Flight Safety Information March 9, 2011 - No. 050 In This Issue Crashed An-148 broke up after being pushed beyond limits de Havilland Twin Otter Accident (Georgia)... Indian pilots busted with fake licences Man allegedly karate chops air marshal U.S., EU Near Air-Safety Pact Toddler placed in airplane overhead bin Cathay Pacific 2010 Net Profit Nearly Triples; To Buy 25 Aircraft Crashed An-148 broke up after being pushed beyond limits Investigators suspect the Antonov An-148 which crashed in Russia during a test flight broke up in the air, having been pushed beyond maximum aerodynamic limits after a technical problem confused the crew. The commission of inquiry into the 5 March accident, which killed all six crew members, has disclosed that flight-recorder data shows evidence of an aircraft equipment problem which "misled" the pilots as to the true speed of the twinjet. "To achieve the desired speed the pilots [increased loads on the aircraft] that exceeded the maximum permissible," says the commission. "Destruction of the aircraft in the air resulted." The interregional transport committee has not detailed the nature of the possible technical problem. It also states that this is a preliminary version of the event, and that it is looking into the possibility of pilot error and even the use of "poor quality" fuel. The aircraft involved had been destined for export to Myanmar and was being flown with a test crew, including representatives of Myanmar's air force, from airframer VASO's base in Voronezh. While a large section of the aircraft came down in a field near a village south of Voronezh, several large pieces of debris have been located away from the main wreckage - further evidence of a break-up in- flight. There has been no regulatory requirement to ground the An-148 fleet. The serial-production version was introduced into airline service with Rossiya in December 2009 and the St Petersburg-based carrier is still the only operator, although test airframes were trialled on commercial routes by AeroSvit. Rossiya, which had publicly criticised the aircraft's cost-effectiveness last year, has underlined that it believes the type is safe. "Being the newest aircraft the An-148 is under special control of the company's management and aviation authorities," says Rossiya, adding that it assigns only its most experienced crews and instructors, as well as skilled maintenance technicians, to the An-148 fleet. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news de Havilland Twin Otter Accident (Georgia) Status: Preliminary Date: 08 MAR 2011 Time: 11:45 Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 Operator: Desert Sand Aircraft Leasing Registration: N157KM C/n / msn: 057 First flight: 1967 Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A Crew: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 Total: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: SW of Clayton County Airport-Tara Field, GA (United States of America) Phase: Initial climb (ICL) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Clayton County Airport-Tara Field, GA, United States of America Destination airport: ? Narrative: A DHC-6 Twin Otter skydiving plane was destroyed when it crashed immediately after takeoff from Clayton County Airport-Tara Field, GA. The airplane came down in trees and broke up, killing both pilots. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Indian pilots busted with fake licences NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indian aviation regulators have found two more pilots with forged qualifications flying passenger planes, a report said on Wednesday, raising questions about safety on the country's booming airlines. The Indian duo were flying as captains on flights for the IndiGo and MDLR airlines, but they had not passed the tests to graduate from co- pilot, The Times of India reported. "While the licences are revoked, these cases have also been referred to the police for further action," Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) chief Bharat Bhushan was quoted as saying. Last month, the DGCA revoked the licence of a third pilot, also flying for IndiGo, who was found to have forged papers to get her airline transport pilot licence. The pilot's qualifications and record were scrutinised after she caused damage to an Airbus A320 aircraft by landing the plane on the nose wheel instead of the rear wheels. The Times of India claimed an investigation revealed she had landed planes incorrectly between 10 and 15 times, though this was denied by the airline, which said it had investigated her previous flights. Both the IndiGo pilots were immediately removed from the flying schedule once doubts emerged over their qualifications, the airline said in a statement on Wednesday, and they are now being investigated by the police. IndiGo said it would "proactively assist the DGCA to carry out a thorough internal investigation to ensure that there are no discrepancies in any other licence or certificates issued to any pilots, engineers or cabin attendants". It added: "Safety is a key concern at IndiGo." Rising incomes and the liberalisation of the airline market in the 1990s has led to an explosion in air travel in India, with passenger numbers up 25 percent over the last 12 months. With new routes and new aircraft being regularly inducted, the half- dozen low-cost Indian airlines are competing fiercely for locally trained pilots. To meet demand, many of them have had to resort to hiring more costly foreign pilots who are often from Eastern Europe. Back to Top Man allegedly karate chops air marshal The incident allegedly happened after a woman complained that a passenger grabbed her face on the Atlanta-bound plane. Passenger allegedly struggles with air marshals after woman complains Court papers: Man used "bladed, karate-style thrust strike" on air marshal Incident happened on a Delta Airlines flight en route from Paris to Atlanta Passenger was subdued and spent rest of flight in the rear galley jump seat (CNN) -- In-flight movies may feature martial arts, but some airline passengers apparently got to see the real thing on a recent flight that ended with a man being subdued by air marshals. The incident happened on a Delta Air Lines plane en route from Paris to Atlanta last Thursday, according to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Georgia. A woman said she was asleep when the passenger seated behind her, identified as Brian Louis Pomykala, woke her up by "forcibly fondling and grabbing her face and head and then gesturing toward his crotch area indicating that he needed some sex," according to the complaint. The woman's companion sought help from flight attendants who alerted two air marshals on board the flight, the complaint says. When they approached Pomykala and asked him to go to the rear of the plane to explain what happened, he said he was not going anywhere, court papers allege. Pomykala then struck one of the air marshals in the throat "with a bladed, karate-style thrust strike" and followed with a choke hold move, according to the complaint. The air marshal was able to put Pomykala in a head lock and handcuff him with the help of the other air marshal, court papers say. Pomykala spent the rest of the flight in the rear galley jump seat. Law enforcement officials met the plane when it landed in Atlanta. Pomykala is accused of assault and interfering with a federal air marshal. His attorney declined to comment on the case. Back to Top U.S., EU Near Air-Safety Pact BRUSSELS (WSJ)-After a delay of almost two years, the U.S. and the European Union appear ready to cement an air-safety pact that both sides say should improve aviation oversight and save millions of dollars annually by eliminating duplicate efforts. The agreement was reached in 2008 but languished amid opposition in the U.S. Congress. That fight now appears resolved. As a result, the EU on Monday gave its final approval of the pact, which could come into force as soon as May 1. Under the deal, U.S. and EU air-safety agencies will recognize each other's inspections and analysis. That should allow the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency to share information and avoid duplicating efforts, officials said. The coordination also will help harmonize air-safety rules in the world's two biggest aviation markets, reducing costs and confusion for airlines, pilots and manufacturers. No longer, for example, will a U.S. manufacturer need to submit paperwork to regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. The U.S. has separate safety agreements with about a dozen European countries. The new deal will replace those with a single accord covering the 27 members of the EU. The deal is "a positive signal for broader cooperation" between the U.S. and EU in areas such as aircraft certification and pilot licensing, EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said through a spokeswoman. "This safety agreement will allow the U.S. and the European Union to build deeper and broader working relationships in a range of areas, including aircraft design and maintenance," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood through a spokeswoman. Clearing the Air Highlights of the U.S.-EU air-safety agreement: Reciprocal acceptance of safety findings in aircraft design and repair oversight Broadens U.S. acceptance of products from the EU's 27 member states Provides for cooperation in rule making and the exchange of safety data Establishes bilateral board to consult on urgent matters, safety issues Source: FAA A Boeing Co. spokesman said the agreement "is extremely important" for the airplane maker because it eases safety approvals for airplane exports. Other U.S. and European aviation companies would get similar benefits. The pact's enactment also will have an indirect benefit of improving the flow of safety data across the Atlantic. The FAA and EASA both collect and analyze vast amounts of information that allows safety experts to spot dangerous trends in such areas as cockpit procedures or incidents in which aircraft overshoot runways. Sharing such data had been impeded while the safety agreement was on hold. The United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization in October established a voluntary network to foster data sharing across borders. Industry officials said the network should get a boost from closer links between the FAA and EASA. "There's no better way to create a safe system than to have two competent regulators looking at the same operator and sharing data," said Bill Voss, president of the Flight Safety Foundation, a nonprofit group based in Alexandria, Va. One of the most contentious elements of the U.S.-EU agreement had been the mutual recognition of safety inspections for aircraft-repair facilities. Commercial planes flying internationally often are maintained far from home, and countries for years have sent inspectors to assess foreign facilities. American and European air-safety officials earlier this decade agreed that their standards were comparable and they could trust each other's inspections so didn't need to duplicate efforts. But some U.S. politicians said the plan to eliminate routine FAA inspections of European maintenance endangered safety. Former Rep. James Oberstar in 2009 proposed legislation mandating FAA overseas inspections, which would have violated the pending safety agreement and put it on hold. The Minnesota Democrat lost his seat in November and his provisions were removed from draft legislation. The shift heartened EU transportation officials, who approved the air-safety deal late Monday. In coming days the two sides expect to exchange diplomatic notes, officially sealing the pact, the Agreement Between the U.S. and the European Community on Cooperation in the Regulation of Civil Aviation. Industry executives said the U.S. has more to gain from the agreement than Europe because more European planes are maintained in the U.S. than vice versa. Roughly 1,200 U.S. repair shops have certification by foreign authorities on top of their FAA certification. About 400 European facilities are certified to maintain U.S. planes. Back to Top Toddler placed in airplane overhead bin It happened during a game of peekaboo on a flight from Fiji to Sydney, Australia. The child's mother say her then-husband was playing the game when a male flight attendant lifted the boy into the plane's overhead bin and shut the door. The mother says the boy was only there for about ten seconds, but he's now suffering from anxiety. The fight attendant with airline Virgin Blue has been fired and the mother got free travel vouchers for future trips. http://www.ktnv.com/story/14202568/toddler-placed-in-airplane- overhead-bin Back to Top Cathay Pacific 2010 Net Profit Nearly Triples; To Buy 25 Aircraft . HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. (0293.HK) on Wednesday delivered record 2010 results and announced multi-billion dollar deals for new jets in a strong vote of confidence to the region's aviation market that has seen a dramatic rebound in air travel demand since the end of the global financial crisis in 2009. Though the Hong Kong-based carrier said it expects continued strength in passenger and cargo demand to boost revenues this year, Cathay Pacific Chairman Christopher Pratt told a news conference that surging fuel prices remain a key concern that could hurt the carrier's profitability. "As an airline we don't like high oil prices," said Pratt. He added the carrier expects higher air traffic demand this year, while cargo traffic growth might not be as high as last year, given the high base comparison the previous year. "Demand is at present expected to remain strong in 2011, but this expectation could be undermined if the current or any higher level of oil prices were to reduce global economic activity," said Pratt in a statement, noting that current fuel prices are higher than they expected. Airlines globally have warned of the risk of rising fuel prices. Australian carrier Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN.AU) on Wednesday increased for a second time in as many months the charge it adds to international fares to compensate for higher jet fuel costs, joining airlines around the world attempting to shield themselves from the rise in crude oil prices. Besides fuel surcharges, Cathay Pacific said it aims to hedge around 20%-30% of its fuel purchases over a one to three year time frame to mitigate the potential risks and will consider hedging depending on market conditions. Like other major airlines, Cathay Pacific was severely affected by the global financial crisis that began unfolding in 2008, as passenger and cargo volumes fell significantly. Nonetheless, business has improved markedly since the last quarter of 2009, with demand now back at levels seen before the crisis, leading to increased capacity and higher ticket prices. The blue-chip airline, which is controlled by conglomerate Swire Pacific Ltd. (0019.HK), said its net profit for the 12 months ended Dec. 31 nearly tripled to HK$14.05 billion (US$1.80 billion) from HK$4.69 billion. The result was above the average HK$12.5 billion net profit forecast of nine analysts polled earlier by Thomson Reuters. Revenue jumped 34% to HK$89.52 billion from HK$67.00 billion. The airline recommended a final dividend of 78 HK cents, up sharply from 10 HK cents a year earlier. The substantial increase in dividend payout came as Cathay Pacific recorded HK$2.17 billion worth of gains from the sale of its stakes in Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. and Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd. It also booked a HK$2.48 billion gain from the profit contributions of Chinese flag carrier Air China Ltd. (0753.HK), which is 18.7%-owned by the Hong Kong carrier. "The improved business conditions helped us to rebuild our balance sheet. Our financial position is strong," said Pratt. "This enables us...to increase the size of the airline and to further strengthen Hong Kong's position as a leading international aviation hub." After its results were announced, Cathay Pacific said it has signed deals to buy a total of 25 jets from Airbus and Boeing Co. (BA) at a total catalog price of US$5.99 billion. It also said it is in discussions to buy an additional 14 planes. The Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 777- 300 extended range jets on order will join its fleet between 2013 and 2015 to replace other ageing aircraft, such as the Boeing 747-400. The airline didn't disclose the actual cost of the latest purchases, but it said Airbus and Boeing have both granted it "significant price concessions," which are typical in such arrangements. The airline, which also owns China-focused Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd., has been investing heavily to ramp up its capacity and services as it competes with other carriers in the region to meet the upswing in passenger demand. The latest orders come on top of the airline's biggest-ever order, made in September, for 30 Airbus A350-900s to be delivered from 2016 to 2019, and six Boeing 777-300ERs to be delivered between 2013 to 2014. With the latest deals, Cathay Pacific now has 91 aircraft on order for delivery through 2019. Cathay Pacific's shares ended up 4.5% Wednesday at HK$18.94, after the better-than-expected-results were issued during the market's midday trading break. The airline's shares have surged 48% in 2010, outperforming the benchmark index's 5.3% gain during the same period. Analysts said the carrier's fortunes are overshadowed by rising oil prices while its multi-billion investments in fleet expansion won't be a major financial burden on the company, as the delivery of those new aircraft would spread over a multi-year timeframe. "If fuel prices continue to rise, it would dampen Cathay's profitability. We estimate for every dollar increase of oil prices its net profit would be reduced by around 2%," said Kelvin Lau, an analyst at Daiwa Securities. For 2010, Cathay Pacific carried 26.80 million passengers, up 9% from a year earlier. Total cargo carried rose 18% to 1.8 million metric tons. The airline's passenger yields--a key measure of airline profitability-- rose 19.8% in 2010 to 61.2 HK cents from 51.1 HK cents, reflecting higher average prices. Yields for cargo operations jumped 25% to HK$2.33 from HK$1.86. Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC