landed, cleared the runway and vacated the Bhavnagar flight's take-off path," an official said. The incident happened around 1.30 pm when the GoAir flight touched down at Mumbai airport and headed towards taxiway November 7 (N7) to exit. Just when the flight was reaching the taxiway, the Kingfisher flight, IT 4132, with 20 passengers on board was given a take-off clearance. The GoAir flight, however, failed to slow down in time to exit from the assigned taxiway, N7, and had no choice but to take more time on the runway and vacate through N9. "The controller, who had expected the GoAir flight to vacate through N7, had already asked Kingfisher flight to start take-off. However, the GoAir flight failed to do so and, since taxiway N8 was shut for construction work, it had to move towards N9 and took 30 seconds more," an airport official said. "The controller had to immediately ask Kingfisher to reject take-off and wait till the runway was clear," he added. Officials said that, if the take-off had not been aborted in time, the two aircraft would have found each other on a colliding path. "It would have taken the Kingfisher flight only a few more seconds to gain full speed on the runway. Since the speed was very low, and the distance between them was still about 1.2 km, pilots and controllers could salvage the situation," an official said. But, while the two flights were still on the runway, controllers saw a third (another Kingfisher flight from Delhi) aircraft approaching the tarmac, about 3 km away. "But we did not have to give that flight any specific instruction as the situation on the ground had been sorted out by then," an official said. A Kingfisher spokesperson said that the commander of its flight to Bhavnagar was asked to reject take-off by the ATC while it was on its initial take-off roll. The commander then returned to the bay and got the aircraft checked. The flight finally left at 2.50 pm. Confusion prevailed as to why the Kingfisher flight to Bhavnagar was given a take-off clearance while the GoAir aircraft was still on the runway but ATC GM M Jhungare defended the move, saying officials were only following the required procedures. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Plane-truth-Collision-averted-on-runway/articleshow/5834004.cms Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ISASI 2010 The Planning Committee for ISASI 2010 is pleased to announce that the web site is now up and running and ready for visitors. The final Technical Program is still being worked on and should be ready for posting some time in July. This year we are trying something new - on line registration. Just visit the seminar web site at: www2.convention.co.jp/isasi2010/index.html and you will be able to access the registration site and the hotel. You may also use the link from the ISASI web site. We look forward to seeing all of you in Sapporo. Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAA MX Fatigue Focus Newsletter The latest MX Fatigue Focus Newsletter (a product of the multi-disciplinary maintenance fatigue workgroup) is now available on-line at: https://hfskyway.faa.gov/Fatigue/Documents/MX%20Fatigue%20NewsletterV2I2.pdf. In this issue: A Management View of Fatigue Challenges Fatigue in the Hangar It Really Works! (in the new Beat Fatigue!column featuring fatigue tips and testimonials; submissions welcomed). Workload and Scheduling Tools Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ European Aviation Legislation and how it affects Middle East Operators and Regulators Workshop, 17-June 20100 Letter of invitation The World Food Programme (WFP) Aviation Safety Office, with the collaboration of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Emirates Airlines are pleased to invite you to a one day workshop with Mr. Michael Smethers, the EASA Management Board Chairman. This workshop will present a unique opportunity to gain an understanding of the European aviation legislative process and the current state of European aviation law, including such topics as Emissions Trading, blacklisting of airlines, consumer protection, and future legislative programmes which may affect third country operators. The one day workshop will take place on the 17th, June 2010, in Dubai - United Arab Emirates The morning session will outline the European legislative process and cover topics such as Emission Trading, third country operations into Europe, Blacklisting of operators and countries etc. The afternoon session will focus on the role, functions and future responsibilities of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), including the work on with topics such as the Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft Programme (SAFA), Third Country Operational rules and the new proposed Implementing rules for Operations and Licensing currently being discussed. The workshop will also cover the proposed process and time scales for EASA to assume responsibility for safety of Air Traffic Management and Aerodromes. Michael's extensive knowledge and his current role as EASA Management Board Chair, when combined with his entertaining and engaging presentational style, will ensure that the Workshop will be very informative and enjoyable. The workshop will cover: · EASA History and its Present and future activities , etc; · European Aviation Legislation and how it affects the Middle East Operators and Regulators; · EU Blacklist; · ECCAIRS, accident investigation; · FTL; · Cabin crew qualifications (a cabin crew Licence); · ICAO/ECAC/European Commission relationships; · Open Skies ; The World Food Programme (WFP) Supported by UAE GCAA and Emirates Airline are holding this workshop at cost free in line with their continuing efforts to promote aviation safety globally. The participating organizations for this Workshop will be led by the Following: · Mr. Michael Smethers: EASA Management Board Chair/Leader of the workshop · World Food Programme Aviation Safety Office Representative (WFP-ASU) · UAE General Civil Aviation Authorities (GCAA) · AITA Regional Representative · FAA Regional Representative Looking forward to seeing you at the workshop, Capt. Samir Sajet Capt. David Chapman Regional Aviation Safety Officer -UAE Senior Advisor for Aviation Safety World Food Programme Director General Office | GCAA-UAE Workshop Information Subject: European Aviation Legislation and how it affects Middle East Operators and Regulators Dates: 17 June 2010 Location: Emirates Aviation Training Center/ Main auditorium (Map is attached) Work Shop Fee: Free of Charge Facilitators: WFP Regional Aviation Safety Office, UAE Hosted by: Emirates Airlines, Emirates Aviation Training Center Sponsored by: UAE GCAA, Emirates Airline and the World Food Programme How to Register Send email to Sharjah.ASU@wfp.org with the following information Name Title Organization Adress Nationality Email Mobile Phone Office Phone Should you need to cancel your place at the workshop, please do let us know within a sufficient time so we can allocate your seat to another person, as seats are limited. Booking Conditions The workshop includes:workshop materials, lunch and refreshments Conference Location Emirates Aviation Training Center, Dubai-UAE Accommodation & Transportation: WFP has not made any service for airport shuttle, hotel accommodation or day to day transport. You have to personally take care of the above mentioned points; taxis are available outside the training center. A car can also be hired from any of the numerous car-rental companies operating in the UAE. A renter needs to provide original passport, 2 photographs, and a valid driving license. Visa Your trip to the UAE may require you to apply for a Visa, such requirements will be dependant on your country of origin. Dress Code: Business attire or local national dress. About WFP The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. In emergencies, we get food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After the cause of an emergency has passed, we use food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. WFP is part of the United Nations system and is voluntarily funded. Born in 1962, WFP pursues a vision of the world in which every man, woman and child has access at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life. We work towards that vision with our sister UN agencies in Rome -- the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) -- as well as other government, UN and NGO partners. In 2010 we aim to reach more than 90 million people with food assistance in 73 countries. Around 10,000 people work for the organization, most of them in remote areas, directly serving the hungry poor. WFP's five objectives: Save lives and protect livelihoods in emergencies Prepare for emergencies Restore and rebuild lives after emergencies Reduce chronic hunger and under-nutrition everywhere Strengthen the capacity of countries to reduce hunger Safety works when people work together Best Regards Capt. Samir Sajet Regional Aviation Safety Officer, UAE World Food Programme Tel. Office Sharjah + 971-6- 5574799 Fax Office Sharjah + 971-6- 5574796 Mobile: + 971 50 6561019 E-Mail 1: samir.sajet@wfp.org UTC+4 Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC