Flight Safety Information May 4, 2011 - No. 090 In This Issue Failure to redistribute passengers caused serious A320 tailstrike El Al to be re-certified for Israel to regain Category 1 status NTSB Safety Recommendations A-11-37 and -38 NTSB Safety Recommendations A-11-35 and -36 NTSB TRAINING COURSE - MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS A Diesel Airplane with Glider-like Efficiency Airport security measures not expected to change with Osama bin Laden's death Mass. man gets 6 months in Fla. airport disruption EU Ready To Expand Safety Agreement With U.S Suspended Reno controller still suspended with pay, FAA says Failure to redistribute passengers caused serious A320 tailstrike Failure to redistribute passengers on an Airbus A320 led the aircraft to strike its tail on take-off from Verona, the ANSV has found. The Bulgarian-registered twinjet (LZ-BHC) had been operating a wet-lease service from Hurghada, Egypt, to Rome Fiumicino via Verona on 1 September 2009. Eighty-seven Rome-bound passengers were seated mainly aft on departure from Hurghada, while 77 Verona-bound passengers occupied the forward cabins. Baggage had been loaded with a similar layout in the hold, which meant that the aircraft's centre of gravity shifted rearwards, outside of the operating envelope limit, once passengers and luggage were offloaded in Verona. Despite the captain's receiving and approving a trim sheet which detailed a "considerably different" seating arrangement for the transit passengers heading for Rome, ANSV says this redistribution "was not detected or not considered" by the captain. "Passengers remained in the same seats they had occupied in the previous flight," it states. As soon as the thrust levers were advanced to the 'flex' position for take-off, the A320 began an uncommanded early rotation, hitting and damaging its rear fuselage. It lifted off at 113kt and a stall warning immediately followed. Flight control had degraded, says ANSV, to alternate and direct law. The "extensive" structural damage to the jet had compromised the pressurised area and the crew, having received a pressurisation system warning, returned to Verona. ANSV says the incident highlights the vulnerability, particularly of charter flights operating onward sectors, to undetected changes in mass balance and is recommending that a "positive check" procedure be implemented to ensure necessary loading changes are carried out. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top El Al to be re-certified for Israel to regain Category 1 status El Al will have to be re-certified in order for Israel to regain its Category 1 status under the US FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment programme. "We have made it clear to El Al and the airline is co-operating with us fully in an effort to complete the process as soon as possible," said Giora Romm, director general of Israel's civil aviation authority. Romm explained that the effort is now focused on the full set of operational documentation so that it is in full compliance with the air navigation regulations. The demand relates directly to El Al's US flights. "Many documents have to be written and we will work with the airline to expedite the process," said Romm. The Israeli CAA director general refused to assess when Israel might regain the Category 1 safety status, despite the fact that the Israeli parliament (Knesset) recently approved a new aviation law. The US FAA downgraded Israel's status to Category 2 in January 2009. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top NTSB Safety Recommendations A-11-37 and -38 **************************************************** The National Transportation Safety Board makes the following safety recommendations to the European Aviation Safety Agency: Require Eurocopter to revise its aircraft maintenance manual for all helicopters equipped with part number 355A11-0020 and/or 355A11-0030 main rotor blades to include, as part of the daily flight-related check, specific visual inspections of the trailing edge of the blades, upper and lower skin surfaces for cracks and surface deterioration/disfiguration. (A-11-37) Once the Eurocopter aircraft maintenance manual is revised as described in Safety Recommendation A-11-37, notify operators of all Eurocopter helicopters equipped with part number 355A11-0020 and/or 355A11-0030 main rotor blades that they should revise their maintenance manuals to include specific daily visual inspections of the trailing edge of the blades, upper and lower skin surfaces for cracks and surface deterioration/disfiguration. (A-11-38) **************************************************** http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/Letters/2011/A-11-037-038.pdf Back to Top NTSB Safety Recommendations A-11-35 and -36 **************************************************** The National Transportation Safety Board makes the following safety recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration: Require Eurocopter to revise its aircraft maintenance manual for all helicopters equipped with part number 355A11-0020 and/or 355A11-0030 main rotor blades to include, as part of the daily flight-related check, specific visual inspections of the trailing edge of the blades, upper and lower skin surfaces for cracks and surface deterioration/disfiguration. (A-11-35) Once the Eurocopter aircraft maintenance manual is revised as described in Safety Recommendation A-11-35, require operators of all Eurocopter helicopters equipped with part number 355A11-0020 and/or 355A11-0030 main rotor blades to revise their maintenance manuals to include specific daily visual inspections of the trailing edge of the blades, upper and lower skin surfaces for cracks and surface deterioration/disfiguration. (A-11-36) **************************************************** http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/Letters/2011/A-11-035-036.pdf Back to Top NTSB TRAINING COURSE ____________________ MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS FOLLOWING AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT October 13-14, 2011 NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, VA Tuition: $802 (Early Bird Discount: $730 for registrations received by September 13) CEUs: 1.3 DESCRIPTION The course will teach participants what to expect in the days immediately following an aviation disaster and how they can prepare for their role with the media. OVERVIEW * How the National Transportation Safety Board organizes an accident site and what can be expected in the days after an aviation disaster from the NTSB, FAA, other federal agencies, airline, airport, media and local community * Strategies for airline and airport staff to proactively manage the communication process throughout the on-scene phase of the investigation * How the NTSB public affairs officers coordinate press conferences and release of accident information and what information the spokespersons from the airport and airline will be responsible to provide to the media * Making provisions for and communicating with family members of those involved in the accident * Questions and requests likely encountered from the airlines, airport staff, family members, disaster relief agencies, local officials and others PERFORMANCE RESULTS Upon completion of this course the participant will be able to: * Be better prepared to respond to a major aviation disaster involving a flight departing from or destined for participant's airport * Demonstrate greater confidence in fielding on-scene questions about the many aspects of the investigation and its participants, including what types of specific information may be requested * Identify the appropriate Public Affairs roles for the various organizations involved in an accident investigation. * Be more productive in the first few hours after an aviation disaster by understanding which tasks are most important and why * Perform job responsibilities more professionally and with greater confidence given the knowledge and tools to manage the airport communications aspect of a major aviation disaster COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS "A must for people in the industry." - participant from a U.S. airline "Best two professional days I have ever spent. Very Beneficial. Provided real-life examples of guidelines of what can and can not be said." - participant from a state transportation department "Provided great insight into the role of print, wire, and live media in disseminating accurate and valid information free of spin and speculation." - participant from business aviation "Very good information for those who have never been through a major accident." - participant from a U.S. airport "As a corporate communications manager, the information is invaluable." - participant from a U.S. airline See more comments and a complete list of the 199 organizations from 28 countries that have sent staff to this training: http://www.ntsb.gov/TC/CourseInfo/PA302comments.htm ____________________ Complete course description and registration information>>> http://www.ntsb.gov/TC/CourseInfo/2011- Courses/PA302_2011.html List of area hotels and restaurants>>> http://www.ntsb.gov/TC/facilityloc.htm GROUP TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE: Do you have 10 or more people in your organization that could benefit from this training? If so, it may be more cost-effective to have the course come to you. A one-day version of this course is now available and can be customized and delivered at any location. See the course description for more details: http://www.ntsb.gov/TC/CourseInfo/2011-Courses/PA303_2011.html MORE INFORMATION Web: http://www.ntsb.gov/TC/TrainingCenter.htm E-mail: TrainingCenter@ntsb.gov Phone: 571-223-3900 Back to Top A Diesel Airplane with Glider-like Efficiency Gliders may seem girly, until you consider that we basically landed an entire army with parachutes and gliders during World War II's Operation Market Garden. So a diesel- powered plane with glider-like efficiency might be just what we need. With five seats and a 200 horsepower engine, the Synergy concept will tip the scales at just 3,100 pounds. But the real key to its success lies in the wing design, which manages to nearly achieve the efficiency of a glider in a relatively compact package, if preliminary flights with a scale model are to be believed. The designer, John McGinnis, hails from Kalispell, Montana claims that the 32-foot wingspan packs 144 square-feet of wing area, nearly as much as gliders with a 46-foot wingspan. McGinnis hopes to get a full-scale plane built in order to enter the NASA/CAFE Green Flight Challenge, where $1.5 million is up for grabs for the most efficient airplane design. Air travel sucks these days, and I think it is because of the scale. We've got huge planes jam-packed with people, that require huge airports and terminals which means many smaller cities are simply skipped over when it comes to aviation travel. I'd prefer planes that held between 20 and 40 people, comfortably, didn't fly quite so high, and were able to land at smaller airports in smaller cities. I think that is the future, and who knows, this weird design might actually come into play. Not sure how the diesel engine will work out, but why not, right? Source: Wired Back to Top Airport security measures not expected to change with Osama bin Laden's death WASHINGTON - The death of Osama bin Laden sparked euphoria and national pride. But most Americans won't see any tangible difference. The war on terrorism goes on. Airport security remains unchanged - take your shoes off and ditch the shampoo. Expect more security at major events. And the tax burden related to security won't abate anytime soon. Dead or alive, the mastermind of Sept. 11 transformed this country, and vigilance remains vital - especially in the short term just after his death, experts say. "Over the long arc of the war against al-Qaeda, this is a very big important deal," said Matt Bennett, vice president at Third Way, a centrist Democratic think tank. But "will Americans feel this in a direct way? Probably not for a very long time." Since the 2001 attacks, the United States has spent roughly $1.4 trillion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including about $28 billion to boost homeland security. "The attacks are still going on against our troops. The networks are still operating. Al- Qaeda is still operating," said Senate Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D- Calif. "So it goes on." Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, echoed that. "It's not as if the threat of terrorism goes away. ... We can't let our guard down." For most Americans, the only direct interaction they have with security is when they fly. And even with the al-Qaeda leader gone, airlines remain a tempting target for his followers. The 3-ounce limit on carry-on liquids is dictated by the amount of explosives needed to bring down an aircraft, for instance. For some passengers, the only difference traveling this week has been an extra dose of anxiety about retaliatory attacks. "It was a little bit scary flying today," said Debra Melott of San Angelo, arriving Tuesday at Reagan National Airport in Washington. As for security protocols, she said, "Americans have become accustomed to it. It does get to be a pain, but it is necessary." The Transportation Security Administration - created after the Sept. 11 attacks - has not announced any new procedures in the wake of bin Laden's death. The agency said travelers will continue to see "physical bag checks, random gate screening, explosives detection technology, canine teams and behavior detection officers." At Reagan airport, Indah Oei, a Garland resident who flies a half-dozen times per year, said the day she expects to keep her shoes and belts on at the security checkpoint is the day "when there are no more terrorists." Airlines say efficiency is the key to making security lines tolerable. "Unfortunately, transportation and aviation are still in that high-profile category," said Steve Lott, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association. "I don't think that anyone believes that threat is going to be eliminated overnight." 'A little safer' Part of the challenge is the decentralization of al-Qaeda. Bin Laden's death makes the world "a little safer," CIA director Leon Panetta told NBC News on Tuesday. "But I also don't think we ought to kid ourselves that killing Osama bin Laden kills al-Qaeda. ... They're still going try to attack our country. We have to continue to be vigilant." While bin Laden supervised planning for the 9/11 attacks, more recent plots were merely inspired by his ideology. Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman appealed for public vigilance, citing concerns about a retaliatory attack from "a so-called lone wolf, a single individual who has been radicalized." Such jihadists may lack training or resources, but they are notoriously difficult to spot. In Congress, a handful of lawmakers in both parties have begun agitating for a more rapid withdrawal from Afghanistan. But congressional leaders - and President Barack Obama - view that as premature. Rep. Michael McCaul of Austin, a top Republican on the House Homeland Security panel, said bin Laden's death makes an accelerated drawdown from Afghanistan more palatable, though. "We have to start transitioning," he said. "There are other ways to deal with the al- Qaeda threat than having a huge military presence in Afghanistan for decades." If anything, national security officials foresee a potential for retaliatory attacks from al-Qaeda or its supporters. James Carafano, a top terrorism expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said the sums spent on homeland security are relatively modest. And he noted that at least 38 plots have been foiled since Sept. 11, 2001. Despite complaints about a "fortress state," much of what the Department of Homeland Security does - border security, counterterrorism and such - isn't new. "People have been trying to kill us," Carafano said, and that won't change overnight. "Every generation has its terrorist threats." At the National Security Network, executive director Heather Hurlburt said bin Laden's death makes it easier for the public to comprehend the decentralized nature of the threat - and the fact that terrorists cannot deal a "mortal blow to the functioning of our society." Time for discussion That makes this a good time to reopen a national debate over the proper level of security - how much drag on the economy people are willing to tolerate, and how much pressure on civil liberties. Israel, she noted, has intense airport security "and you don't have to take your shoes off." Fred Burton - a former counterterrorism agent who oversaw the capture of Ramzi Yousef, mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing - noted that the terrorism threat persisted even though "bin Laden lost day-to-day command of the organization back when we invaded Afghanistan." Public transportation in New York and Washington remain vulnerable, he said. But a strategic, mass casualty attack akin to Sept. 11 would be unlikely. "Your average person can't buy 1,000 pounds of explosives in our post-9/11 world ... without raising eyebrows," said Burton, a vice president at Stratfor, an Austin-based global intelligence company. But "that doesn't mean they're not still capable of killing." Back to Top Mass. man gets 6 months in Fla. airport disruption MIAMI (AP) -- A Massachusetts man who disrupted holiday travel at Miami International Airport when bullet primers he had concealed in his luggage ignited was sentenced Tuesday to six months in federal prison. Under federal sentencing guidelines, 38-year-old Orville Braham of Boston could have gotten nearly three years behind bars. But U.S. District Judge Paul Huck gave Braham a break, even as he described the Dec. 28 incident as "a very, very dangerous situation" that could have caused a tragic in-flight disaster. "Something serious did happen. Fortunately, nobody got hurt," Huck said. Braham, who works as a tow truck driver, pleaded guilty in February to illegal transport of explosive and hazardous materials. He was traveling from Boston to his native Jamaica with some 1,700 bullet primers concealed in the lining of his luggage, according to court documents. A bullet primer is the bottom casing that contains gunpowder and a firing pin, but no slug on top. When a baggage handler unloaded the luggage, some of the .45-cal. primers exploded, sending fragments into the handler's shoe and forcing authorities to shut down operations at the busy airport for several hours while all bags on the American Airlines jet were checked. Prosecutor Jacqueline Arango said there was never any indication of terrorism, describing Braham as a weapons aficionado who enjoyed reloading his own ammunition. A reloading press was also found in one of his suitcases. "I think he was careless and stupid," Arango said. Huck repeatedly asked Braham at the hearing what he had planned to do with so many bullet primers and why they were hidden. Braham insisted he did it to prevent his children from getting at them - a position Braham attorney Jeffrey Voluck said he has maintained from the beginning. "I just don't find that credible. Sorry," Huck said, suggesting that Braham intended to sell the primers in Jamaica. "I'm telling you the truth," Braham replied. Later, he added: "I just want to apologize to everyone who has been affected by this incident." Prosecutors recommended a 10-month prison sentence, but Huck opted for less. Braham has been jailed for four months, so he will have about two more months to serve. After his release, Braham will spend at least six months in home confinement and, as a convicted felon, can no longer possess a weapon or ammunition. The law also requires Braham to pay restitution to the airport for the economic loss caused by the disruption. Huck said a hearing will be set in three months to determine that figure. www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/03/2198204/man-faces-prison-in-fla- airport.html#ixzz1LOSGJkcE Back to Top EU Ready To Expand Safety Agreement With U.S. The European Commission says it is ready to explore with the United Stated how to expand the scope of a new aviation safety agreement and wants issues such as flight crew licensing and aircraft operations to be included rapidly. The agreement on cooperation in the regulation of safety between the European Union and the United States entered force on Sunday. So far it includes mutual recognition of findings in design, production and maintenance, and the commission says it "sets the framework for a continuous, transparent and timely exchange of solid and verifiable information affecting all areas of aviation safety law and policy." EC Vice President and Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas says that "this day has been long awaited by the entire aeronautical industry in Europe and the United States. Finally, what we negotiated three years ago can be put into place. It will cut red tape and save time and money." http://www.aviationweek.com Back to Top Suspended Reno controller still suspended with pay, FAA says An air traffic controller who slept while an overnight medical flight landed in Reno remains on paid suspension doing administrative work, the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday. The April 13 incident prompted the FAA to reinstate mandatory minimum two-person crews on overnight duty across the U.S., including Reno. That wasn't the case in March when a lone controller in Washington, D.C., slept while two jetliners landed in the middle of the night on their own at Reagan National Airport. In a subsequent review, Reno-Tahoe International Airport, which has 13 certified controllers and three trainees on staff, was cited among 30 nationwide with just one controller on overnight duty. "We had increased Reno midnight shift staffing to two controllers until we implemented certain procedures," Ian Gregor, public affairs manager for the FAA Pacific Division in Los Angeles, said Monday. "The procedures require the approach control to contact the tower to make sure the tower controller was prepared to accept an arriving aircraft. After we put those procedures in place, we reduced Reno midnight shift staffing to one controller again." But then came the 2 a.m. incident involving the unidentified sleeping controller and a Sierra Lifeflight plane from Mammoth Lakes, Calif. According to the FAA, the controller was out of contact for about 16 minutes. The FAA launched an investigation and ordered midnight shift staffing immediately doubled at every airport with one person on duty. "There are two on every midnight shift, absolutely, including Reno," Gregor said. "It is the policy now in Reno and everywhere." The Reno incident and several others across the U.S. have spurred a broad review of the FAA. Last Friday, the agency replaced three top managers in the nation's air traffic control system and named a five-member panel to evaluate the agency's training of new controllers. http://www.rgj.com/article/20110503/BIZ07/105030322/Suspended-Reno-controller- still-suspended-pay-FAA-says?odyssey=nav%7Chead Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC