Flight Safety Information November 23, 2011 - No. 239 In This Issue Susi Air Plane Hits Cliff in Indonesia Papua FAA proposes $180,000 civil penalty against Evergreen International Airlines Virginia man charged with carrying gun in airport FAA praises Melbourne International Airport's safety efforts Manager fired Louisiana's Monroe Airport U.S. DOT: Follow aviation safety guidelines during holiday season New Airplane Designs Often Mean New Headaches Tajikistan releases jailed Russian pilots Limits for Pilots May Exclude Cargo Carriers U.K. Aviation Regulator to Get Powers to License, Fine Airports Kingfisher Defaults on Payments to Airport Operator (India) Police: Unruly Passenger Handcuffed On SD-Bound Flight Man sues Delta for $2 million over loud flight FAA WINGS PROGRAM Susi Air Plane Hits Cliff in Indonesia Papua "The recovery team has just arrived on the scene" VIVAnews - A VVG airplane belonging to Susi Air this morning crashed in Nabire, Papua, on Bintang Mountains. The plane was en route from Nabire to Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency. Witnesses said the plane was about to touch down as out of a sudden a man was spotted walking along the runway. The airplane then kept on flying, turned left, and hit the cliff of Bintang Mountains. An explosion took place afterward. The airplane took off from Nabire at 8.55 a.m. local time. Susi Air owner, Susi Pujiastuti, said the accident is confirmed. "The recovery team has just arrived on the scene. We've found the spot where the accident happened," she said. http://us.en.vivanews.com/news/read/266660-susi-air-plane-hits-cliff-in-indonesia- papua Back to Top FAA proposes $180,000 civil penalty against Evergreen International Airlines The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a civil penalty of $180,000 against Evergreen International Airlines, Inc, of McMinnville, OR, for allegedly operating aircraft on seven flights in 2009 when the pilots on those flights had not been trained in accordance with the airline's approved training program. The FAA alleged Evergreen failed to conduct the appropriate required familiarization flights involving the use of the flight management system on the company's Boeing 747s before assigning those individuals to revenue flights on those aircraft. The training program specifically calls for familiarization flights in Class I and Class II airspace. Class I airspace includes ground-based navigation aids; Class II is airspace without ground- based aids, such as over an ocean. Evergreen provided only the Class I familiarization flights. The instruction and experience requirement is part of Evergreen's FAA-approved training program. The flights in question operated from Aug. 23 to Sept. 19, 2009. Evergreen has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA's enforcement letter to respond to the Agency. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Virginia man charged with carrying gun in airport RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Police have charged a 46-year-old man with two weapons violations after a security screener at Richmond International Airport discovered a handgun and ammunition in his duffel bag. Airport officials said Tuesday that Christopher Dean Shackelford of Virginia Beach is charged with carrying a weapon in an airport terminal and carrying a concealed weapon. Authorities allowed him to continue traveling. Spokesman Troy Bell says a Transportation Security Administration screener saw what appeared to be a handgun in a duffel bag in an X-ray machine. The screener then requested help from airport police. Shackelford confirmed that he was the owner of the bag and its contents, including a .45 Ruger with two ammunition clips. He told officials that he'd forgotten about the gun, and claimed that he previously held a concealed-weapons Back to Top FAA praises Melbourne International Airport's safety efforts Airport Safety Mark of Distinction Award given to Melbourne International Airport (Florida) MELBOURNE - Don't let the diminutive coin fool you. What it lacks in size, it makes up in honors for Melbourne International Airport and its safety program. The Federal Aviation Administration Southern Region recently recognized the regional airport with its Airport Safety Mark of Distinction Award. The coin, which fits in the palm of a hand, was awarded based on the airport's new management and training program for aircraft rescue and firefighting services, which exceeds federal standards. "We could not be prouder of this high honor," said Richard A. Ennis, airport executive director. "This award reflects not only our hard work and commitment to safety, but also the exemplary cooperation and teamwork between the airport staff and the Melbourne Fire Services department." According to the FAA, the award is giving to facilities that "display exemplary effort or initiative in the name of airport safety." Since 2004, the award has been given to up to five airports in a given year. Last year, only one airport in the region, which includes eight states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, received the award. The coin is typically presented during FAA Southern Region airport safety summit, however there was not a summit held this year. Ennis lauded Airport Operations Manager Cliff Graham and Airfield and Commercial Business Center Supervisor Don Capaldo for their efforts. "We are very proud of it. It is not something easily achieved at all," Graham said. "Don and I have been to these summits, and we've talked about it. We wanted that coin bad." www.floridatoday.com Back to Top Manager fired Louisiana's Monroe Airport MONROE, La. (AP) - Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says the city's airport manager Cleve Norrell has been fired. Mayo told The News-Star he could not give details on why Norrell was terminated. The newspaper reports Norrell could not be reached for comment. Ron Phillips, the airport marketing manager, will serve as interim airport manager. Norrell oversaw the construction of the airport's new terminal building, Since its opening, however, problems at the terminal have been reported. When the new terminal opened last month, passengers had to walk from the new terminal building to the old one either for baggage pickup or to rent a vehicle. American Airlines reported incompatible wiring at the airport's new terminal then made its deicer unusable until an airline electrician could arrive and rewire the outlet. Back to Top U.S. DOT: Follow aviation safety guidelines during holiday season LOS ANGELES - Authorities today urged travelers to take an active role in aviation safety when they fly this holiday season. "We operate the safest transportation system in the world, but we can all take some simple steps to keep ourselves and our loved ones even safer this holiday season," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. LaHood urged passengers to follow these safety guidelines: -- Pay attention to the flight attendant safety briefing at the beginning of your flight, and read the safety briefing card. -- Use your seat belt at all times while seated. -- Use an approved child safety seat or device of your child weighs less than 40 pounds. -- Prevent in-flight injuries by following your airline's carry-on bag restrictions. -- When it's time, turn off your personal electronic device. Passengers can find child safety information and the latest on airport status and delays on the website faa.gov/passengers. The site also contains videos on how to properly install a child safety seat or device on an airplane. http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_19390699 Back to Top New Airplane Designs Often Mean New Headaches Designing a new airliner is not an easy task. But the hard part isn't necessarily just the engineering and the actual designing by itself. One of the most difficult aspects of developing a new airplane is talking with the airlines to find out what they want, then figuring out how to balance all of the requests and design an airplane that you can sell before it even flies. Both Boeing and Airbus have felt the sting of unhappy customers in recent months after new airplane designs weren't quite what the airlines were hoping for. In Boeing's case the most public example was being stood up by cargo carrier Cargolux for the first delivery of the new 747-8 after negotiations over performance issues could not be resolved in time (they were resolved a few weeks later). With Airbus the battle has been with both Qatar Airways and Emirates about the planned design of the new A350-1000, which has yet to even fly. Since the early days of commercial aviation, airplane makers have spent a lot of time talking with the airlines they hope will buy their airplanes. This was usually done as soon as it was time to put pencil to paper. An airline would publicly or privately say how great business would be if only they had an airplane could carry X number of passengers for a distance of Y, while needing Z horsepower (or pounds of thrust) to do it. It is then up to the airplane maker to work X+Y+Z = Airplane in a way that makes the different airlines happy. In the 1930s Boeing and Douglas Aircraft (and others) were busy trying to stay one step ahead of the other in completing this equation. During the golden era of aviation, rapid design improvements meant airplanes were becoming obsolete every few years. Today the stakes are even higher as the airlines spend many billions of dollars developing airplanes they hope will sell for several decades. And while the Douglas DC-3 is still in widespread use today, most of the airplanes of the 1930s were only sold for a few years before a new design came along. With the new Airbus A350, the two customers with the most orders have been unusually public with their frustration in how the design has been changed recently. "We want the original specification" Emirates president Tim Clark told Aviation Week. "I don't remember that we wanted something new and I really wonder why they did not ask." Emirates and Qatar Airways are unhappy with recent design changes and they believe the newest version of the A350-1000 will be more expensive to operate and will be overweight compared to the airplane they were believed they were buying. With the list price of an A350-1000 at $300 million (.pdf), the airlines feel justified in complaining when each have more than 70 on order. Qatar's CEO Akbar Al Baker expressed his unhappiness at the recent Dubai airshow over problems with another Airbus order saying, "I think that Airbus still has to learn how to build aircraft." Tempers cooled shortly after and Al Baker plunked down a few billion dollars worth of orders with the European airplane maker. The A350 is expected to compete with the Boeing 777, an airplane that will also undergo design changes later this decade. The mostly composite design is expected to make its first flight in France sometime next year. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/11/new-airplane-designs-often-mean-new- headaches/2/ Back to Top Tajikistan releases jailed Russian pilots A court in Tajikistan on Tuesday released two ethnic Russian pilots whose imprisonment had angered Russia's leaders and seemingly triggered the deportation of hundreds of Tajiks from Moscow. The judge used an amnesty granted earlier this year by Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon to free Vladimir Sadovnichy, a Russian citizen, and Alexei Rudenko, an Estonian citizen, who had both been sentenced to 8-1/2 years on Nov 8 for smuggling. In March the two pilots landed their cargo planes on a routine Kabul to Moscow flight at a provincial airport in Tajikistan claiming that they badly needed more fuel. Tajik police arrested them and charged them with smuggling when they discovered a dismantled jet engine on their planes. But the pilots' imprisonment infuriated politicians and the media in Russia and shortly after their sentence, immigration officials started rounding up Tajiks and deporting them for not holding the correct permits. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev insisted that the timing of the deportations was accidental and that the immigration service had no choice but to send Tajiks without the correct paperwork back home. Most observers, though, thought it was too much of a coincidence. Cash from men working on construction sites in Russia is vital to Tajikistan's economy. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/tajikistan/8908659/Tajikistan- releases-jailed-Russian-pilots.html Back to Top Limits for Pilots May Exclude Cargo Carriers By ANDY PASZTOR (WSJ) - New rules to combat commercial-pilot fatigue likely will impose less-stringent work-hour limits on cargo carriers than on passenger airlines, according to people familiar with the details. The Federal Aviation Administration is overhauling decades-old pilot-fatigue rules with modern limits on the number of hours crews can sit at the controls each day and how long they can be on the clock overall. The FAA released an original proposal in 2010, which aimed to guarantee pilots at least nine hours of rest between shifts, instead of the eight now mandated. The changes, which initially were supposed to take effect in 2013, originally applied equally to all carriers. But the FAA's move generated controversy because airlines that transport cargo and U.S. troops said their costs would jump because that segment of the industry has nonstandard schedules and often has to shift its routes. Passenger carriers also criticized the original plan. The new rules could significantly reduce the amount of hours worked per day of commuter pilots and other pilots who make multiple landings and takeoffs-especially late at night or early in the morning. White House regulatory officials have asked the FAA and the Department of Transportation to revise the original draft of the regulations, say the people familiar with the plan's details. The revisions will likely exempt cargo operators from some requirements or reduce the impact of some of the new mandates. FAA officials have also broached the idea of giving cargo airlines extra time to comply with the anticipated rules, according to these people. Union leaders representing pilots at FedEx Corp. and United Parcel Service Inc., two of the largest cargo operators, said Monday that White House officials were pushing a "cargo cut out" that would exempt cargo airlines from certain fatigue-prevention rules. In a joint statement, a local unit of the Air Line Pilots Association and the Independent Pilots Association said such a move would be "an economic power play which utterly disregards" safety. The White House Office of Management and Budget is expected to receive a revised version in several weeks, the people said. Industry officials expect a final package to be announced in December. The plan still faces challenges from unions representing pilots at both all-cargo carriers and passenger airlines, which are seeking uniform regulations establishing a single level of safety across the industry. The cargo carriers and the pilot unions are waging rival lobbying campaigns on Capitol Hill as they vie for Obama administration support. Spokeswomen for the FAA, DOT and the White House declined to comment. Spokesmen for industry groups representing leading cargo and charter carriers also declined to comment. Earlier this month FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told an industry conference in Dubai the new rules "would ensure pilots have more opportunity for rest," while also giving airlines flexibility to extend some flight periods if they provide improved rest facilities or mitigate fatigue in other ways. "We are working aggressively to get this rule out as soon as possible," Mr. Babbitt said. Back to Top U.K. Aviation Regulator to Get Powers to License, Fine Airports Nov. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Britain's Civil Aviation Authority will be given new powers to promote passenger interests, including fining airports for poor performance, under proposals published today by Transport Secretary Justine Greening. The draft Civil Aviation Bill will replace the CAA's current economic regulation duties, the Department for Transport in London said in an e-mailed statement. The bill includes plans for a new licensing system for larger hubs, with the regulator given the authority to impose penalties of as much as 10 percent of an airport's annual turnover. "By and large passengers give good feedback about airports, but they also say they want things like more seating, better information and additional baggage carousels at busy times," Greening said in the statement. "These are exactly the matters that the CAA will be able to address more effectively." The bill couples the coalition government's commitment "to make our airports better rather than bigger" with a wider agenda on improved regulation, she said. The proposals would replaced a system under which the CAA regulates and controls pricing at the biggest London airports, BAA Ltd.'s Heathrow and Stansted and Global Infrastructure Partners Ltd.'s Gatwick, which account for 60 percent of U.K. passengers. Prices and service quality at other terminals are determined by market forces. Back to Top Kingfisher Defaults on Payments to Airport Operator (India) NOVEMBER 23, 2011 NEW DELHI -- Cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. has defaulted on 1 billion rupees ($19.5 million) of payments to the Airports Authority of India, prompting the state-run airport operator to ask for more bank guarantees. "We have already encashed 1 billion rupees worth of guarantees given by Kingfisher against its dues," Airports Authority Chairman V.P. Agrawal said late Monday. The authority has sought additional bank guarantees from Kingfisher to cover its remaining arrears of 2.17 billion rupees, he said. The development adds to the financial woes of the debt-ridden carrier that has never made a net profit since its inception in 2005. Kingfisher, like other airlines in India, has been severely hit by rising jet fuel prices, high interest costs on its debt and unprofitable flights. The carrier has recently cut dozens of flights to reduce costs and has sought additional working capital loans of up to 8 billion rupees from banks to remain operational. But lenders' confidence in the airline has been deteriorating due to its declining ability to repay loans. That might deter banks and other financial institutions from providing fresh guarantees for Kingfisher's arrears. Kingfisher underwent a debt recast earlier this year by issuing shares to lenders. The company cut its debt by 22% to 60.07 billion rupees by converting its loans into shares that were issued to lenders and its founder companies. Problems for the airline will likely compound in case lenders refuse to issue guarantees to cover the Airports Authority's dues, forcing the carrier controlled by billionaire Vijay Mallya to ground more flights. A Kingfisher spokesman didn't respond to an e-mailed query, but Mr. Mallya said last week that the airline hadn't asked the government or the lenders for a bailout package. An airline issues bank guarantees to the Airports Authority for services such as landing and parking at several airports controlled by the airport operator. The authority can encash the guarantees in case a carrier defaults on its payments. Mr. Agrawal also said the Airports Authority would decide in the next few days on its future course of action after consultations with officials from the civil aviation ministry. "We will see what can be done if Kingfisher fails to provide bank guarantees," he said. "Putting Kingfisher on cash-and-carry is an option. We are studying it. It's not the best option as it sends flight schedules haywire." Separately, a senior aviation ministry official, who declined to be named, said that Kingfisher has submitted a new flight plan to sector regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation and that the airline "has indicated that normal operations will be restored within four to five months." The official declined to elaborate on the revised flight schedule. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204443404577053513071354948.html Back to Top Police: Unruly Passenger Handcuffed On SD-Bound Flight Incident Occurred On British Airways Flight 273 From London To San Diego SAN DIEGO -- A passenger who became unruly during a flight from London to San Diego had to be handcuffed and restrained in mid-flight, police reported. Harbor Police say Dr. Paul Frohna became belligerent and combative on British Airways Flight 273 from London to San Diego on Monday. 10News reporter Luis Cruz spoke with Frohna at his home in La Jolla on Tuesday. Cruz: "It was an eventful flight." Frohna: "Uh, nothing worth talking about though." Cruz: "Nothing worth talking about? That's not what your fellow passengers are saying." Frohna: "You know, everyone has an opinion." Cruz: "Your fellow passengers are wondering..." Frohna: "That's alright." At that point, Frohna closed the door to his home. Frohna told Harbor Police he had two screwdriver cocktails and a sleeping pill. After landing in San Diego, he was remorseful and did not remember anything, according to police. One passenger said he remembers it all. "The guy started to jump up on the seats trying to jump over into another aisle," said a passenger who was only identified as "Malcolm." Malcolm told 10News he decided to get involved because his daughter is a flight attendant and he was concerned for the safety of the two female flight attendants who were trying to calm Frohna down. "My first thought was, 'If somebody is out of control, could they hit the emergency exit, open the door and cause a problem?'" he said. After about 30 to 45 minutes of Frohna acting erratically, Malcolm said he and another passenger were finally able to restrain Frohna while flight attendants put handcuffs on him and tied him to a seat. "At that time, he was spitting at me and trying to punch me," said Malcolm. Harbor Police said Frohna was not cited and has not been charged with anything. However, the FBI has taken over the investigation. It would not comment on the case on Tuesday. http://www.10news.com/news/29840192/detail.html Back to Top Man sues Delta for $2 million over loud flight USA TODAY - An Oregon man who claims he suffered hearing loss because of a loud flight is suing Delta Air Lines for $2 million, The Oregonian newspaper of Portland reports. Kent J. Neilson's suit was filed Friday in Oregon's Multnomah County Circuit Court. In the suit, he says he suffered "extreme discomfort" during a four-hour fight from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Portland because of an unusually loud noise in the cabin. The Oregonian writes "the complaint describes Neilson only as an Oregon man" and "alleges that the noise during the April 28, 2010 flight was loudest in the area around his exit row seat, 10B." As a result, Neilson claims he suffered partial-but-permanent hearing loss in both ears. He adds he also suffers "disabling and severely aggravating" tinnitus in both ears because of the flight. In the suit, Neilson says that despite his complaints, flight attendants did not offer him ear plugs or request an unscheduled early landing because of the noise. Neilson also claims that toward the end of his flight, a Delta attendant acknowledged other passengers had complained about the noise on a previous flight. Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter tells Today in the Sky the airline cannot comment on pending litigation. http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2011/11/delta-lawsuit/570759/1 Back to Top FAA WINGS PROGRAM Welcome to the WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program! The objective of the WINGS Program is to address the primary accident causal factors that continue to plague the general aviation community. By focusing on this objective, we hope to reduce the number of accidents we see each year for the same causes. As you will see, it is not a simple "Award" program but is instead a true proficiency program, designed to help improve our skills and knowledge as pilots. The WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program is based on the premise that pilots who maintain currency and proficiency in the basics of flight will enjoy a safer and more stress-free flying experience. You select (in your Airman Profile) the category and class of aircraft in which you wish to receive training and in which you wish to demonstrate your flight proficiency. Requirements for each aircraft category and class include specific subjects and flight maneuvers. To ensure you receive a well-rounded learning experience, only certain flight activities fulfill specific credit requirements. More information about how these subject areas are selected is available on your MY WINGS page. The program encourages an on-going training program that provides you an opportunity to fly on a regular basis with an authorized flight instructor. The program is most effective if the training is accomplished regularly throughout the year, thus affording you the opportunity to fly in different seasons and in different flight conditions. Reviewing and refreshing your knowledge is just as important as actual flying. To meet this goal, we provide you many opportunities to complete online courses, attend seminars and other events, and participate in webinars. Many 3rd party activities, such as those offered by AOPA, ASA, Sporty's, Gleim Publications, and others, qualify for WINGS credit and will indicate such credit on their web site. In almost all cases, arrangements have been made with the FAASTeam to automatically provide WINGS credit after the activity. However, please allow at least 24 hours before inquiring about WINGS credits. Remember, if you have questions about a course or activity, check with the provider. If you have a question about the WINGS Program, contact Support@FAASafety.gov Note that completion of any Phase of WINGS satisfies the requirement for a flight review. So not only will you complete a review of the most common weak areas that have led others to the accident site, but you end up with a flight review, as well! In addition, we have two excellent resources to help you navigate the WINGS Program: the FAA Advisory Circular on the WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program, AC61-91J, available by clicking here, and a WINGS User's Guide, available by clicking here. An expanded explanation of the WINGS Program is available by clicking here. Thank you for participating in the WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program! http://www.faasafety.gov/WINGS/pub/learn_more.aspx Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC