Flight Safety Information November 21, 2011 - No. 237 In This Issue Fog disruption of flights from Heathrow continues EU bars Philippine, Congolese airlines from its airspace Jordan Aviation 767s blacklisted by European Commission NTSB rules out weather in Okla. St. coaches' crash Tipsy pilots now face 1 yr jail and fine (India) Airbus rolls out test A320 with sharklets installed CASA told to keep cabin crew ratios Ethiopian Aviation Academy Secures European Aviation Safety Agency Approval American Airlines Chooses Airbus A319, A321 Variants Gulfstream's new flagship business jet gets OK Fog disruption of flights from Heathrow continues Heavy fog affected flights from London's Heathrow and City airports (BBC) - Thousands of passengers are facing a second day of disruption as fog continues to force the cancellation of flights in and out of London. Heathrow Airport and London City Airport, which were disrupted throughout Sunday, are still affected. A total of 97 arrivals and 98 departures have been cancelled at Heathrow since Sunday. At London City Airport, five arrivals and three departures were cancelled while two flights were diverted. This followed the suspension of 44 flights at the airport on Sunday. A Heathrow spokeswoman said although there were some cancellations, there were no delays. The airport, which deals with an average of 1,300 flights a day, said: "The fog has started to clear and there are now no restrictions on flying. "There are currently no delays to flights but we advise passengers to check with their airlines before travelling." A City Airport spokeswoman said there was significant disruption to the flight schedule. 'Pretty chaotic' At Heathrow on Sunday, some airlines had rebooked passengers on other flights, while others had arranged for accommodation. Some domestic passengers were taken to their destinations by coaches, the airport said. Long queues were reported at border control at Heathrow Airport Philip Dunne, from London, had his flight from Geneva delayed by three hours. He said: "That I could deal with, but not the huge queues at immigration of over an hour minimum. It's a disgrace." Delayed passengers complained of "inefficiency" at passport control and the damaging impression they said it creates for foreign visitors. A UK Border Agency spokesman said extra staff members had been drafted in and "officers worked as quickly as they could to clear passengers". A weather warning for dense fog also has been issued for Yorkshire and Humberside, the East and West Midlands, the East of England and the South East. European flight management agency Eurocontrol was reporting severe delays because of the weather across Europe - especially at airports in Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Oslo, Paris and Zurich. Back to Top EU bars Philippine, Congolese airlines from its airspace BRUSSELS (AFP) -The European Union on Monday placed airlines from the Philippines, Honduras and the two Congos on its blacklist of carriers forbidden from flying in the 27- nation bloc. Aeromajestic and Interisland Airlines, a Filipino company, Stellar Airways from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Congo from the Republic of Congo were banned because they failed to provide documented evidence that they comply with international safety standards. Honduran carrier Rollins Air was placed on the list after France raised concerns about the airline's safety, the European Commission said. The EU's executive arm also slapped restrictions on Jordan Aviation, barring three Boeing 767s operated by the Jordanian airline from using European airspace. "Safety comes first. We cannot afford any compromise in this area," said EU transport commissioner Siim Kallas. "Where we have evidence inside or outside the European Union that air carriers are not performing safe operations we must act to exclude any risks to safety," he said. The commission decided to leave three Russian carriers off its list - VIM AVIA, Yakutia and Tatarstan Airlines - after Russian authorities decided to impose their own operating restrictions on the companies. Although the EU's air safety committee was "very concerned" with the performance of Albanian airlines, the commission kept them off the list too after Albanian authorities took "very strong" safety enforcement measures. The EU flight-ban list now counts 273 airlines from 20 countries. Back to Top Jordan Aviation 767s blacklisted by European Commission Middle Eastern operator Jordan Aviation has been partly banned from the European Union, a prohibition which extends to three of the carrier's Boeing 767s, but Angolan operator TAAG's two Boeing 777-300ERs have been cleared. Restrictions on Jordan Aviation followed the discovery of "numerous and repeated safety deficiencies", said the European Commission in its latest blacklist revision. TAAG has gradually had restrictions lifted since its European ban in 2007. The Commission said the addition of the two 777s to TAAG's approved operations was "thanks to further improvements in the safety performance" of the carrier. Strengthening of safety measures in Russia and Albania, including internal action against carriers, mean the Commission has not imposed its own limitations on airlines from either state. "Both Russia and Albania have taken swift decisions to ban airlines themselves," said a Commission spokeswoman. Russia's VIM-Avia has been restricted from EU operations until April 2012, while Yakutia and Tatarstan Airlines also face limitations, she said. While the Commission and its air safety committee were "very concerned" with Albanian safety oversight, the air operator's certificate for Albanian Airlines has been revoked and an aircraft from the Belle Air fleet has been withdrawn. Its revised blacklist also bans the operations of Honduran operator Rollins Air, which has a diverse fleet including a Boeing 737-200, Lockheed L-1011s, and regional turboprops. This ban followed safety concerns initially raised by French authorities. Twenty-one countries still have a blanket ban on flights to the European Union, and the Commission said this encompasses some 273 airlines. http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/jordan-aviation-767s-blacklisted-by- european-commission-365102/ Back to Top NTSB rules out weather in Okla. St. coaches' crash OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (AP) - Federal investigators said Saturday that weather likely wasn't a factor in the plane crash that killed two Oklahoma State women's basketball coaches this week in Arkansas. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Jason Aguilar said the weather was calm Thursday when the small plane carrying head coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna crashed into a wooded hillside. Aguilar said NTSB investigators were at the crash site for most of the day Saturday. "About the only thing we can say right now is that it was not the weather. The skies were clear, the winds were calm," he said, noting that determining what caused the accident could take a year. "Right now, it's a big question mark to us as to what happened." Aguilar said NTSB investigators are focusing on airframe and the pilot, including his medical background and qualifications, along with possibly a lack of control of the plane. But he said there was no evidence that would question the pilot's qualifications to fly the plane. Former Oklahoma state Sen. Olin Branstetter was flying the two coaches from Stillwater, home of the university, to Little Rock, Ark., for a recruiting trip. The 82-year-old Branstetter and his wife, Paula, also were killed in the crash. The NTSB was trying to determine whether any distress calls were made from the plane, but so far investigators haven't found any, Aguilar said. Witnesses described hearing the plane's engine sputter, and then seeing the plane nosedive into the ground in the Winona Wildlife Management Area near Perryville, about 45 miles west of Little Rock. Hunters were the first to arrive at the crash scene and helped rescue crews back to the site. "There's definitely a very nose-down pattern to the crash. It's like loss of control and now we're trying to pinpoint what caused that loss of control," Aguilar said. A preliminary report from the NTSB is expected next week. A final report from the crash investigation could take nine months to a year, he said. The crash was the second major tragedy for the sports program in about a decade. In January 2001, 10 men affiliated with the university's men's basketball team died in a Colorado plane crash. Back to Top Tipsy pilots now face 1 yr jail and fine (India) NEW DELHI: Reporting to work drunk would now mean more than just cancellation of licence for pilots and cabin crew. It will now also invite anywhere up to one year in jail and up to Rs 5 lakh in fine for tipsy pilots and crew. The aviation ministry's move by amending the Aircraft Act will make its recent change on punishing drunk p[ilots foolproof. It had two years back decided to suspend licences of tipsy pilots caught drunk for the first time for three months. And commercial pilot licence of pilots caught drunk for the second time would get suspended forever. This means, such a person would never be able to fly as a pilot ever again in any Indian carrier. "However, there was one major lacuna in these stringent changes. Pilots caught drunk while reporting to operate a flight or those who came to airports in an inebriated state but fled after finding that breath tests are going on argued that their licence could not be suspended as they did not actually operate a flight. Since they did not break any law, they argued no action could be taken against their licence and that only airlines may take some disciplinary steps," said highly placed sources. Realizing that this argument was blunting their "zero tolerance" on the issue of drunk flying - something that directly affects safety of passengers, - the government decided to make even an attempt to operate a flight in a drunk condition a legal offence with criminal culpability. The aviation authorities have now amended the Aircraft Act's rule 24 and now even those who are caught drunk at airport in pre-flight tests and then not allowed to operate their flight will now face a jail term of up to one year and fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. Pilots and cabin crew are not supposed to have alcohol at least 12 hours before operating a flight. "There will be zero tolerance on safety issues. Indian carriers have been very lax in punishing drunk pilots and cabin crew as they used to just ground them for a month or two each time they failed the breath test. So the earlier rule to suspend licence for three months and then cancel it for good if someone is caught drunk again meant that the issue no longer was a disciplinary one under airlines. The regulator got powers to suspend licence and now the DGCA can take criminal action also," said sources. In fact, sources say that after pilots, the government is going to crack the whip on airlines also who endanger safety by cutting corners in aircraft maintenance or changing of spare parts. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/10799926.cms Back to Top Airbus rolls out test A320 with sharklets installed Airbus has rolled out its A320 test aircraft following the fitting of 'sharklet' wing-tips, which will be an option on new-build aircraft and standard on the re-engined A320neo. The test aircraft, MSN1, will undergo flight-testing "in the coming weeks", said the airframer. Sharklets, which replace the A320's wing fences, will reduce fuel-burn on the type by up to 3.5% on longer sectors of around 3,000nm (5,560km), Airbus claims. The airframer also expects the sharklets - each of which is 2.5m (8.2ft) tall - to improve take-off performance by up to 3t. This would provide the A320 with a higher available take-off weight from runways subject to obstacle limitations. MSN1 will be used to assess the performance of the modification, while Airbus will begin building wings next year which are capable of supporting the new tip. Installation of the sharklet requires inboard and outboard reinforcement to handle different loading, as well as changes to outer wing ribs to accommodate the structure. Several carriers have already signed to take the sharklets, including Air New Zealand, Air Arabia, Finnair and LAN. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top CASA told to keep cabin crew ratios Australia's aviation safety watchdog has been told to stop allowing airlines to operate with reduced cabin crew numbers. A parliamentary committee has recommended the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) cease providing exemptions to the long-established ratio of one cabin crew to every 36 passangers until it can be demonstrated that using fewer staff won't reduce safety or security levels. Moveover, CASA should not extend beyond existing expiry dates the exemptions that allow one to every 50 passenger seats that it's already granted. Advertisement: Story continues below Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications chair, Labor's Sharon Bird, said the committee, whose report was tabled on Monday, was "erring on the side of caution" in making the recommendations. National Paul Neville, the committee's deputy chair, said CASA had allowed the 1:36 standard to become 1:50 "virtually by stealth", with just about every airline allowed to make the change. Mr Neville said he wasn't convinced by claims that 1:50 was world's best practice, though it may be world's most common practice. The recommendations were backed by all but one committee member, with Liberal Paul Fletcher putting in a dissenting report. AAP Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/casa-told-to-keep-cabin-crew- ratios-20111121-1nq9n.html#ixzz1eLkG4UKI Back to Top Ethiopian Aviation Academy Secures European Aviation Safety Agency Approval Ethiopian Airlines Aviation Academy announced that it has been officially approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as an approved part-147 type maintenance training organization. After rigorous and continuous assessment, the Technical Training Center in the Academy has been approved by the agency to be one of the few African training centers qualified to provide B737-600/700/800/900 (CFM 56) B1/B2, B767-200/300 (PW 4000) B1/B2 ,B757-200/300 (PW 2000) B1/B2 EASA approved type maintenance training. This is an important milestone in the journey to make the aviation Academy the center for excellence in the region. Mr. Samuel Assefa Vice President of the Ethiopian Aviation Academy said, "This success is the result of a team work by the staff and management of Ethiopian Airlines and I take this opportunity to sincerely thank all for the unreserved support to the Academy." The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Union (EU) which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. This includes the approval and authorization of organizations involved in the design, manufacture and maintenance of aeronautical products and services. Ethiopian Aviation Academy since its inception in 1960's ensures a steady supply of qualified pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, as well as marketing and finance professionals. In addition, the academy offers management and leadership trainings for different governmental and non-governmental organizations.Hundreds of overseas maintenance technicians and pilots from over 40 countries around the world have graduated from the Aviation Academy. The approval enables Ethiopian Aviation academy to provide world standard technical trainings there by plying a pivotal role in producing sufficient work force for itself and other carriers. http://www.african- aviation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=870:ethiopian-aviation- academy-secures-european-aviation-safety-agency-approval&catid=16:africa Back to Top American Airlines Chooses Airbus A319, A321 Variants as Part of Its Fleet Transformation Plan American Selects CFM56-5B, V2500-A5 Engines to Power Aircraft Company Further Strengthens Fleet Performance and Efficiency FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines today announced another milestone in its fleet transformation plans by selecting the Airbus A319 and A321 variants to be a part of its A320 family fleet order, which was announced in July 2011. These new aircraft, which American expects to begin taking delivery of starting in 2013, build upon the airline's efforts to enhance its fleet in order to be more fuel efficient and provide customers with a state-of-the-art travel experience. The A319 aircraft will be powered by the CFM56-5B engine from CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and Snecma. The A321 aircraft will be equipped with V2500-A5 engines from International Aero Engines (IAE), a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, MTU and JAEC. These engines were selected to enhance the operational performance and fuel efficiency of American's new Airbus fleet. The Airbus A320 family aircraft offer a 35 percent reduction in fuel cost per seat versus the MD-80 and a 12 percent and 15 percent fuel cost reduction per seat, respectively, versus the 757 and 767-200. These 130 current-generation A319 and A321 aircraft are fully financed through lease transactions. The financial terms and conditions of the CFM56-5B and V2500-A5 engine purchase have not been disclosed. "We are aggressively moving forward with our plans to have the youngest, most fuel- efficient fleet in the U.S. in the next five years," said Tom Horton, President of AMR and American Airlines. "The A319 and A321 aircraft will strengthen our fleet, helping us dramatically improve our fuel and operating costs, while at the same time, offering our customers the chance to fly in aircraft that are designed to greatly enhance their travel experience." "We appreciate the high level of confidence this order shows in the CFM56 product line," said CFM President and CEO Jean-Paul Ebanga. "American is one of our largest CFM56- 7B customers and we are pleased to introduce the CFM56-5B into its fleet. We are honored to be given this opportunity to be a part of their long-term fleet strategy and to continue our very successful relationship with American." "We are excited to be a part of American's fleet transformation," said IAE Executive Vice President Jim Guiliano. "American continues to establish new standards of efficiency and passenger service. We look forward to supporting these engines that provide the lowest fuel burn cost and overall emissions, and lowest noise levels on the A321 aircraft." As announced in July 2011, American plans to take delivery of 130 current-generation aircraft from the Airbus A320 family starting in 2013. American exercised its rights to convert its delivery positions to the A319 and A321 variants. Beginning in 2017, American expects to begin taking delivery of 130 aircraft from the A320neo (New Engine Option) family featuring next-generation technology. The new aircraft are about 15 percent more fuel efficient than today's models. American is scheduled to be the first network airline in the U.S. to deploy this new technology. Engine selection for the A320neo family aircraft will be made in the future. The Airbus aircraft feature cabin interiors with increased overhead storage, reduced noise and ambient lighting options. American is also strengthening its Boeing fleet, with plans to acquire 200 additional aircraft from the 737 family, with options for another 100 737 family aircraft. As part of the Boeing agreement, American plans to take delivery of 100 aircraft from Boeing's current 737NG family starting in 2013, including three 737-800 options that had been exercised as of July 1, 2011. American also expects to acquire 100 of Boeing's next- generation 737 MAX aircraft, which will be powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines. The new-engine variant is expected to have 10 to 12 percent lower fuel burn than current 737s. American's most recent deliveries of the 737-800, with 160 seats, include the all-new Boeing Sky Interior, offering larger overhead bins that pivot down and out similar to those on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a contemporary feeling of spaciousness, and variable LED lighting options for cabin ambience. American has plans to acquire 42 state-of-the-art 787 Dreamliners, which are currently scheduled to be delivered starting in late 2014. The Company also has firm orders for 15 777 widebody aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery in 2012 through 2016. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-airlines-chooses-airbus-a319- a321-variants-as-part-of-its-fleet-transformation-plan-134235298.html Back to Top Gulfstream's new flagship business jet gets OK Savannah, Ga.-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. .. has received provisional certification for the its new flagship business jet - the G650, reports the Savannah Morning News. The G650, which has a top speed of Mach 0.925, is the world's fastest civilian jet. The certificate, awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration, allows the company to start interior completions in preparation for customer deliveries in the second quarter of 2012, as originally planned, the newspaper reported. Provisional certification is now a common step before final approval is awarded. "The G650 will exceed the capabilities of anything on the market, flying faster and farther, with industry-leading fuel efficiency and reduced emissions," said Gulfstream president Larry Flynn. Gulfstream has more than 200 orders for the G650, which sells for $64.5 million, the Savannah newspaper reported. http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/morning_call/2011/11/gulfstreams-new-flagship- business-jet.html Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC