Flight Safety Information August 17, 2011 - No. 169 In This Issue Flight recorder tapes from An-24 overrun undamaged More emergency training urged for pilots Charter jet exec gets probation in fraud case Air Berlin investigates A330 galley fire Hawaiian appoints Manfredi to in-flight services post Bristow goes operational with TCAS for helicopters TSA investigating firecrackers in Southwest flight French Government Accident Investigation Organization Recommends Mandatory Aircraft Data Streaming Man arrested at LAX after loaded gun found in bag Mouse grounds airplane Flexjet Launches First Learjet 85 Aircraft Fractional Jet Ownership Sales Program Area Medical Pilot Wins Safety Award Flight recorder tapes from An-24 overrun undamaged Russian investigators have determined that the flight recorder tapes from the IrAero Antonov An-24 badly damaged in an overrun at Blagoveshchensk are in good condition. The Interstate Aviation Committee said it was conducting a laboratory examination of the recorder media following the 8 August accident which badly damaged the twin- turboprop and injured its crew and several passengers. Both recorders suffered mechanical damage in the accident, it added, but the tapes from both the flight-data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder are "not affected" and are in "good condition". "The mechanisms were not exposed to fire or fire extinguishing agents," it added. "All the information is being copied and studied to determine its quality and completeness." Both were functioning at the time of the accident, said the Interstate Aviation Committee. The investigation agency has already carried out aerial surveys of the crash site using helicopters, to detail the spread of wreckage. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top More emergency training urged for pilots FAA panel seeks improvement in flying skills, better hiring WASHINGTON -- Commercial pilots need to improve their flying skills, especially during unexpected "upsets" that can turn flights into disasters, and airlines should make sure their hiring and training practices produce the best pilots possible. Those are the conclusions of a panel of industry experts charged by Congress with reviewing pilot training in the wake of the February 2009 crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in Clarence, which claimed 50 lives. "The U.S. air carrier industry faces significant near-term challenges," said the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Carrier Safety and Pilot Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee. "As it addresses these challenges, the industry must ensure continued progress in enhancing flight safety and pilot training." The report, dated July 31 and obtained by The Buffalo News even though it has not been officially released, outlines a series of 24 pilot-training "best practices" that should be adopted industrywide. Some of those best practices, such as requiring simulator training on sudden emergency "upsets," would be required under revised pilot-training rules suggested by the FAA in May. The report also echoes many of the conclusions of "Who's Flying Your Airplane," a 2009 Buffalo News series about pilot-training deficiencies. For example, the report stresses the need for pilots to have strong manual flying skills, even though commercial planes mostly fly on autopilot. "In the case of automation not being available or utilized, the successful outcome of the flight depends on the proficiency of the pilot manually manipulating the flight controls," the report said. It's especially important that pilots know how to use the controls when things go wrong on a flight, the authors added. On Flight 3407, federal investigators found that the pilots responded incorrectly when the plane slowed into an aerodynamic stall, thereby losing control and crashing the plane. Recent plane crashes have proved that more simulator training is necessary to prepare pilots for the worst things that can happen during flight, from bad weather to mechanical problems, the report concluded. "The pilot should not experience the full dynamics of a deflated tire on landing for the first time with passengers onboard," the report said. "Pilots should perfect these tasks under conditions as realistically simulated as possible while under the effect of the stress that will accompany them." While pilots are trained now under uniform but outdated FAA rules, industry experts have long said there is wide variation in training at different airlines. Many longtime pilots suspect there is a gap between the comprehensive continuing training at major airlines and that at regional airlines such as Colgan Air, which operated Flight 3407 for Continental. To address that concern, the authors of the report -- many of them experienced pilots -- stressed that airlines need to adopt best practices such as: ˇEnsuring that their air crews are trained in "crew resource management" -- working together in the most efficient way -- as well as threat and error management. ˇImplementing leadership and command training. ˇDeveloping uniform standards for flight instructors and safety and training directors. ˇPutting new pilots in the cockpit first as observers in the spare seat before they are allowed behind the controls. Meanwhile, airlines can improve their hiring practices, the panel said. "Several U.S. air carriers have excellent structured hiring practices that have been improved over time and have demonstrated their value by consistently identifying the best candidates," the report said, suggesting that other airlines do the same. Hiring appeared to be an issue at Colgan. Capt. Marvin Renslow, the pilot of Flight 3407, failed several test flights but was hired anyway. The report comes as the FAA works toward finalizing its new pilot-training rules, which some in the aviation industry have resisted, fearing the additional costs associated with more simulator training and other new requirements. But Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said the panel's findings should carry a lot of weight at the FAA. "The FAA must take these recommendations to heart and use them to implement tough safety standards that will truly raise the bar for aviation safety and create a uniform standard throughout the airline industry," said Schumer. http://www.buffalonews.com/topics/flight-3407/article524691.ece Back to Top Charter jet exec gets probation in fraud case NEWARK, N.J. - A former executive of a Florida charter jet company whose plane crashed at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport has been sentenced to probation. Joseph Singh worked for Platinum Jet Management. The now-defunct company flew charters that frequently carried high-end clients like Duran Duran, Keith Richards and Jay-Z. The government investigated the company after one of its planes crashed on takeoff at Teterboro in 2005, injuring 20 people. Singh pleaded guilty to fraud and admitted using unqualified pilots to fly the charters. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Newark sentenced him to a year's probation and ordered him to pay $200,000 in restitution. Singh testified last year against Platinum Jet co-founders Michael and Paul Brassington, who were convicted and await sentencing. Two others pleaded guilty. Charges were dropped against a sixth defendant. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9P5A89O1.htm Back to Top Air Berlin investigates A330 galley fire Air Berlin and Germany's aviation accident investigation bureau are seeking the cause of a smouldering fire in the galley of one of its Airbus A330-300s that caused the aircraft to cut short its planned flight. The 15 August incident occurred just after the aircraft, registration D-AERQ, had taken off from Dusseldorf for Tenerife South, in the Canary Islands. According to an Air Berlin spokeswoman, a cabin crew member noticed "a small smouldering fire" in a light fitting in the aircraft's forward galley. Cabin crew discharged a fire extinguisher at the light. While this appeared to have dealt with the situation, the aircraft immediately returned to Dusseldorf, landing 13min after take-off. The aircraft stopped at a remote stand and the passengers disembarked by portable steps. Although airport emergency services attended, they were not required, said the spokeswoman, who added that most passengers had not been aware of the event. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top Hawaiian appoints Manfredi to in-flight services post Hawaiian Airlines has appointed Susan Manfredi as managing director of inflight services. In her new role, Manfredi will be responsible for the company's quality of customer service, in-flight product and safety and lead a team of 1,250 flight attendants, said the carrier. Prior to joining Hawaiian Airlines, Manfredi served as senior director of in-flight service at Spirit Airlines and held the position of vice president of in-flight services at AirTran Airways. She has also held positions at Hughes Airwest, Republic Airlines, American and Northwest. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top Bristow goes operational with TCAS for helicopters Bristow Helicopters has begun operations using TCAS2 (traffic collision avoidance system) for the newer additions to its helicopter fleet. The system has just received European Aviation Safety Agency approval. One of the company's Sikorsky S-92s has just used TCAS2 for the first time on a flight to an offshore installation from Scatsta, Shetland. All seven of its UK-based S-92s are to have TCAS2 installed by the end of September. Bristow said it will achieve "another industry first", when one of its Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopters fitted with TCAS2 takes to the skies later this year. Mike Imlach, Bristow's director of European operations, compared TCAS2 with the similar system that has been in use on commercial airliners for a number of years. He said: "The applicability of the commercial airline collision avoidance system to slower moving helicopters was questionable. "Bristow developed the first TCAS2 system a number of years ago specifically for rotary wing aircraft, and since then has been developing TCAS2 solutions for its entire fleet to improve flight safety." The rotary wing TCAS operates the same way as the fixed wing one does, and the avoidance manoeuvres are essentially the same as well: resolution advisories direct the pilots to manoeuvre vertically for avoidance, There was no essential problem in using the system for helicopters, said Bristow's area manager for the northern North Sea, Duncan Moore, but a proof of concept was required to see if helicopters had sufficient manoeuvring capacity to respond effectively to a conflict with a fixed wing aircraft at a high closing rate. That, he said, was resolved by closure trials with a BAe 146 aircraft observed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Moore says the company's Eurocopter EC332 fleet will be delivered with TCAS2, with the traffic alert and resolution advisory information integrated into the primary flight display. Back to Top TSA investigating firecrackers in Southwest flight The Southwest Airlines flight was leaving Las Vegas for Kansas City, Missouri After an inspection that included re-screening luggage, it was declared safe (CNN) -- Federal officials are investigating how firecrackers got into a Southwest Airlines plane scheduled to leave Las Vegas on Tuesday. Southwest Airlines Flight 2408 was leaving Las Vegas McCarran International Airport and was headed to Kansas City, Missouri. The flight was delayed for an hour when a flight attendant found a plastic bag with firecrackers underneath a seat, said Ashley Dillon, an airline spokeswoman. Passengers deplaned. After an inspection that included re-screening luggage, the Transportation Security Administration declared the plane safe and allowed passengers to re-board. It landed safely in Kansas City an hour behind schedule, the spokeswoman said. None of the passengers claimed the plastic bag, but the TSA said it is investigating how the prohibited items got onto the aircraft. Back to Top French Government Accident Investigation Organization Recommends Mandatory Aircraft Data Streaming CALGARY, Alberta, Aug 16, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses ("BEA") accident investigation organization has recommended mandatory triggered data streaming technology on passenger aircraft. The recommendation is contained in the third Interim Report of the BEA on the loss of the Air France flight 447. The report, released July 29, outlines 10 new Safety Recommendations including a recommendation that the International Civil Aviation Organization ("ICAO") and the European Aviation Safety Agency ("EASA") require triggered data transmission from an aircraft in flight in the near future. The BEA recommends: "...that EASA and ICAO make mandatory as quickly as possible, for airplanes making public transport flights with passengers over maritime or remote areas, triggering of data transmission to facilitate localisation as soon as an emergency situation is detected on board" (from page 81 of the report) In the past 24 months, AeroMechanical Services Limited /quotes/zigman/321040 CA:AMA +17.65% (the "Company" or "AMA") participated in the BEA's data recovery and triggered data transmission working groups. The Company demonstrated its on-demand triggered data streaming technology, FLYHTStream(TM), on operational commercial aircraft to representatives from international organizations, manufacturers and operators. AMA intends to meet the requirements of the rule-making proposal of the BEA, including to automatically transmit the exact position of an aircraft and key black box data in real time. "FLYHTStream has demonstrated triggered data streaming feasibility and technical maturity to the extent that a highly-respected international agency is confident in the benefits of triggered data transmission for the industry and traveling public," said Richard Hayden, AMA's president. "We are proud of our initiative to invest in this enabling technology and our support of the industry evaluation process to date, and we are pleased that our technology has been favourably considered by a respected and influential independent agency. We are the only firm to have demonstrated continuous real-time delivery of black box data from an aircraft in flight and we hope the BEA's recommendation will be adopted." FLYHTStream was first tested in 2009 (Follow links to view past press releases, June 12, 2009; Aug 11, 2009; Oct 19, 2009; Feb 8 2010; Oct 19, 2010) and is deployed on aircraft operated by several of AMA's commercial transport customers and has also been demonstrated on a Hawker Beechcraft business jet, as announced on May 17, 2011. The primary use of AMA's tools are to assist in supporting normal operations with in- flight troubleshooting. In an emergency, FLYHTStream provides position and data continuously from anywhere on the globe. Flight tests and triggering during normal airline operations have proven that accurate position reports and hundreds of data parameters can be sent continuously from an aircraft to the ground, on demand. FLYHTStream is activated in one of three ways; automatically by a set of predetermined criteria (triggered transmission), by the pilot, or by ground personnel. When it is activated, it provides position and other data to subject matter experts, air traffic control, and search and rescue, and also provides auditory and visual messages in operations control centers as well as delivers critical details to cell phones or pagers to ensure all essential personnel are notified of the situation. The system that enables FLYHTStream, AMA's Automated Flight Information Reporting System ("AFIRS(TM)"), can determine which data is outside normal operating ranges in real time. AFIRS then automatically transmits a message and supporting data to ground personnel and enables voice and text communication between the cockpit and the ground. About AeroMechanical Services AeroMechanical Services Ltd., under the brand name FLYHT(TM), provides proprietary technological products and services designed to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in the airline industry. The Company has patented and commercialized three products and associated services currently marketed to airlines, manufacturers and maintenance organizations around the world. Its premier technology, AFIRS(TM) UpTime(TM), allows airlines to monitor and manage aircraft operations anywhere, anytime, in real time. If an aircraft encounters an emergency, AMA's triggered data streaming mode, FLYHTStream(TM), automatically streams vital data, normally secured in the black box, to designated sites on the ground in real time. The company has been publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange since 2003 under the trading symbol AMA. AFIRS, UpTime, FLYHT, FLYHTStream and aeroQ are trademarks of AeroMechanical Services Ltd. Join us on social media! www.facebook.com/flyht www.twitter.com/flyhtcorp www.slideshare.net/flyhtcorp www.youtube.com/flyhtcorp www.flyht.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. SOURCE: AeroMechanical Services Ltd. Back to Top Man arrested at LAX after loaded gun found in bag LOS ANGELES (AP) - Police say a 25-year-old Alabama man has been arrested after federal authorities discovered a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag as he passed through a security checkpoint at Los Angeles International Airport. Airport police spokeswoman Belinda Nettles says Joshua Banks was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm. The Los Angeles Times say Banks had purchased a ticket for a flight to Dallas and was taken into custody at the American Airlines terminal. Banks was taken to the airport police station for preliminary processing and booked at the LAPD's Pacific Division jail. Back to Top Mouse grounds airplane STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- A mouse caused the grounding of a jetliner in Sweden, leaving 250 passengers stranded in Stockholm, officials say. A security guard spotted the little rodent shortly before the Tuesday morning takeoff of an SAS Airbus 330 flight to Chicago, The Local reported. For fear of the mouse damaging electronics in the plane, SAS officials have grounded it until the mouse is caught. "Unfortunately the mouse has not been found and caught, despite an extensive search on board and numerous mouse traps placed inside the aircraft," SAS press officer Malin Selander told The Local. The airline was scrambling to rebook the 250 travelers stranded by the incident. "This kind of incident has not happened to SAS before, but we are now aware that similar incidents have happened to other airlines," said Selander. American traveler James Roach said he waited in line for hours. "Spirits [among stranded travelers] are understanding," said Roach. Read more: http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2011/08/16/Mouse-grounds-airplane/UPI- 17721313550036/#ixzz1VIDniCwe Back to Top Flexjet Launches First Learjet 85 Aircraft Fractional Jet Ownership Sales Program DALLAS, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- (www.flexjet.com/learjet85) -- After years of anticipation, Flexjet is launching its fractional jet ownership sales program of Bombardier's Learjet 85 aircraft as the manufacturer's first customer. Designed from a clean sheet, the all-new Learjet 85 aircraft is the first FAR Part 25 certified business jet with both fuselage and wing built primarily from carbon composites and features the latest advances in aerodynamics, structures and efficiency to usher in a new class of performance and comfort. To ensure new and current owners a seamless transition to the Learjet 85 aircraft upon its anticipated delivery in 2013, Flexjet is offering guaranteed access and availability to its elite fractional ownership program fleet of Flexjet aircraft-the youngest in the industry with an average age of approximately four years. As an added benefit for existing owners who place a deposit on a Learjet 85 aircraft fractional share, Flexjet will waive early termination fees for existing contracts on other aircraft types that will not expire until after the delivery of the Learjet 85 aircraft. "Flexjet is thrilled to offer its owners the first opportunity to experience private aviation at its very best aboard the all-new Learjet 85 aircraft," said Fred Reid, President, Flexjet. "Designed to fly farther than any Learjet aircraft ever built, this new aircraft lives up to its legendary lineage while setting a new standard for passenger comfort." Set to revolutionize the industry, the composite structures of the Learjet 85 aircraft enhance passenger comfort through the use of complex curves in the aircraft cross- section and thinner wall thickness to maximize cabin volume, creating the largest Learjet aircraft ever designed. Responsible for not only improving performance and minimizing drag through smoother aerodynamics, the airframe, made mostly of composite material, requires less maintenance and is easier to repair for an extended service life. Other innovations include the aircraft's state-of-the-art Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307B turbofan engine, the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite-one of the most advanced flight displays ever offered onboard a midsize aircraft-and an advanced entertainment and wireless Internet system. The Learjet 85 aircraft is capable of accommodating eight passengers in a traditional double-club seating arrangement. With approximately 30 inches (76.2 cm) between each seat, passengers enjoy more room than ever when traveling on long distance flights. The aircraft offers a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.82 and a transcontinental range of up to 3,000 nautical miles (5,556 km)*, making the Learjet 85 aircraft the fastest and most efficient aircraft in its class. For more information and to learn about introductory pricing options, please call 888-503-8854 or visit www.flexjet.com/learjet85. About Flexjet Richardson, TX-based Flexjet - a division of Bombardier, the world's largest business aviation manufacturer - first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995. Flexjet now offers whole aircraft ownership and management, fractional jet ownership, jet cards and charter brokerage services. Flexjet is the first fractional aircraft program manager in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation's Industry Audit Standard, and has been honored with its 12th FAA Diamond Award for Excellence. Flexjet's fractional program fields an exclusive family of Bombardier business aircraft - the youngest in the fractional jet industry with an average age of approximately four years - including the Learjet 40 XR, Learjet 45 XR, Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 300 and Challenger 605 business jets. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit www.flexjet.com. Flexjet has an approved fractional ownership program pursuant 14 C.F.R. Part 91, Subpart K, and manages flights for individual aircraft owners under Part 91 whole aircraft management program. All other flights (e.g. Flexjet 25 card program, charter card program, supplemental lift, etc.) are provided by U.S. air carriers in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, as Flexjet is not an air carrier. About Bombardier A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, were $17.7 billion, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier. The Flexjet 25 Jet Card program is operated under Part 135 by Jet Solutions, LLC, a U.S. air carrier. Flexjet acts as an agent for Jet Solutions, LLC, in connection with the Flexjet 25 Jet Card program. Flexjet acts as an agent for the customer for the Flexjet charter card and on-demand charter brokerage programs in arranging transportation operated under Part 135 by U.S. air carriers. Bombardier, Challenger 300, Challenger 605, Flexjet, Flexjet 25, Learjet, Learjet 40, Learjet 45, Learjet 60, Learjet 85 and XR are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. *Range with 2 crew, 4 passengers (200 lb each) and 100 NM NBAA IFR reserves. Assumes standard BOW, sea level departure and landing, unrestricted climb, cruise and descent with zero wind and standard (ISA) conditions en route. All data is subject to change without notice. SOURCE Flexjet Back to Top Area Medical Pilot Wins Safety Award A Claremore Air Evac Lifeteam pilot is honored for his dedication to safety. Tom Lewis, pilot for the crew, was chosen as the 2011 Regional Safety Award winner. The award is presented to the employee who has provided a safe working environment and atmosphere for the employees of Air Evac Lifeteam and done their best to promote safety in every way. "Tom has an infection soul at the Claremore Base," explained Program Director Wende Teague. "Not only have he verbally announced his new dedication to the company and to the safety culture, but he lives it every day. He is highly respected at our base for many reasons," she said. "He not only looks for potential safety hazards, but addresses them with solutions. He has stepped up to interim Base Pilot Supervisor with our current one is out and he is doing an excellent job. The medical crews feel safe when they fly with Tom. "He always takes time to explain weather conditions, potential hazards and safety risks. He graciously and patiently explains helicopter operations with everyone without prompting and has motivated everyone at the base to actively engage in safety with reverence. He is proactive and diligent and makes the crew feel at ease with any and all concerns," Teague said. "He has definitely stepped up and gone above and beyond and has encouraged everyone to do so. He leads by example, accepting nothing less of himself but excellence. He is an essential piece of our team at the Claremore base," she added. Lewis has been with Air Evac Lifeteam since February 2005 and is currently a pilot in Claremore. The base there was originally established in January 2003 in Tulsa, Okla., and moved to the Claremore region in October 2003 to better serve the rural customers in its service areas. The base is located at 19502 E. Rogers Post Rd. in Claremore. http://www.ktul.com/story/15276276/area-medical-pilot-wins-safety-award Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC