Flight Safety Information July 21, 2011 - No. 147 In This Issue Space shuttle lands safely after final flight Disagreements could cause FAA to partially shut down IATA, ICAO, IFALPA jointly announce Fatigue Risk Management Systems Implementation Guide ICAO praises Garuda's 'tremendous improvements' On-Site Probe of Jet Accident Completed (Newfoundland) FAA LEADERS PROMOTE NEXTGEN OPPORTUNITIES NTSB Undertakes Homebuilt Aircraft Study Final 737 re-engine configuration down to four possible fan sizes Space shuttle lands safely after final flight The 135th and final flight of America's space shuttle fleet landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center early Thursday - ending the three-decade lifetime of a technologically remarkable and versatile spacecraft the likes of which the world is unlikely to see for a very long time. The shuttle Atlantis and its four crew members touched down in Florida at 5:56 a.m., shortly before sunrise, after a 13-day mission to the International Space Station, the now-completed space laboratory which could never have been built without the huge cargo-carrying capacity of the shuttle. Born out of a grand vision of space exploration after the Apollo moon missions, NASA's manned space vehicle, Columbia, lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in 1981. The final flight of Atlantis will mark the end of the space shuttle era after 135 missions. "After serving the world for over 30 years, the space shuttle's earned its place in history. And it's come to a final stop," radioed commander Christopher Ferguson. "Job well done, America," replied mission control. Ferguson and the rest of the crew - pilot Doug Hurley, and mission specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim - had been awoken hours earlier with Kate Smith's rendition of "God Bless America." Ferguson said the shuttle "has changed the way we view the world and it's changed the way we view our universe." Atlantis left the space station Tuesday after delivering a year's worth of supplies. The one million-pound station, which took 12 years and 37 shuttle flights to build, is clearly the most enduring legacy of the shuttle program. Now formally designated as a national science laboratory and orbiting 250 miles above Earth, the station is just beginning to perform the science that was always planned for it. Together, the 135 shuttle flights logged more than 537 million flight miles in low-Earth orbit. Hailing the space shuttle and its astronauts, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said after touchdown that the program was responsible for a long number of "firsts." But he also focused on what's to come. "This final shuttle flight marks the end of an era, but today, we recommit ourselves to continuing human spaceflight and taking the necessary--and difficult--steps to ensure America's leadership in human spaceflight for years to come," Bolden said. "Children who dream of being astronauts today may not fly on the space shuttle . . . but, one day, they may walk on Mars. The future belongs to us. And just like those who came before us, we have an obligation to set an ambitious course and take an inspired nation along for the journey." One of the shuttle's final missions was to deploy an eight-pound micro satellite, the last of 180 satellites and observatories large and small that took off from the shuttle. The spacecraft, first conceived in the late 1960s, was initially designed to be a launch pad for many more and larger vehicles, but that promise was never achieved. The three remaining active shuttles will be decommissioned and put on display - the Discovery at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center museum outside Washington, Endeavour to the California Science Center Los Angeles and Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center. Two other shuttles, Challenger and Columbia, failed in 1986 and 2003, killing 14 astronauts. With no American spacecraft available to fly to the space station, it will now be re-staffed using Russian Soyuz spaceships and re-supplied by Russian and possibly European and Japanese capsules. The administration is also promoting a program to speed the development of private spaceships that are expected to begin providing services in several years as well. While the ballooning cost of the shuttle - now costing as much as $1 billion per launch - and its two tragedies have somewhat tarnished its image and legacy, its achievements are real. It is the only winged vehicle to ever orbit in space, it travelled at speeds of up to 17,500 mph and it withstood temperatures of as much as to 3,000 degrees F on re-entry. It was also used to both launch the Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories, and made five trips to the Hubble to repair and upgrade it. In addition, it made possible a level of international cooperation in space never seen before, especially between the United States and Russia. Over its 30 years in service, 356 individual astronauts have flown the shuttle (many multiple times), including astronauts from 16 other nations. Soon after Atlantis landed, the tributes began. "Discovery, Endeavour, and Atlantis will fly no more," Robert S. "Bob" Dickman, executive director of The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) said in a statement. "Some see this as an end, but it is not. "Thirty years of shuttle missions, and of learning, growing, and improving, will not be forgotten: calluses and scar tissue; joy and tears; plots on strip charts and real-time visualizations; gauges and glass cockpits; prayers for safe flight and, yes, prayers of grieving; looking back and looking ahead. The legacy of the shuttle era will be with us as long as humans journey from earth to space." http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health- science/2011/07/20/gIQA1G9MRI_story.html Back to Top Disagreements could cause FAA to partially shut down Due to disagreements between the House and Senate, key programs inside the Federal Aviation Administration are slated to shut down by the end of Friday. Aides from both sides tell NBC News that air-traffic controllers and safety inspectors will not be subject to the shutdown, and planes will fly and safety procedures will carry on -- because controllers and safety inspectors are considered essential employees. Since September 2007, Congress has been unable to agree on a long-term FAA funding bill. Therefore, they have done a series of short-term extensions -- 20 in total. Right now, the House and Senate can't agree on the 21st short-term extension. There are two particular disagreements. One is over labor rights. In February, the Senate passed an FAA extension bill that allowed for airline and railroad workers to unionize more easily. Under that legislation, a union could be set up if a simple majority of voters who were present approved of the union. Under the old rule, employees who didn't show up to the meeting were counted as "NO" votes on unionizing. In April, the House passed a FAA extension bill that did away with this union provision. But Senate Democrats have said they won't pass a FAA extension bill that doesn't have the union provision. A second disagreement is over rural airports. House Transportation Chairman Rep. John Mica (R-FL) wrote up another temporary FAA authorization bill that passed the House today, 243-117. But this extension wasn't clean: It included specific language that would strip funding away from some rural airports, including: -- in Ely, Nevada (home state to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid) -- in Morgantown, West Virginia (home to Sen. Jay Rockefeller) -- in Glendive, Montana (home to Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus). A GOP aide tells NBC News that the cuts would save about $16 million dollars. Not surprisingly, Rockefeller, Reid, and Baucus saw Mica's move as trying to score personal political points and have said they will not agree to a bill that sacrifices small community airports. What happens if the FAA shuts down? The Transportation Department says: -- 4,000 of the FAA's 32,000 workers will be furloughed on Saturday and that that number could rise. -- airlines would no longer collect ticket taxes, which are used for a trust fund to pay some FAA employees. -- some new construction projects at airports around the country will have to be put on hold Where do we go from here? It's unclear. A GOP aide says that a deal very well could be struck in the 11th hour. Dems are holding firm on the union provision as part of a long-term FAA funding bill and in the present time do not want to see community airports cut. The GOP feels they have the high ground on the issue because they think Dem senators will look petty if they shutdown the FAA over three small airports in a short-term funding bill. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/20/7125083-disagreements-could- cause-faa-to-partially-shut-down Back to Top IATA, ICAO, IFALPA jointly announce Fatigue Risk Management Systems Implementation Guide The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) released a Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) Implementation Guide for commercial aircraft operators. FRMS is a methodology based on scientific principles that will allow operators to manage the fatigue-related risks particular to their types of operations and context. It provides an alternative to traditional prescriptive flight and duty time rules. Advancements in science have brought a better understanding of the correlation between fatigue and performance as well as fatigue mitigation methods. The FRMS Implementation Guide applies these advancements to enhance flight safety at a time when fatigue is increasingly cited as a contributing factor in accidents. IATA, ICAO and IFALPA collaborated on developing an FRMS Implementation Guide for Operators, in line with specific guidance for regulators. The Guide includes insight into the methodology and framework for implementing an effective fatigue risk management program and an explanation of the science supporting it. The Council of ICAO recently adopted international standards for FRMS, to ensure both consistent implementation of FRMS by operators and oversight by regulators. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top ICAO praises Garuda's 'tremendous improvements' The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is praising flag carrier Garuda Indonesia's improvements in safety and service in the past four years. "There have been so many tremendous changes at Garuda, it's as if I'm visiting a different company this time around," ICAO president Roberto Kobeh Gonzales told reporters when visiting the Garuda Indonesia Training Center (GITC) in Duri Kosambi, West Jakarta, on Wednesday. He pointed to the attainment of a four-star rating from British airlines consultancy Skytrax in 2009, and two consecutive IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificates in 2008 and 2010. Gonzales' visit to GITC was part of his five-day trip to Indonesia, which ended on Wednesday, to inspect the country's civil aviation system within the framework of Indonesia's nomination as ICAO board member for the 2013-2016 period. It was the second time Gonzales visited Garuda facilities; the first time was in late 2007 to inspect GMF Aero Asia, a unit of Garuda engaged in airplane maintenance, repair and overhaul. "[My 2007 visit] was during a very difficult situation. At that time, my mission was to talk with high-level aviation officials about the importance of safety, without which, aviation would not be viable. Now, four years later, the situation is completely different," he said. "Four years ago, the level of compliance with international airline safety standards in Indonesian airlines was around 50 percent. Now, it has increased to 80 percent." During Wednesday's visit, Gonzales inspected several of Garuda's air crew training facilities, including a flight attendant class, a mock-up Boeing 747 cabin, a Boeing 737- 300/400 flight simulator, and a wet emergency landing drill room. He also had the chance to fly and land a plane in the simulator and to see an emergency landing drill. He said that he was glad to see Garuda's improvements in developing comprehensive air crew training facilities. "Investment in human resources is the best investment for an airplane, as it is related to safety, security, efficiency, service to passengers, and business marketing," he said, adding that he was very pleased to see good relations between Garuda and civil aviation authorities. Garuda president director Emirsyah Satar, who accompanied Gonzales during the visit, said human resources were of the utmost importance for the airline. He added Garuda had launched a Quantum Leap program last year as a way to further the company's improvements. The program will see Garuda's fleet expanding from the current 87 to 153 aircraft by 2015, which will include Boeing 737-800NG and 777-300ER, as well as Airbus A330-200. "We also look forward to the arrival of two new flight simulators at the end of this year: one of the Boeing B737-800 NG and one of the Airbus A330-200," Emirsyah said, adding the airline would aim to achieve a five-star Skytrax rating in 2014. Gonzales visited the Transportation Ministry on Monday, during which he cited eight critical criteria for a country's aviation system's worthiness, including airline safety regulations, civil aviation organization, pilot certification, navigation safety, and airport safety. "Indonesia has fulfilled all criteria," he said Monday. Gonzales also visited the state-run Indonesian Aviation Institute (STPI), and state airplane maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia, as part of his itinerarty. (mim) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/07/21/icao-praises-garuda%E2%80%99s- %E2%80%98tremendous-improvements%E2%80%99.html Back to Top On-Site Probe of Jet Accident Completed (Newfoundland) Investigators have completed an on-site probe after Saturday's accident at St. John's International Airport in which a cargo jet overshot the runway. Though the on-site probe is finished, the team from the Transportation Safety Board says it's going to be a little while before the results are released. The Regional Manager for Aviation Investigations, Mike Cunningham, says the investigation involved collecting information and interviewing the three-person flight crew. Examining the jet's flight data recorder is the next step. The flight data recorder is expected to arrive at the TSB's engineering branch in Ottawa on Thursday. No one was hurt in the incident, but some of the plane's tires and some airport runway lights were damaged. Following the accident, the airport suspended its flight operations for over an hour. http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=15611&popular=1 Back to Top FAA LEADERS PROMOTE NEXTGEN OPPORTUNITIES ATLANTIC CITY---As Nextgen technology transforms aviation from a ground based system of air traffic control to a satellite system, many of the people in a crowded room took notes on some of the programs designed to help. FAA Nextgen Senior Vice President Vicki Cox said, "Our programs are good we are delivering really well to date, I talked this morning about some of the problems in 2011 and that we had enacted a budget rather late in the fiscal year which is now forcing us to catch up a bit." According to FAA leaders small businesses are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities within Nextgen because the aviation industry is a vital part of the us economy. "All of the interests here if we can move forward with our projects it means employment to the people in this room and it's certainly why they are here." Tetra Tech is one business currently providing support services to the FAA, including satellite systems. Jeff Williams from Tetra Tech said, "As you know satellite base is a cornerstone for Nextgen a lot of the programs and efficiencies and the systems are going to be based off of satellite based navigation and the FAA is transitioning from a ground base to satellite based navigation system and we provide that cornerstone support service for them to be successful." Right now the FAA has long term plans that run through 2020 and set to accommodate growth and small business goals. "We like the flexibility of it and it lets us work in both the research and development arena and the implementation and capabilities arenas going forward with Nextgen," said Cox. http://www.nbc40.net/news/18456/ Back to Top NTSB Undertakes Homebuilt Aircraft Study "This is the first study to comprehensively examine both the building and piloting of these unique aircraft," said Joseph M. Kolly, director of the NTSB Office of Research and Engineering. The National Transportation Safety Board has begun a study of accidents involving "homebuilt" aircraft, a category also called "experimental amateur-built," saying it wants to evaluate the safety of this growing segment of general aviation and improve its accident record. The Experimental Aircraft Association will support the project by hosting a web-based survey for E-AB owners and sharing its findings with NTSB. "Going all the way back to the Wright brothers, amateur aircraft builders have played a crucial and inspirational role in leading the way towards greater achievements in manned flight," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "We are pleased to be working with EAA towards the shared goal of improving safety in this particularly innovative sector of general aviation." About 33,000 of the approximately 224,000 general aviation aircraft in the United States are in this category. Some are built from prefabricated kits, others from the builder's own design. "Unfortunately, this group of aircraft has, for several years, experienced accident rates greater than those of other comparable segments of [general aviation]," NTSB's announcement said. The study will explore builder assistance programs; transition training for pilot-builders of E-ABs; flight test and certification requirements; maintenance of these aircraft; and the performance and failures of systems, structures, and power plants. "Earlier studies have looked at isolated E-AB safety issues, but this is the first study to comprehensively examine both the building and piloting of these unique aircraft," said Joseph M. Kolly, director of the NTSB Office of Research and Engineering. "And the direct input from E-AB owners and others involved in the design and day-to-day operations of these aircraft will be of enormous value in understanding all of the aspects that play a role in the safety of experimental flight operations." Operators, builders, and owners of E-AB aircraft who are interested in participating in the survey should visit www.EAA.org/AB-Survey. The completed safety study is expected to be published by the fall of 2012, NTSB said. http://ohsonline.com/articles/2011/07/20/ntsb-undertakes-homebuilt-aircraft- study.aspx?admgarea=news Back to Top Final 737 re-engine configuration down to four possible fan sizes Boeing plans to have a final configuration solidified for its re-engined 737 within three to four weeks, with final decisions focusing on the size of the CFM International Leap-X engine that will exclusively power the new variant, says Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Jim Albaugh. "We've got an extremely firm configuration on the airplane," said Albaugh on the sidelines of the American Airlines press conference announcing the purchase of 460 aircraft split between Boeing and Airbus, including 100 of the re-engined 737s, which aim to be 12-15% more fuel efficient than today's Next Generation 737. "There's one critical decision that we have to make and we should be able to make that over the next three or four weeks. We need to look at the fan size, we need to look at the engine, we've got four different options that we've looked at, all of them are good." Albaugh declined to disclose the fan sizes being entertained or how much larger they could be than today's 1.5m (61in) CFM56-7BE fan diameter. 737 chief engineer John Hamilton said in a June interview: "We've looked at fan sizes of 1.8m (70in) and we know it can fit under the airplane. With the larger fan sizes we have to extend the nose gear to create a little more space. "We're still trying to find that sweetspot. As you go up in fan size you get diminishing returns on fuel burn" with a higher engine weight and drag, added Hamilton. Industry sources say an 20cm (8in) increase in nose gear would be required to accommodate a 1.8m fan. Boeing must maintain a 43cm (17in) clearance underneath each nacelle in order to clear taxiway lights. Albaugh added that Boeing aims for a mid-decade first delivery, with American's first Leap-X-powered 737 to arrive in the carrier's fleet by 2018. While Albaugh did not elaborate on the mid-decade timing, comments from the company's May investor conference pointed to a 2016 or 2017 entry into service. Following the establishment of its firm configuration, Albaugh said the airframer will seek the authority to offer the new 737 variant, adding: "I think the probability of board approval is high, but I'm not going to presuppose what the board is going to do." Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC