Flight Safety Information June 8, 2010 - No. 112 In This Issue FAA Issues Tire-Safety Rules Flight Attendant Arrested With Loaded Gun Elderly flier's bomb claim delays Southwest flight US bans Suriname staff from using local airline FAA investigating after planes collide on runway POSITION AVAILABLE:...Safety Performance Evaluator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAA Issues Tire-Safety Rules By ANDY PASZTOR Prompted by landing-gear tire failures that led to a fatal 2008 plane crash, U.S. regulators have established new rules to ensure proper tire pressure on more than 200 Learjet business aircraft. Slated to be issued Tuesday by the Federal Aviation Administration, the safety directive requires U.S. operators to conduct more-frequent landing gear inspections of Learjet 60 models, which are especially susceptible to takeoff hazards from under-inflated tires. The FAA said such stepped-up scrutiny is intended to prevent tires on 240 of those models flown by U.S. operators from coming apart during takeoffs, "which could result in failures of the braking and the thrust reverser systems" and potential loss of airplane control. Operators now will have to check tire pressure on Learjet 60 models every four days. But the FAA rejected recommendations by federal crash investigators to order such checks daily. The agency also said it won't impose enhanced tire-inspection requirements on additional Learjet models, or on other types of business aircraft. A year ago the FAA issued a safety alert warning pilots to pay special attention to tire pressures. In April, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates plane crashes, issued a series of safety recommendations dealing with Learjet tire hazards. The safety board also has said that its investigators believe under-inflated tires pose particular hazards on business jets. The safety board, however, has no authority to order maintenance or operational changes. Canada's Bombardier Inc., which manufacturers the line of widely used, high-performance Learjet aircraft, months ago urged the more-frequent tire checks. The safety concerns were prompted by the fiery September 2008 crash of a chartered Learjet 60 while it was trying to take off in Columbia, S.C. The crash killed four of those aboard, and seriously injured two others. Investigators later determined that under-inflated tires on the main landing gear-which hadn't been checked in about three weeks-disintegrated violently during the takeoff roll. Pieces of the tires damaged brakes and hydraulic lines, while disabling other systems that prevented the pilots from stopping the plane before it barreled off the runway. The safety board found that the plane's thrust reversers, which are intended to help planes stop on the ground, failed to operate because of a design problem. A damaged electronic sensor resulted in the plane's flight-management computer concluding that the plane was already airborne. So the computer automatically commanded the reversers to stop working. Without commands from the pilots, the onboard computer also ordered both jet engines to rev up as the plane sped down the strip. As part of its final rule, the FAA said it determined that Learjet 60 models have experienced "more than twice the number of tire failure events" than another Learjet model, and generally have greater "vulnerability to damage due to a burst tire" than other types of business jets. The safety board, among other things, urged broad design, maintenance and pilot-training changes to reduce the dangers of tires bursting during takeoffs on business jets as well as airliners. The FAA is evaluating those safety recommendations. Bombardier changed the design of its later Learjet models to ensure that damage caused by burst tires can't prevent pilots from engaging thrust reversers while on the ground. http://online.wsj.com/ [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103463526224&s=6053&e=001j4PD8UTk4jwxWnXRNBOklYHATB50jd1cCR_gBKvfE-6j5nsuuO-hNmeCTrD_ikFaFrj2DORTpUUE541EbxpvWTnDDXxK-5spyKxe_pZehUyS61nQwLlHSg==] Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Flight Attendant Arrested With Loaded Gun Delta FA Charged With Two Misdemeanors In Indianapolis A Delta Airlines flight attendant has been arrested at Indianapolis International Airport for allegedly carrying a loaded Glock 9 in her carry-on bag. She has been charged with entering a controlled area of an airport with a weapon and possession of a handgun with no permit. Both charges are misdemeanors. Amber Robillard of Atlanta allegedly had a 9mm Glock with a full 10 shot clip in a holster tucked into an interior compartment of her bag when it went through the X-ray machine at Indianapolis International just after 0600 Saturday. The Indianapolis Star reports that she had no explanation for why the gun was there. The 39-year-old Robillard was taken to the Marion County, IN jail rather than work her scheduled flight to Atlanta. Airport spokesman Corey Wilson told the paper only sky marshals are allowed to carry guns on airplanes. FMI: www.civicnet.net/police Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elderly flier's bomb claim delays Southwest flight (AP) An elderly flier's bomb comment created a long travel day for passengers on a Long Island-to-West Palm Beach flight Sunday. The Associated Press reports a 75-year-old man on the first leg of the flight -- from Chicago -- told a flight attendant that he hold a bomb in his carry-on luggage. The man apparently made the comment after the attendant noticed a bag on an empty seat across from the man. AP writes that "when asked about the bag, [he] said it was his bag and 'there was a bomb in it,' police said." He was arrested when the flight landed at the Long Island airport in Islip, about 50 miles east of New York City. "We take this stuff very seriously," Teresa Rizzuto, commissioner of the Long Island MacArthur Airport, tells AP. The man was charged with falsely reporting an incident, according to AP. The episode forced all of the through passengers on the flight to deplane so the aircraft could be screened to explosives. None were found, but the continuing leg of the flight to Florida was delayed by about two hours. Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ US bans Suriname staff from using local airline PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AP) - The U.S. Embassy in Suriname says it is barring staff from flying with the local Blue Wing Airlines due to safety concerns. The U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo announced Monday it has prohibited the use of the small carrier for official domestic travel in the South American nation. The announcement comes about three weeks after one of Blue Wing's small planes crashed in rough weather, killing all eight people aboard. The twin-engine Antonov went down in a forest shortly after taking off from a small airstrip near Godo Holo. Blue Wing reported a similar crash involving the same model in April 2008. Nineteen people died when that plane crashed as it approached an airstrip. Airline officials were not available for comment. Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . FAA investigating after planes collide on runway CHARLOTTE - The FAA is investigating a collision between two U.S. Airways planes on the ground at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. A spokesperson says the wing of one aircraft clipped the rudder of another while both planes were on the taxiway at about 5:20 p.m. Saturday. Flight 704 was preparing to take off for Germany and Flight 413 was en route to San Francisco. Both planes were airbuses. The FAA says both aircraft were taken out of commission after the collision. The 200-plus passengers on the German-bound plane were given food vouchers and lodging. http://charlotte.news14.com/ [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103463526224&s=6053&e=001j4PD8UTk4jwllsGZaDg_czEvMlOQBZV0OfAvg5uYU0Qz0ecJH9f6jpppDaPXwtWBg9dV3rPXxSecvycHcdgCztjv0ePp2qzC8m4iStTaHgeTiyCXRnw5Bg==] Back to Top [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103463526224&s=6053&e=001j4PD8UTk4jwwRIXHrRsFhfpJsKu6qeuqHBDW73VNUsqGkUyx-Z3Thmw0XdkP0j2kyQ8JxOr0qeskRFObyEbLa11UvFhFG1-V] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POSITION AVAILABLE: Safety Performance Evaluator Work Activities/Context Provides friendly service to and maintains positive relationships with all internal and external Customers. Works in a cooperative spirit to ensure the success of our Company Performs SWA Safety Performance Evaluations (audits) to validate compliance with SWA Operational Procedures in problem areas identified by Safety information trend analysis. Conducts operational evaluations and analyzes results to achieve highest levels of Safety. Communicates results to affected organization(s) and monitors responses from affected departments. Assists Safety Performance Leadership as directed. Education High School Diploma or equivalency required. Bachelor Degree with emphasis on Safety, analysis and/or technical field preferred. Experience Demonstrated experience in communicating and working with multiple organizations; 1-2 years preferred. Ground operations, aircraft maintenance, dispatcher, flight attendant and/or pilot experience; 1-2 years preferred. Knowledge of airline operations, aviation Safety, system Safety fundamentals, standards and/or accident investigation process; 1-2 years preferred. Experience/familiarity with personal computers, and a working knowledge of Windows Applications. Ability to research, define, assist and maintain computing applications; 1-2 years preferred. Research, writing skills and creative design with document/report preparation and publishing experience; 1-2 years preferred. Licensing/Certification Dispatcher License, Flight Attendant Certification, A&P License or Private Pilot Certification desired. Physical Abilities 10%-20% travel with potential for increased/decreased travel based on Safety & Security Department needs. May require extended work hours per Leaders' request. Skills/Abilities/Knowledge/Work Style Ability to clearly articulate complex situations. Strong interpersonal skills with ability to work both independently and as a Teamplayer. Analytical, investigative and problem solving skills required. Takes ownership and accountability. Able to research/understand requirements, policies and procedures of all SWA Operational Teams. Outstanding organizational skills with strong attention to detail. Sound understanding of commercial airline operations. Views problems as an opportunity for improvement. Demonstrates initiative, entrepreneurialism and creativity. Ability to work well in a fast paced environment. Ability to develop and present data & information. Must be able to communicate accurately and concisely both orally and written in English. Other Qualifications Must meet confidentiality expectations as to confidential, proprietary and sensitive Company information. Must maintain a well-groomed appearance. Must be a U.S. citizen or have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986. Interested individuals should apply for the position through www.southwest.com [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103463526224&s=6053&e=001j4PD8UTk4jyzfWKNMx2YCBoreKCFdUXUStnQJJI2zbc1XS44Fg7mrAi_Hya-TZGu6RWD9AlvQ6srYz6X57162SShWxEeBk65VljiFM9zP0pKy3P-CFQG-Q==] Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC