Flight Safety Information October 3, 2011 - No. 203 In This Issue Reno air crash was beyond scope of FAA safety rules BA to Offer Executive Club Members Safety Courses for Air Miles American Airlines flight diverted to Nashville after pilot becomes ill Mayor questions Air Canada's decree that downtown Winnipeg is unsafe Common values prompt Air Charter Safety Foundation to join ACANA Turbulence blamed for injuries on 2 Boston flights A380 engine problem 'could cause fire' COO Doug Shockey Leaving Pinnacle Airlines Corp Cargolux, Boeing Reach Tentative Agreement Reno air crash was beyond scope of FAA safety rules RENO - Federal Aviation Administration documents show the agency had requirements to keep spectators safe at the National Championship Air Races, including maps of projected "debris fields" in case aircraft broke apart while aiming at the crowd during turns. But the Sept. 16 crash that claimed 11 lives and injured dozens more spectators didn't fit any of those expected scenarios. Instead, experts said, the worst possible thing went wrong at the worst possible place on the course - a point closest to the spectators. "The FAA's safety regulations appear to be based on the assumption that when something goes wrong the aircraft will continue to go in the direction it's expected to go," said Mike Danko, an aviation lawyer and pilot in San Mateo, Calif. "That's a faulty premise. When an aircraft goes out of control it can go in a direction that's not anticipated. Was the FAA protocol appropriate? It looks like it was not." He said such safety rules can lull fans into a false sense of security. Peter R. Leffe, an aviation-accident investigator and accident reconstruction expert in Malibu, Calif., said Reno race organizers anticipated mid-air collisions and debris flying off aircraft, but "total loss of control of an aircraft" was far down on the list. "Is it foreseeable? Yes," said Leffe. "But the probability of that happening are extremely low. It hadn't happened in nearly 50 years, and it may not happen again." Race officials have said for decades that they were minimizing risks by following FAA regulations. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/10/03/20111003Reno-Crash1003.html Back to Top BA to Offer Executive Club Members Safety Courses for Air Miles (Bloomberg) British Airways plans to offer members of its Executive Club frequent flier program the chance to exchange their air miles for a course on air-travel safety. For a price similar to that of a return flight within Europe, Executive Club members will be able to enroll in the one-day course that educates passengers on aspects of in-flight and "wider travel safety issues," said Richard Gooding, a British Airways spokesman. "We've offered the course for five or six years as part of our overall account management with our big corporate clients," Goodfellow said by telephone. "We're now looking to offer this to a wider audience." The course was started for BP Plc, Europe's second-biggest oil company, to train its executives, and has been used by companies in team-building exercises. British Airways is a unit of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA. Back to Top American Airlines flight diverted to Nashville after pilot becomes ill American Airlines plane diverted to Nashville airp...: An American Airlines flight 2050, a Boeing 777, flying from Chicago to Miami was diverted to Nashville aiport because of an ill pilot. The plane had 213 passengers on board, as well as two pilots and eight flight attendants. An American Airlines 777 airplane sits at the international terminal at Nashville International Airport Friday, September 30, 2011. The flight from Chicago to Miami was diverted to Nashville after a pilot and a passenger became ill, American Airlines said. An American Airlines Boeing 777 flying from Chicago to Miami was diverted to Nashville because of an ill pilot. Flight 2050 landed safely in Nashville at 12:32 p.m. The plane had 213 passengers on board, as well as two pilots and eight flight attendants. It was still on the ground at 2:30 p.m. Ed Martelle, spokesman for American Airlines, said "We believe one of the pilots became ill, but we don't have a lot of information." According to Kim Lawson, deputy chief with the Nashville Fire Department, a pilot became ill during the flight and was the cause of the emergency landing. The pilot is stable and has been taken to Summit Medical Center in Nashville. The 777 isn't a plane typically used in regularly scheduled Nashville flights, said Emily Richard, spokeswoman for Nashville International Airport. "Our runways and terminal can accommodate them though," she said. A female passenger also became ill on the flight and was transported to Summit in stable condition, Lawson said. The passenger's condition appeared unrelated to the pilot's condition American Airlines is bringing another pilot from Dallas to Nashville to continue the flight to Miami. "He is en route now," said Martelle. "The plan is to get everyone back on board and hightail it to Miami." He didn't have a definitive time for when the plane would reach Miami. The plane is being serviced, and once the pilot gets there, American will begin the departure process. http://bcdownload.gannett.edgesuite.net/nashville/35553607001/35553607001_1193016715001_vs- 1193013630001.jpg?pubId=35553607001 Back to Top Mayor questions Air Canada's decree that downtown Winnipeg is unsafe for staff Winnipeg's rekindled pride over the return of its Jets has been dampened by Air Canada's decree that the city's downtown core isn't a safe place for airline staff to spend the night. Mayor Sam Katz is puzzled by the decision by the national air carrier to stop using the Radisson Hotel, one block from the hockey arena, for pilot and flight attendant layovers. An internal company bulletin to staff cited "several reports indicating questionable safety" in the area and noted concern from workers. Public drunkenness, the airline contended, made several downtown locations "susceptible to crimes of violence and opportunity." http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/prairies/mayor-questions-air-canadas-decree-that- downtown-winnipeg-is-unsafe-for-staff/article2188235/ Back to Top Common values prompt Air Charter Safety Foundation to join ACANA The Air Charter Association of North America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing and fostering the air charter industry by promoting best practices and educating consumers about the benefits of private aviation, recently welcomed the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) as its newest member. The Air Charter Safety Foundation, a nonprofit association, was established to improve the safety of air charter and shared aircraft ownership operations. The ACSF's mission is to advance charter and shared aircraft ownership industry standards and best practices; promulgate safety, security and service benchmarks; and promote the universal acceptance of safety management systems (SMS.) ACANA Chairman David McCown said, "Having constructive, informed dialogue among our membership and with the broader aviation community is an essential component to fulfilling our mission. As an ACANA member, the ACSF will enhance the carrier safety operations and regulations dialogue within the ACANA group. While ACANA membership includes leading Part 135 and Part 121 air carriers, it was originally founded for and continues to consist predominantly of air charter brokers. Through the ACSF's own activities, they will be instrumental in communicating to its extensive membership the ACANA ideals, values and concerns. This benefits air carriers, air charter brokers and, ultimately, consumers." ACSF President Bryan Burns said he was looking forward to joining ACANA. Burns stated, "ACANA's mission to create a benchmark for excellence and professionalism helping air charter consumers to make informed decisions about their air charter service provider is exactly aligned with the ACSF's safety mission through its research, collaboration and educational programs. It's a win-win for members of both organizations." http://www.charterx.com/resources/article.aspx?id=8990 Back to Top Turbulence blamed for injuries on 2 Boston flights BOSTON (AP) - Boston airport officials say 20 people on two separate flights reported being hurt during severe turbulence. Nine people on a JetBlue flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Boston reported injuries on Sunday night, including at least one who spilled hot coffee on himself. Emergency medical technicians treated four people on the ground but no one had to be hospitalized. Authorities say 11 people on a Lufthansa flight from Charlotte, N.C., to Munich, Germany also reported being hurt after turbulence forced the plane to be diverted to Boston later Sunday night. Local TV stations showed some of those passengers being loaded into ambulances. A message was left with an airport spokesman Monday. Back to Top A380 engine problem 'could cause fire' A buildup of heat in the pylons of A380s equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines could cause a fire, the European Aviation Safety Agency said. Airlines operating Airbus's A380 superjumbo may be required to modify equipment that connects the plane's engines to its wings, safety regulators said, citing a risk of overheating that could cause a fire. Test flights revealed a buildup of heat in the pylons of A380s equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, the European Aviation Safety Agency said today in a proposed airworthiness directive which would require carriers to install ventilation holes in some of the panels covering the structures. "This condition could, in case of a heavy fuel leak, lead to an ignition of fuel vapors, possibly resulting in a fuel fire and consequent damage to the aeroplane and/or injury to its occupants," EASA said in the directive, which is open for consultation until October 28. If made mandatory, the modifications would have to be implemented within a 10-month period, it said. Advertisement: Story continues below Qantas grounded its A380s for 23 days last year after a Trent 900 failure prompted an emergency landing in Singapore on November 4. Rolls-Royce has since carried out modifications to address issues with a faulty oil pipe, and the glitch disclosed today is unrelated, Airbus said. The planned directive would affect the Trent-equipped -841 and -842 variants of the A380, all manufacturer serial numbers, except for planes that have already been modified, EASA said. Today's proposal follows a bulletin issued by Airbus to A380 operators on July 25 after the manufacturer uncovered the overheating issue during its own test flights, spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said by phone, adding that the EASA directive is a standard response. Schaffrath said that the period permitted to address the problem indicates the low perceived risk. EASA said no-one was immediately available to comment further, and London-based Rolls-Royce declined to comment. A380s equipped with Engine Alliance turbines made by General Electric and Pratt & Whitney aren't affected. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-incidents/a380-engine-problem-could-cause-fire- 20111003-1l4f9.html#ixzz1ZiuzOZzl Back to Top COO Doug Shockey Leaving Pinnacle Airlines Corp., Replaced by John Spanjers MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 3, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (NASDAQ: PNCL) announced today that Doug Shockey, vice president and chief operating officer, is resigning from the company. He will be replaced by John Spanjers, who will also retain the title of senior vice president, operations for Mesaba Aviation. Shockey joined Pinnacle in 1995 as vice president, maintenance and engineering. He was promoted to COO in 2002. "Doug played a vital role in growing Pinnacle Airlines into a premium regional airline operator in North America, and I wish him continued success," said Sean Menke, president and CEO of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. Spanjers joined Mesaba in 1999 as vice president, flight operations, and was promoted to Mesaba's COO in June 2002. He was named president of Mesaba in September 2002. "John brings a proven track record of operational excellence to the COO role," said Menke. "He has first-hand experience running a safe and highly-reliable airline, and those factors will be vital to Pinnacle's ongoing success." About Pinnacle Airlines Corp. Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (NASDAQ: PNCL), a $1 billion airline holding company with 7,800 employees, is the parent company of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc.; Mesaba Aviation, Inc.; and Colgan Air, Inc. Flying as Delta Connection, United Express and US Airways Express, Pinnacle Airlines Corp. operating subsidiaries operate 201 regional jets and 83 turboprops on more than 1,540 daily flights to 188 cities and towns in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Belize. Corporate offices are located in Memphis, Tenn., and hub operations are located at 11 major U.S. airports. Visit www.pncl.com for more information. SOURCE Pinnacle Airlines Corp. Back to Top Cargolux, Boeing Reach Tentative Agreement (WSJ) Cargolux Airlines International SA has tentatively resolved a contract dispute with Boeing Co. over deliveries of the first two 747-8 jets, which Cargolux abruptly postponed last month. Luxembourg-based Cargolux said in a statement Saturday that it reached a tentative agreement with Boeing "over contractual issues" and will provide more details about the deliveries after a board meeting Friday. On Sept. 16, the freight carrier called off plans to take delivery of the first 747-8 freighter, embarrassing Boeing just three days before celebrations at the plane maker's widebody-jet factory in Everett, Wash. Cargolux cited unresolved contractual issues over the plane, a longer version of Boeing's popular jumbo jet. Cargolux originally was scheduled to receive the first 747-8 on Sept. 19 and the second Sept. 21. According to media reports, Akbar Al Baker, chief executive of Qatar Airways, a major Cargolux shareholder, said Friday that Cargolux postponed the deliveries because the jets, which carry General Electric Co. engines, didn't meet fuel-efficiency guarantees. The first 747-8 delivery now will occur around Oct. 12, Mr. Al Baker said. A Boeing spokesman said Sunday that the company is pleased to have reached the tentative accord and looks forward to seeing the pact gain the approval of Cargolux's board. Chicago-based Boeing has acknowledged that the initial 747-8 planes produced for airlines would fall "nominally short" of initial performance estimates. The company has said the planes would still be more fuel-efficient than their predecessor, the 747-400. Cargolux is an all-cargo carrier that operates 16 Boeing 747-400 freighters. Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC