Flight Safety Information August 9, 2011 - No. 164 In This Issue Russian authorities identify missing An-12 Cargo plane crash kills 11 in Russia Crash prompts Guyana to target airport squatters Cyprus flight safety boss: air traffic in good hands Arvind Jadhav may be shunted out as Air India chief this month Man arrested at Omaha airport over suspicious item All Nippon May Start Flights to Three European Cities as 787 Enters Fleet USAIG Appoints Paul S. Ratté as Director of Aviation Safety Programs FAA Offers New Guidance On Aviation Fuel, Oil Specs Russian authorities identify missing An-12 Russian federal prosecutors have identified the operator of the Antonov An-12 missing in the far east of the country as Avis-Amur, the aircraft having been on lease from its owner, Komsomolsk-on-Amur airframer KnAAPO. Preliminary indications, said the Russian emergencies ministry, point to a fuel leak and fire in one of the starboard engines of the four-engined transport. The aircraft had 11 on board, eight of them crew members, it added. It was operating a freight flight from Magadan to the regional airport of Keperveym, in the Chukotka district. It was in the vicinity of Omsukchan, 310km from Magadan, when the An-12's captain opted to descend and return to Magadan. The incident occurred at about 14:45 local time. "Communication with the aircraft was [then] lost," said the ministry. Mil Mi-8 and Antonov An-26 aircraft were enlisted to aid the search for the missing transport, but poor weather has hampered the effort. Rescuers are also planning to use a Beriev Be- 200 in the search. The prosecutor's office stated that there was 16t of food produce on board the freighter. Magadan airport's ground services had been alerted to the planned return, but the prosecutor said the aircraft lost radio communications shortly afterwards and "disappeared from the radar". Khabarovsk-based Avis-Amur's operations will be checked, as routine, for compliance with safety regulations, the prosecutor added. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top Cargo plane crash kills 11 in Russia A cargo plane has crashed in Russia's far eastern Kolyma region, killing 11 people, after its engine failed. The Antonov-12, which was delivering food products to the far-flung region of Chukotka, caught fire and requested to make an emergency return to the city of Magadan soon after take-off. "[The plane was carrying] nine crew members and two passengers, as well as 16 tonnes of food products," said a statement from the prosecutor's website. Interfax news agency cited the office as saying all those on board had died. A search and rescue team had been sent out earlier on Tuesday to find the craft and those on board. The crash is the latest in a string of transport accidents that have prompted Russia's leaders to condemn the country's dilapidated infrastructure and endemic corner-cutting on safety ahead of parliamentary elections in December and a presidential poll next March. The Antonov-12 had been leased to private airline company Avis-Amur, which the prosecutor's office said was being probed for possible safety violations that may have led to the accident. Avis Amur was not available for comment. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-09/cargo-plane-crash-kills-11-in-russia/2832062 *********** Date: 09-AUG-2011 Time: 07:34 MSK Type: Antonov 12 Operator: Avis Amur Registration: RA-11125 C/n / msn: 3341006 Fatalities: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: 50 km from Omsukchan, Magadan region - Russia Phase: En route Nature: Cargo Departure airport: Magadan Destination airport: Keperveem (UHMK) Narrative: An Antonov 12 cargo plane reportedly crashed 50 km from Omsukchan. The airplane carried 11 occupants and 18 tons of cargo. The crew had reported an engine fire and indicated that they were returning to Magadan. However, the plane crashed and initial reports revealed after discovering the wreckage prove that there are no survivors. Unconfirmed reports indicate that RA-11125 was the airplane involved in the accident, the oldest plane of Russian commercial airfleet. Sources: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-08/09/c_131038313.htm http://ria.ru/incidents/20110809/413976578.html http://www.mchs.gov.ru/emergency/detail.php?ID=466701&rc_id=fareast http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews.shtml?/20110809121745.shtml www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Crash prompts Guyana to target airport squatters GEORGETOWN, Guyana - The chief executive of Guyana's airport authority says the government will seek to remove hundreds of squatters from the airport following the recent accident involving a Caribbean Airlines jet. Ramesh Ghir says the jet came dangerously close to the squatters' homes when it skidded off the runway and broke apart. Ghir said Monday the presence of the squatters prevents Guyana from being able to expand the airport and runway. There are an estimated 1,000 people in 300 homes and small shops just north of the runway. Many have been there more than a decade. The jet carrying 163 passengers overshot the runway and split in half just after landing on July 30. About three dozen passengers were injured but no one was killed. The cause is under investigation. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9P036SG1.htm Back to Top Cyprus flight safety boss: air traffic in good hands The CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation has said Turkey's refusal to cooperate with the EU and international aviation organisations has caused concern about air safety to the Cypriot government and to Brussels. Christos Petrou told CNA that there is a lack of communication between Nicosia and Ankara air-traffic control centres and interference in flights using Nicosia FIR by the air traffic control centre in northern Cyprus. His comments follow press reports last week which warned of a "high risk of accident" in Cyprus' airspace. Petrou said that this has been a long-standing issue and that while international and European civil aviation organisations have tried to solve the problem, this had not been possible due to the stance adopted by Turkey, which seeks recognition of its illegal air- traffic control centre in Cyprus. At the same time, Petrou assured CNA that Cypriot air-traffic controllers are experienced and "are in control of the situation", adding however that those dealing with air transport, the EU, Eurocontrol and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are concerned about air safety. He added that Ankara has turned down recent initiatives to find a "technical" solution to this problem which would enable communication between Nicosia and Ankara air- traffic control centres with Eurocontrol acting as mediator, without violating international law. According to the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) in 2010, he said, 950 incidents of violating air traffic rules in Nicosia FIR were recorded. The Air Transport Association (IATA) is aware of this issue and the EU is aware of the number of these incidents, he added. "There were efforts on the part of the Commission, the ICAO and Eurocontrol, and various meetings have taken place with Turkey and the Cypriot authorities and they proposed a technical solution that would respect both sides' sensitivities," he said, adding that despite the fact that the Cypriot authorities accepted this solution Turkey did not, as it wanted to involve its traffic control centre in this endeavour - something which everybody else could not accept. Petrou stressed that Cypriot authorities want a settlement of this issue, expressing the belief that international organisations will continue their efforts towards this direction. He insisted that Cypriot air traffic controllers are doing their utmost to prevent any unfortunate event. http://famagusta-gazette.com/cyprus-flight-safety-boss-air-traffic-in-good-hands- p12668-69.htm Back to Top Arvind Jadhav may be shunted out as Air India chief this month Arvind Jadhav's days as the chairman and managing director of Air India are numbered. If persistent political buzz is to be believed, the government is preparing to move him out of the top job later this month. Though officials in the ministry of civil aviation said they had not moved any official communication to the Cabinet Committee on Appointments on the matter, it seems Jadhav's handling of the financial mess at Air India came in for severe criticism in a meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) earlier this month. With several of his Cabinet colleagues openly criticising Jadhav, Union civil aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi is believed to have subsequently agreed to relieve Jadhav of his duties. When contacted, Jadhav told DNA, "Haven't heard any such news myself so will not be able to comment". Ravi did not respond to queries. Jadhav has already been empanelled as a secretary to the government and may eventually be appointed on this post but it is not clear till now who would succeed Jadhav in Air India. In his two years at the helm, Jadhav has been seen by airline insiders as lacking people skills. Also, there has been continuous friction between him and the ministry of civil aviation since he has the backing of the Prime Minister's Office. During Praful Patel's tenure as civil aviation minister, when well known public figures had been appointed to the AI board as independent directors, Jadhav is alleged to have overridden their suggestions on financial restructuring and other decisions of the board. This prompted the directors - Anand Mahindra of M&M and Ficci's Amit Mitra - to complain to the PMO and subsequently resign from the board. More recently, the BJP has been seeking Jadhav's removal, citing irregularities in his appointment in 2009. But if Jadhav is asked to go, the government will need to find a suitable replacement - which may not be an easy job. Air India is seen as one of the toughest public sector jobs in India, since it requires managing virtually six different companies - the airline, AI Express, Alliance Air, Hotel Corporation of India and allied functions of ground handling and MRO. The airline, which was created from merger of erstwhile Air India and Indian Airlines, is still grappling with merger issues and is facing losses of over `51,000 crore. http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_arvind-jadhav-may-be-shunted-out-as-air- india-chief-this-month_1573974 Back to Top Man arrested at Omaha airport over suspicious item (APOnline) - A Kentucky man has been arrested after authorities say a suspicious item believed to be a homemade firework was found in his luggage at a Nebraska airport. Police say Gabriel Copley of Mount Sterling, Ky., faces a possession of a destructive device charge for the incident Saturday at Eppley Airfield in Omaha. The 20-year-old was being held at the Douglas County jail. It wasn't immediately known whether he had an attorney. Omaha police officer Michael Pecha says Transportation Security Administration workers found the item during a routine screening and evacuated the airport's south terminal. A police bomb squad later took the item outside and destroyed it. The FBI is helping investigate. Pecha says investigators believe Copley forgot the item was in his bag and didn't plan to harm anyone. Back to Top All Nippon May Start Flights to Three European Cities as 787 Enters Fleet (Bloomberg) - All Nippon Airways Co., due to receive the first Boeing Co. (BA) 787 next month, said the aircraft may allow it to add as many as three European routes that wouldn't support larger planes. "The 787 presents us with a big opportunity," President Shinichiro Ito said in an interview in Tokyo on Aug. 1. The carrier aims to start Dreamliner flights to Europe from Tokyo's Haneda Airport in February, he said. He declined to elaborate on the possible destinations. Boeing rolled out the first 787 painted in ANA's livery on Aug. 6 at its plant in Everett, Washington as it prepares to begin deliveries of the aircraft following more than three years of delays. The planes may allow ANA to add new routes in Europe and North America as they can fly further than aircraft of a similar size and are about 20 percent more fuel efficient. ANA, which has ordered 55 Dreamliners, is due to get 12 of the planes by the end of March. Another eight will be handed over in the subsequent 12 months. Tokyo-based ANA last year began flights to Munich, its fourth destination in Europe after London, Paris and Frankfurt. It is also due to begin a venture on European routes with Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA) in October. Overseas Expansion ANA is bolstering its overseas network following increases in capacity at Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports, and cuts made by Japan Airlines Co. as part of a restructuring plan. Its international flights will expand 16 percent in the year started April 1, compared with a 2 percent expansion for domestic services, according to its website. New routes in Asia this year include Manila and Jakarta. The carrier started a venture with United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) in April and is also considering adding routes to North America with the 787, according to Mitsuo Morimoto, an executive vice president at the carrier "Personally, I'd like to open a route between Seattle and Kobe," Morimoto said at Boeing's plant in Everett, Washington, on Aug. 6. "They're sister cities and the 787 was born here." The carrier's first commercial Dreamliner flight will be a one-off charter service to Hong Kong from Narita. After that, the 787s will initially be used for scheduled domestic services. Won't Compete ANA fell 1.2 percent to 243 yen at the 3 p.m. close in Tokyo, while the Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 1.7 percent. The stock has slumped 20 percent this year as Japan's record earthquake and ensuing nuclear crisis cut demand for travel. ANA, which had 229 planes in its fleet at the end of June, is also investing in two low- cost carriers amid rising competition from overseas budget airlines including Shanghai- based Spring Airlines and Qantas Airways Ltd.'s Jetstar. AirAsia Japan Co. and Peach Aviation Ltd. won't clash as they will operate from different bases and target different markets, Ito said. "The airlines won't be competing against each other," he said. Peach, formed by ANA and Hong Kong-based First Eastern Investment Group, will start domestic flights from Osaka's Kansai airport by March. The airline will lease 10 Airbus SAS A320 aircraft and it aims to carry 6 million passengers within five years. AirAsia Japan, a venture with AirAsia Bhd. (AIRA), Asia's biggest discount carrier, will begin flights in August next year from a hub at Narita. It will operate on both domestic and international routes. Back to Top USAIG Appoints Paul S. Ratté as Director of Aviation Safety Programs USAIG strengthens its efforts to promote safe flight with the appointment of Paul S. Ratté as its new director of aviation safety programs. Ratté, a career U.S. Coast Guard aviator, offers a wealth of advanced experience in aviation operations, safety and human factors, and emergency response management. He is among the service's most decorated aviators, with two Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Air Medal awarded for lifesaving rescues at night. He will draw on his extensive experience to guide a wide range of USAIG initiatives designed to improve aviation safety through education, incentives and proactive solutions tailored to every type of flight operation, from single aircraft operators to major flight departments. David L. McKay, USAIG president and COO said, "We are delighted to welcome Paul as a member of the USAIG team. As we build on and expand our safety programs for aircraft operators of every type and mission, we required a strong leader with an extensive background in aviation operations. Paul offers an outstanding mix of expertise and the drive to share his broad knowledge and dedication to safety." Ratté's experience provides deep insight into the traits that define excellence for flight operations. He began his active duty career in the US Coast Guard in 1984. He most recently served as Commanding Officer of USCG Air Station, Atlantic City, New Jersey - a ten-helicopter, 270-person installation responsible for unique airspace protection duties in the nation's capital in addition to maritime emergency response and security operations from New York to Virginia. After completing naval flight training in Pensacola, FL, in 1987, he accrued 5,000-plus hours flying Sikorsky HH-3, HH-60 and Eurocopter HH-65 helicopters while operating in the Atlantic, Alaskan, Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes regions. He served nine years as an instructor pilot and helicopter standardization evaluator at the USCG Aviation Training Center. He also served as Flight Operations Director at the service's largest air station in Clearwater, FL, and ultimately commanded two USCG Air Stations. About USAIG United States Aircraft Insurance Group (USAIG) provides a complete spectrum of coverage options for owners, operators, manufacturers and maintainers of corporate, private and commercial aircraft. This U.S.-based insurance pool was founded in 1928 by World War I pilots and businessmen David Beebe and Reed Chambers. It has been a member of NBAA since 1953. In its efforts to remain the world's leading aviation underwriting company, USAIG constantly innovates to deliver unique aviation insurance products and services. That includes introducing the industry's first science- based, risk-reducing fatigue-management solution. USAIG is managed by the United States Aviation Underwriters (USAU), which is responsible for selecting business submitted by licensed producers , underwriting, binding coverages, issuing policies, arranging and collecting reinsurance, collecting premiums and settling claims on the pool's behalf. It is headquartered in the New York financial district and maintains the industry's most extensive network of underwriting and field claims offices. USAU's wholly owned subsidiary, Toronto-based Canadian Aviation Insurance Managers (CAIM) manages the Canadian Aircraft Insurance Group (CAIG) insurance pool. USAIG is a subsidiary of General Re Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company. http://rotor.com/Default.aspx?TabId=177&newsid375=73595 Back to Top FAA Offers New Guidance On Aviation Fuel, Oil Specs New Advisory Circular AC 20-24C The Result Of 11-Month Process The FAA has responded to a rapid increase in the pace of development of alternative fuels for aircraft with an updated version of a 25-year-old advisory circular, AC 20- 24B. The new AC 20-24C took almost a year to finalize including the public comment period. It is dated July 29, 2011, but is just now showing up in electronic document databases. The new AC specifically accepts military, ASTM and other industry-consensus standards as acceptable for defining fuels and oils for turbine engines, as well as piston engines made by TCM and Lycoming, and makes clear that other standards are acceptable to the FAA provided they adequately define performance, and how it is to be measured. The complexity of the topic is underlined by many of the public comments, which mischaracterized the circular as a regulation, or misinterpreted it as a requirement to use ASTM's process. The new guidance allows definitions of new fuels based on performance criteria without regard to the feedstocks used to create them. This may lower the barriers to introductions of drop-in fuels made from biomass for both turbines and piston engines. It also provides a system for commonality in specifications for developing type certificates and STCs for fuels which may not work in legacy engines fleet-wide. While traditional fossil-based oils used for engine lubrication are considered a lower priority for phase-out, for both economic and environmental reasons, the new AC 20- 24C also covers their specifications. FMI: www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%2020-24.pdf Back to Top Marilyn Romano Joins Alaska Airlines as Regional Vice President in Alaska Longtime Alaska resident will oversee public affairs and community relations in the state ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Marilyn F. Romano, Alaska Airlines' new regional vice president - Alaska, came onboard the carrier today at its Regional Headquarters in Anchorage. The former vice president and publisher of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner will work in transition with Bill MacKay, the airline's outgoing senior vice president - Alaska. MacKay plans to retire Oct. 10, 2011, after serving 35 years with the airline. "We're excited to welcome Marilyn onboard today," said Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines' vice president of marketing. "Marilyn brings experience, proven leadership and a deep dedication to her state, which makes her uniquely qualified to oversee our public affairs activities. We look forward to having her continue our special relationship with the people and communities of Alaska as we bid farewell to Bill." Romano worked at the Daily News-Miner throughout her nearly two decades as an Alaska resident and became the newspaper's publisher and first female executive in 2000. She also served as vice president of the Kodiak Daily Mirror. Active in Fairbanks, Romano served on the boards of United Way and the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce and was chair of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Community Advisory Council. Romano also has served on Community Advisory boards for Alaska Airlines and the U.S. Air Force in Fairbanks. In 2005, she received the Golden Heart Award given by the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Chamber of Commerce for her contributions to UAF. Under Romano's direction, the Daily News-Miner provided financial support to the university's journalism and athletics departments and the UAF Museum. Extending her role on campus, she taught UAF students about marketing and customer service and has spoken to many political science classes. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group /quotes/zigman/216861/quotes/nls/alk ALK +2.70% , together serve 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 North America Airline Satisfaction Studies(SM). For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com . For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom . SOURCE Alaska Airlines Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC