Flight Safety Information November 7, 2010 - No. 229 In This Issue FAA Proposes Safety Management Systems For Airlines Cabin smoke, odor forces plane to land UPS/Pilots Sign Agreements On Safety And Security Boeing, Airbus Estimate Africa's Fleet Will Double In 20 Years Boeing Raises China Outlook for Airplane Demand Saudi implements airport cigarette ban Airlines may get first 787s up to 10 months late Volcano grounds airlines Saudi orders up to 22 777-300ERs and firms 787 deal Australian safety board missing Qantas A380 engine disk evidence Ural A321 overruns on landing at Ekaterinburg FAA Proposes Safety Management Systems For Airlines NPRM Published In The Federal Register Friday The FAA has proposed to require Safety Management Systems (SMS) for most commercial airlines. Safety management systems give operators a set of business processes and management tools to examine data from everyday operations, isolate trends that may be precursors to incidents or accidents, and develop and carry out appropriate risk mitigation strategies. They are a formal approach to managing an organization's safety through four key components - safety policy, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion. "Safety is our top priority," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "This program can help airlines identify possible safety problems and correct them before they lead to accidents." "We need a holistic approach to safety that allows us to spot trends in aviation and make necessary changes to help avoid incidents and accidents," said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. "Safety Management Systems are a critical piece of a successful safety culture." The requirements of the SMS proposal would define "what" is expected rather than "how" the requirement is to be met. This allows for development and implementation of an SMS that matches the size, complexity and business models of diverse organizations in ways appropriate to their unique systems and operating environments. Under the proposed rule, scheduled air carriers and a few others operating under Part 121 of federal aviation regulations would be required to implement an SMS within three years. The carriers would have to submit their SMS implementation plans to the FAA within six months of the final rule's effective date. The plan would be required to show how the airline intends to comply with the rule within the three-year implementation period. An SMS would not take the place of regular FAA oversight, inspection and audits to ensure compliance with existing regulations The FAA began exploring system safety-based oversight concepts in the mid- to late- 1990s. During that time, the agency concluded system safety has to be practiced by operators, repair stations, flight schools, other aviation service providers and the agency itself. In 2006, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) required that all member countries implement SMS standards for operators and approved maintenance organizations. The FAA's own Air Traffic Organization has already begun implementing an SMS, and the agency recently issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require FAA-certified airports to establish SMS for all airfield and ramp areas. The estimated cost of this proposed rule for U.S. air carriers is $390 million, with estimated benefits of $470 million. The proposal conforms to ICAO SMS provisions. FMI: www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-28050_PI.pdf Back to Top Cabin smoke, odor forces plane to land (CNN) An AirTran flight had to make an emergency landing Saturday because of smoke in the aircraft, officials said. Flight 619 departed from New Orleans, Louisiana and was bound for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when the crew and passengers noticed an unusual odor and a small amount of smoke in the cabin, said AirTran spokesman Christopher White. The Boeing 717 was diverted to Memphis, Tennessee, and landed safely, White said. White said passengers are being reaccommodated and will continue on to Milwaukee. The cause of the smoke and odor is not yet known. Back to Top UPS/Pilots Sign Agreements On Safety And Security Task Forces Formed To Address Several Safety Issues United Parcel Service and the Independent Pilots Association, the collective bargaining unit for its 2,800 pilots, signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday that establishes joint UPS/IPA Safety and Security Task Forces. Both will be made up of six members, three named by each party. "This agreement reaffirms our common objective of efficiently and effectively operating the UPS airline with safety and security as our twin priorities and guiding principles. We appreciate the company efforts in reaching this agreement," said IPA President Captain Robert Thrush. The Safety Task Force will address the following issues: Emergency Vision Assurance System (EVAS). Full face oxygen masks. Comprehensive fire mitigation and suppression systems. Checklists procedures for smoke and fire. The carriage of lithium batteries and other fire/smoke hazards. "UPS and IPA acknowledge that the air cargo/express package industry faces unique threats in the era of global terrorism. We also recognize the key role our pilots can play in the mitigation and management of these threats both from the flight deck and by working together to improve cargo security and screening," said Captain Thrush. The Security Task Force will address the following issues: Communication and coordination within/between UPS, affected crewmembers, and the IPAair cargo security procedures threat procedures. Improved access to security directives. Perimeter security; and background checks for those who have access to UPS aircraft. FMI: www.ipapilot.orgBack to Top Boeing, Airbus Estimate Africa's Fleet Will Double In 20 Years Infrastructure Will Need To Keep Pace With Increased Air Traffic In Africa, Middle East, Asia In a report published by Flight Global earlier this year, Boeing and Airbus estimate Africa will require 620-929 new aircraft over the next 20 years, more than doubling the current continental fleet of 660. With mature markets such as the US and Europe, the African aviation market will register unprecedented growth with an increasing demand for new aircraft and new routes to airports. However, to face the massive influx of new aircraft encompassing high technologies, airport technology and infrastructure will have to keep pace to enhance traffic capacity and ensure safety. As a result of the booming African aviation development market, the scope of airport projects in Africa is wide as all services and solutions related to airport development, expansion, refurbishment and modernisation are required. According to Airports Council International's data, the first six months of 2010 confirm the two-speed world that emerged in 2009. Airports in Europe and North America posted 1.6% and 1.3% increases respectively in passenger traffic whereas solid and even double-digit traffic increases were posted by airports in the Middle East (14.6%), Asia/Pacific (13%), Latin America/Caribbean (11.7%) and Africa (9.8%). Vincent Bamberger, partner in charge of ADL's Aviation Practice, observes in the World Airport Report published recently by Air Transport World that "since 2001, Asia/Pacific, African and Middle Eastern intercontinental platforms grew almost twice as fast in relative terms as the European and American primary hubs." In its annual Business Aviation Outlook released this October, Honeywell believes that the longer term outlook for business aviation is also positive. According to the report, purchase expectations from Africa-based operators of aircraft decreased from the record 2009 level, but their plans for fleet expansion and replacement over the next five years are still above North American levels. IQPC's Airport Expansion & Development Africa 2010 (29 November to 2 December 2010, Hilton Nairobi, Kenya) will bring together governments, airport authorities, civil aviation authorities and airline operators to discuss strategies and opportunities for growth in the African airport development market. The meeting is described as "a closed-door affair reserved only for key decision-makers who are driving the development of the African airport industry and event sponsors." 38 international and regional experts from the entire value chain will share their best practices for developing world-class airports as well as present the latest airport project updates and future initiatives. Other topical issues to be discussed include the strategies and tools to achieve safety, control security and drive airport revenue. FMI: www.iqpc.ae Back to Top Boeing Raises China Outlook for Airplane Demand Boeing (NYSE: BA), China's leading provider of passenger airplanes, forecasts that China will require 4,330 new commercial airplanes valued at $480 billion over the next 20 years, with the bulk of new deliveries expected to be for fuel-efficient, single-aisle airplanes. Over the forecast period, China will triple in airplane fleet size, making it the largest airplane market outside of the U.S. "China is one of the world's fastest growing and dynamic aviation markets, driven by the urbanization of China, the growth of its economy and ever-increasing personal wealth," said Randy Tinseth, vice president of Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, who released Boeing's 2010 China market outlook today in Beijing. "We expect domestic passenger traffic for China to grow at a rate of 7.9 percent on average." Boeing forecasts that 71 percent of China's demand will be for single-aisle airplanes, with total deliveries reaching 3,090. Boeing continues to make improvements to the 737 in terms of fuel efficiency, passenger experience and environmental performance, Tinseth said. The Next-Generation 737-900ER (extended range) is the newest addition to Boeing's single-aisle family of airplanes. Intermediate twin-aisles such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777 will see approximately 890 airplane deliveries. When combined, the single-aisle and intermediate twin-aisle market will make up 92 percent of China's total delivery dollars. Demand also will include a limited number of large airplanes (747-size and larger) to connect China with other major world destinations. The market forecast calls for about 70 airplanes in that category. With China's cargo markets leading the global industry, Chinese air carriers will add about 330 freighter airplanes by 2029. China's total fleet of freighter airplanes will more than triple in size. Tinseth also underscored the long-standing partnership between Boeing and Chinese partners. "Boeing's equity investment in China is considerable, and the aviation goods and services we buy from China is significantly greater than other aviation companies," Tinseth said. "In the coming years, Boeing purchases are expected to exceed $3 billion." Tinseth noted that there are more than 5,700 Boeing airplanes flying throughout the world with parts and assemblies built by China. China has a role on all of the Boeing commercial airplane models - 737, 747, 767, 777, and the newest and most innovative airplane, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Worldwide, Boeing projects investments of $3.6 trillion for 30,900 new commercial airplanes to be delivered during the next 20 years. http://www.newsonnews.net/ Back to Top Saudi implements airport cigarette ban JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) - Sixteen smokers were nabbed at Jeddah's international airport early on Sunday as Saudi Arabia started to implement a smoking ban, an airport official said. A 200-riyal (53-dollar) fine has been set for violators in the country's 27 domestic and international terminals, except in designated smoking rooms, said Abdullah Rahimi, head of the General Authority for Civil Aviation. Rahimi told reporters he hoped the new measure would "help protect the smoker's health and reduce harm to others," while urging airport staff to set an example by not lighting up. Under the new regulations, airport employees face losing their security clearance if caught smoking in smoking-prohibited areas. Saudi Arabia does not have a general smoking ban in public places, and people smoke freely in government offices. An official at Jeddah international airport, the main entry point for the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca which starts next week, said most of the first 16 people nabbed after the ban came into effect at midnight were Saudis. They were allowed to continue their journey without paying the fines immediately but could be stopped on future trips if they fail to pay up. Back to Top Reports: Airlines may get first 787s up to 10 months late All Nippon Airways expects to receive its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in February, Bloomberg reported Friday. Boeing delayed first delivery from around the end of the year to the middle of the first quarter in August, citing issues with Rolls-Royce engines and horizontal stabilizers from supplier Alenia Aeronautica. On Monday, industry insider FlightBlogger reported that reworking of 787s post-certification could delay first delivery beyond February, although Boeing denied this. ANA is still negotiating over when Boeing will deliver remaining 787s after the first jet and over compensation for program delays, Bloomberg and Flightglobal reported. Meanwhile, a Korean Air senior executive says Boeing has delayed its first 787 delivery by 10 months, according to Flightglobal. Aviation Week also reported that delay, adding that Boeing is believed to have pushed back first 787 delivery to Air India by around five months and to Japan Airlines by at least three months. But Boeing Commercial Airplanes said via Twitter that Friday's reports "appear to be based on the program schedule announced two months ago," adding: "We don't comment on individual delivery schedules of our customers. We work with them. Delivery dates can change for a variety of reasons." Finally, Malaysian Air plans to evaluate the 787 and competing Airbus A350 XWB next year for a planned order to update its fleet and accommodate growth, Bloomberg reported. http://blog.seattlepi.com/ Back to Top Volcano grounds airlines - Jakarta (AP) INTERNATIONAL airlines have cancelled flights into Indonesia's capital Jakarta after a volcano hundreds of kilometres to the west unleashed its most powerful eruption in a century, incinerating villagers as they fled a searing gas cloud. The number of people killed by Mount Merapi in the last two weeks was said to be 138, as a tiny hospital at the foot of the mountain struggles to cope with survivors, some with burns on up to 95 per cent of their bodies. The estimate was later revised to 117. Indonesia's most volatile mountain unleashed a surge of searing gas, rocks and debris on Friday that raced down its slopes, mowing down the slope-side village of Bronggang and leaving a trail of charred corpses. It continued to rumble at the weekend, at times spitting ash up to eight kilometres in the air, dusting windscreens, rooftops and trees, hundreds of kilometres to the west. Just days before US President Barack Obama's visit to Indonesia, international carriers cancelled flights to Jakarta because of concerns about the volcano, 450 kilometres away. Malaysia Airlines' director of operations Azharuddin Osman said the volcanic ash in the air around Jakarta ''could cause severe damage to our aircraft and engines, which could impair the safety of our operations including passengers and crew''. Among the other carriers temporarily suspending flights are Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa and AirAsia. Domestic flights were unaffected, except for those going to Yogyakarta, the city closest to the volcano, where the airport closed on Friday. The eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano in April forced the closure of most European airports for a week and led to the cancellation of more than 100,000 flights. Airlines cancelled 50 flights yesterday and 36 flights were cancelled on Saturday. ''Fifty flights to and from Jakarta from 15 airlines have been cancelled today for safety reasons, they are mostly flights which pass through Singapore,'' a Soekarno-Hatta International Airport spokesman said yesterday. Back to Top Saudi orders up to 22 777-300ERs and firms 787 deal Saudi Arabian Airlines has formally confirmed an order for up to 22 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, as well as for eight 787s. The 777 order has long been expected, after Saudi Arabian listed 12 of the type as forming part of its fleet-modernisation plans. Under an agreement signed in Riyadh, the carrier is also taking options on 10 of the type. The carrier already has 23 777-200s in its fleet. "Our decision to order the 777-300ER is part of a long-term growth strategy to expand and modernise our fleet with newer, more fuel- efficient aircraft, and is based on the aircraft's proven efficiencies," says Saudi Arabian director general Khalid Al-Molhem. Boeing values the agreement for the 777-300ERs at $3.3 billion at catalogue prices. Saudi Arabian has also signed for eight 787s, two years after declaring that it would acquire 12 of the type. It is intending to lease the other four. Boeing has not given a value for the 787 portion of the deal. The catalogue prices would normally put the value at around $1.3-1.6 billion. The carrier says that the 777s and 787s are part of a modernisation comprising 82 aircraft. It has also previously agreed to take 50 Airbus A320-family aircraft and eight A330s. Al-Molhem says the aircraft will raise the airline's capacity and improve service on both its domestic and international route networks. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top Australian safety board missing Qantas A380 engine disk evidence Australia's National Transportation Safety Boarded (ATSB) asked Indonesians today to forward to authorities any debris they may have accumulated from Thursday's uncontained engine failure on Qantas Airways flight QF32. The number two engine on the A380 experienced an uncontained failure after departing Singapore for Sydney. Debris from the failure fell over Batam Island in Indonesia. In particular the ATSB wants to retrieve the missing half of the number two engine's geared disk. Approximately one half of the disk has already been found, ATSB photos indicate. "The recovery of that disk could be crucial to a full understanding of the nature of the engine failure, and may have implications for the prevention of future similar occurrences," the ATSB says. "The ATSB has requested any residents of Batam Island... to forward those items to the local police for retention," it adds. Yesterday Qantas general manager David Epstein confirmed the aircraft, VH-OQA, likely lost its engine disk, as local photos from Indonesia indicated. Qantas did not have access to the debris. "There doesn't appear to be a disk there at the moment. Virtually that entire area, the intermediate chamber of the engine, has disappeared," Epstein said yesterday. He also said it was only recently the Indonesian police "secure[d] custody of just about everything they found". The Indonesian Transportation Safety Committee has helped the ATSB recover an unspecified number of items, which arrived in Singapore yesterday, the ATSB says. Additionally one undisclosed engine component is being prepared for transfer to Rolls-Royce in the United Kingdom for inspection. "On arrival in the United Kingdom, that item will be examined by the engine manufacturer and other expert parties under the supervision of ATSB investigators," the ATSB says. ATSB investigators will depart Australia today for the UK to oversee the inspection of the component, the agency says. Additional investigators will leave for Singapore, where the damaged A380 engine is being prepared for removal from the aircraft. "Once removed from the aircraft, the engine will be transported to an appropriate engineering facility for disassembly and technical examination," the ATSB says. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top Ural A321 overruns on landing at Ekaterinburg Russian investigators are examining a Ural Airlines Airbus A321 after it skidded off the runway while landing at Ekaterinburg today. The aircraft overran by 30m after arriving from Dubai as flight 738 at 04:25. Ural Airlines says the runway was "covered with ice" at the time, and that this has been noted by investigators on the scene. "Nevertheless the crew was informed that the runway condition was good and permitted a safe landing," adds the carrier. None of the 143 passengers and eight crew members was injured and the aircraft, says the airline, was undamaged. "Disembarkation of passengers was performed by normal means, through the usual exits, there was no [emergency] evacuation," it adds. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC