Flight Safety Information March 12, 2012 - No. 050 In This Issue Helicopter safety problem persists 3 years after crash Pilot's take-off left 'no option for safe outcome' if engine failed Boston to Chicago flight diverted to Buffalo after passenger made threat on board American Airlines flight delayed by 'altercation' involving 2 crew members Air controller involved in 2nd potential collision ARGUS PROS Global Auditing FAA: Air travel numbers to double in next two decades Dreamliner, Sukhoi superjet to be showcased at India Aviation Ukrainian jet has sat at U.S. airport for years Helicopter safety problem persists 3 years after crash A Sikorsky helicopter like this one crashed into the ocean southeast of St. John's, N.L., on March 12, 2009. Chopper safety fix in 2012: oil companiesSikorsky S-92Transport Canada too slow: chopper crash familiesCougar report puts heat on Ottawa, industry The wife of one of the 17 offshore oil industry workers who died three years ago today when a Cougar helicopter crashed southeast of Newfoundland is renewing calls to improve offshore chopper safety in the province. "It makes me angry, and there are times when it makes me really angry," said Lori Chynn, whose husband, John, was aboard the Sikorsky model S-92a that lost oil pressure shortly after takeoff and plunged into the ocean mid-morning on March 12, 2009. Since the crash, the federal Transportation Safety Board has recommended offshore helicopters meet the industry standard of being capable to continue to fly 30 minutes after losing oil pressure. Despite repeated calls for Transportation Canada to enforce the regulation, it has yet to happen. Chynn and the families of others who died in crash want the transportation minister to remove the special exemption that allows the S-92a to skip the 30-minute run dry rule - a year after the safety board recommended the change. "They dropped the ball. It doesn't seem like it's a priority. We had a letter come back saying for the federal government, safety is priority ... but again, where's the action?" Chynn asked. Transport Canada said it's still negotiating with other agencies, such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). But the FAA has already said it won't force manufacturers to make helicopters that can run dry for 30 minutes, even though other models do. Shawn Coyle, a helicopter test pilot and instructor, said he's satisfied Sikorsky has adequately retrofitted its S-92s to prevent another catastrophic oil loss. "Aviation is full of stories like this. The important thing is that we learn the lessons, and apply the corrective things and move on," said Coyle. The 2009 crash hasn't slowed S-92 sales. Last month, Sikorsky signed its biggest contract for the model - for 16 aircraft at about $15 million each. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2012/03/12/nl-cougar- third-312.html?cmp=rss Back to Top Pilot's take-off left 'no option for safe outcome' if engine failed A plane would have probably crashed if an engine failed during a flight where the pilot allegedly flouted take-off rules, Queenstown District Court has heard. Senior flight expert Colin Glasgow has today (Monday) explained that there would be "no option for a safe outcome" in the event of engine failure during a Sydney-bound Pacific Blue flight's take-off from Queenstown Airport at 5.25pm on June 22, 2010. The pilot of the aircraft, a 54-year-old Auckland man, is charged with operating an aircraft in a careless manner. He has been granted interim name suppression. Glasgow is a retired Civil Aviation Authority airline inspector and a former flight operations manager for Air New Zealand. He has 22,500 hours' flight experience. He told the court that every pilot must complete a pre-flight plan which states what will happen if an engine fails. For the defendant's chosen departure route, his required emergency return plan was to complete a figure-8 circuit and land at Queenstown. "In taking off at the time and in the weather that [the pilot] did, he effectively took away the procedure that would have saved them if a malfunction occurred in this critical stage of flight," Glasgow says. Civil Aviation Authority alleges the pilot shouldn't have taken off after 5.14pm that day because the airline's rules stipulate Queenstown departures must be at least 30 minutes before dusk, or evening civil twilight. At the time of departure - amid strong southerly conditions - cross-winds were at 17 knots. The legal requirement is 16 knots on a wet day at Queenstown Airport. Flying into low cloud, the pilot "erroneously fell short" of the visual requirements which state pilots must be able to clearly see terrain till reaching an airspace area between Deer Park Heights and above The Remarkables road, Glasgow says. Glasgow detailed a series of "unusual" aspects of the pilot's departure in dark, wintry conditions that day. Shortly after taking off, the pilot powered off to avoid low cloud, with the aircraft descending 300 feet (90 metres) to 700 feet (215m) above Kelvin Peninsula and triggering an automated "don't sink" alert. The plane then increased speed, which led to the pilot's first officer Christian Rush to call out "speed, speed" to alert his captain that he was close to the 200 knot limit for the aircraft wing flaps. "This is not a normal manoeuvre for an airline pilot to practice in any context and the power reduction required to keep the aircraft speed within limits would have surprised the defendant," Glasgow says. The pilot then tried to engage autopilot but because of the aircraft's rapid speed changes, autopilot wouldn't engage. "This would have been a distraction to the defendant and it would have added significantly to his workload as he hand-flew the aircraft through a descending turn out over the lake in these conditions of poor light and visibility," Glasgow says. While turning the aircraft around Deer Park Heights, the plane banked at beyond 35 degrees, triggering a "bank angle" warning. "This is not normal. The actual bank angle required to navigate [this area] is typically 15 degrees." The aircraft's stalling speed increases as the bank angle increases. "None of this is part of a normal take-off procedure," Glasgow says. "Pilots will fly an entire career and not hear these warnings other than in a simulator while undergoing training." Glasgow told the court that the pilot cut a corner near Slope Hill, meaning it impacted on the ability to reach a required altitude further on in his departure flight path. The pilot also exceeded the turning speed limit "at a number of points" during departure. Furthermore, he didn't reach the required altitude in the airspace between Deer Park Heights and above The Remarkables road and that he only just reached the required altitude for terrain clearance above the Southern Alps - on two engines. "Given that aviation is predicated on the worst thing happening at the worst time, this aspect of the departure was certainly the worst time. If the aircraft suffered a malfunction at this point, again the defendant had no safe alternatives," Glasgow says. "If the defendant had to return [to Queenstown] he would be trying to land a Boeing 737-800 aircraft in a single engine state, which is far more difficult and in poor or no daylight, on Queenstown's narrow and short runway, with no approach lights or navigation hazard lights." The defence case - which is yet to be heard - argues that when the pilot analysed the manual, he thought he was obliged to follow the rules that specified a requirement for a diversion to Christchurch in the event of engine failure. The defended hearing before Judge Kevin Phillips continues this week. http://www.scene.co.nz/pilots-takeoff-left-no-option-for-safe-outcome-if-engine- failed/297752a1.page Back to Top Boston to Chicago flight diverted to Buffalo after passenger made threat on board BUFFALO, N.Y. (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - A JetBlue flight from Boston headed to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport was diverted to Buffalo, N.Y., after a bomb threat. According to a FOX 25 viewer tip, Flight 923 was diverted to Buffalo around 8 a.m. after someone on the plane made a threat. The plane landed safely. Passengers did have to be taken off the flight while police dogs searched the plane. Read more: http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/national/boston-to-chicago-flight- diverted-to-buffalo-after-passenger-made-threat-on-board-20120312#ixzz1oucIo5UW Back to Top American Airlines flight delayed by 'altercation' involving 2 crew members DALLAS (AP) - Passengers on American Airlines Flight 2332 were settling in for a trip to Chicago on Friday when they say a flight attendant took over the public-address system and launched into a rant that included references to 9-11 and the safety of their plane. At first puzzled, then frightened, several passengers wrestled the flight attendant into a seat while the plane was still on the ground at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. As American Airlines Flight #2332 was preparing for takeoff from DFW, a flight attendant began talking agitatedly about 9/ll on the plane's public address system. She was forcibly subdued and taken off plane. The pilot returned the plane to the gate, where it was met by airport police and the FBI. After a delay of more than an hour, the plane finally took off. A federal law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing said that airport police determined the incident was a medical issue and not a security threat. The official said the flight attendant was taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas for evaluation. American said two crew members went to hospitals after the incident. Bethany Christakos of Dallas, seated toward the rear of the plane, said passengers started "freaking out" as one of the flight attendants launched into a rambling, 15- minute speech. "She said, 'I'm not responsible for this plane crashing,'" Christakos said. Another passenger, Stephen Tremunde, said, "We were pretty frightened. She made two comments that if we didn't go back to the gate we would crash." "The last thing I heard her say before someone pulled the mic out of her hand was, 'Hey pilot, I'm not going to be responsible for your crash,'" said Greg Lozano of Elmhurst, Ill. Brad LeClear of Fox Lake, Ill., said he was one of several passengers who restrained the flight attendant. She said something about 9-11 - that she wished she could have stopped the terror attacks that used hijacked jetliners, he said. "She mentioned being bipolar, and I asked her if she had taken her medicine, and she said, no," he said. LeClear said he felt sorry for the flight attendant, but was glad to land safely in Chicago. If an incident like that happened in flight, he said, "She could have opened the door and done something to jeopardize the safety of all the passengers." Other passengers stood at their seats to see what was happening in the front of the economy-class section. Some called 911. In a passenger's video obtained by The Associated Press, a woman can be heard sobbing while another woman reassures her, "It's OK ... thank goodness we're on the ground." The pilot radioed air traffic controllers for permission to return to the gate and to be met by airport police. American Airlines spokesman Ed Martelle confirmed that "an incident occurred involving some of the cabin crew," and that two flight attendants were taken to local hospitals for treatment. He declined to provide their names or information about their injuries or conditions. Martelle said the cabin crew was replaced before the plane took off for Chicago's O'Hare Airport behind schedule. He said customers were not in danger at any time. A spokesman for DFW Airport said no state criminal charges were being considered. FBI spokeswoman Lydia Maese said agents responded as they routinely do when there is a report of a possible crime on a jetliner, but they decided that there was no need to investigate further. Airline industry officials said incidents such as Friday's are extremely rare. A JetBlue Airways flight attendant, Steven Slater, made a flamboyant exit from his job in 2010 when he took over the PA system, cursed a passenger, snatched a beer, pulled the emergency chute and slid to the tarmac. Slater said he cracked under the pressure of health and family problems. The Federal Aviation Administration requires pilots to pass medical and psychological tests, but it doesn't require the same for flight attendants. American declined to say whether it screens applicants for mental health Back to Top Air controller involved in 2nd potential collision JOAN LOWY, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - An air traffic controller who nearly caused a midair collision last year has again been relieved of duty after putting two planes on converging courses. The case raises questions about whether employee rights are trumping safety at the Federal Aviation Administration. Shortly after beginning the 7 p.m. work shift at the FAA radar facility at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport in Mississippi on Feb. 29, controller Robert Beck ordered an Air Force C-130, a four-engine turboprop, to increase its altitude from 2,000 feet to 3,000 feet and to adjust its heading. That put the jet on a converging course with a twin- engine turboprop owned by the Homeland Security Department, according to an FAA employee with knowledge of the incident. The controller whom Beck had relieved was standing in the back of the radar room while taking a break. He noticed the mistake and alerted Beck so he was able to separate the planes, avoiding a possible collision, said the employee with knowledge of the incident. The planes were just north of Gulfport at the time. The employee wasn't authorized to speak publicly and commented only on condition of not being named. An FAA report on the incident, released Friday in response to an Associated Press request under the Freedom of Information Act, confirms most of the details, although it doesn't name the controller involved. An FAA analysis of radar data shows the planes came within 2.59 miles laterally and 300 feet vertically of each other. Regulations require a minimum separation distance between planes of three miles laterally or 1,000 feet vertically. Air traffic was light at the time, leaving Beck - who has a history of disciplinary problems - with no planes to handle except the two that he put on a converging course, the employee said. Beck didn't return a telephone call from the AP seeking comment. The FAA report said the controller who made the error initially thought he'd been told the planes were at the same altitude, which is why he told the Air Force jet to go up to 3,000 feet. The controller has been removed from directing air traffic and is "currently assigned to administrative duties while the FAA evaluates the individual's future status with the agency," the FAA said in a statement. FAA officials are "committed to ensuring the safety of our nation's airspace for the traveling public, and we take seriously and investigate all reported infractions," the statement said. "We are working with (the National Air Traffic Controllers Association) to implement a professional standards pilot program that will help improve performance levels and conduct among employees." The program, which is in place at 21 facilities so far, provides an opportunity for employees to address the performance or conduct of their peers, the FAA said. The agency employs about 15,600 controllers and has fired more than 130 since October 2009. Ralph Humphrey, Beck's former boss, said he tried repeatedly last year to get the controller fired, but FAA officials in Washington ignored his requests. "It's typical of trying to get rid of problem employees" at FAA, said Humphrey, who was the air traffic manager in Gulfport until he retired in January. "It is damn difficult to get rid of an employee for cause." One reason is that union officials exploit complex employee protection rules even when controllers are unfit, Humphrey said. Efforts to obtain comment from the controllers association were not immediately successful. A mistake by Beck last June caused a regional airliner and a small plane to come within 300 feet of colliding with each other, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a report released in January. Investigators were told Beck had "a history of professional deficiencies that included taking shortcuts with phraseology and not complying with standard checklist procedures." He has been suspended several times within the last five years for tardiness, absenteeism and failure to report an arrest for driving under the influence, the report said. Beck, a 23-year veteran, was ultimately disciplined by the FAA and required to receive professional re-training but only because he didn't disclose the June incident at the time it occurred, Humphrey said. It was only recently that Beck had been allowed to direct air traffic again without another controller sitting beside him to catch any errors, the former manager said. Bill Voss, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation in Alexandria, Va., said Beck's case underscores a larger problem of the FAA's difficulty of firing employees who are safety risks. "It should never be easy to fire a person at any company, but when an FAA manager has legitimate concerns about safety there needs to be a streamlined process where they can work with the union in order to take timely action," Voss said. FAA officials should put "a safety valve" in their contract so that managers can "pull a flag that says this isn't a normal situation, this is a safety problem," he said. The FAA has recently introduced a new system for reporting mistakes that encourages controllers to disclose their errors. In return, the agency has agreed not to punish controllers as long as the mistakes aren't due to negligence. However, David Conley, the president of the professional association that represents FAA managers, testified before a House committee last year that the new system is preventing managers from "using their experience and intuition to coach, mentor and train controllers toward correcting deficiencies." The purpose of the new reporting program is to gain more information on errors so that safety trends can be analyzed and problems spotted ahead of time. Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Air-controller-involved-in-2nd- potential-collision-3395079.php#ixzz1ouTO4uGS Back to Top Back to Top FAA: Air travel numbers to double in next two decades The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has projected that airline passenger travel will nearly double in the next 20 years. The report underscores the need to continue moving forward with implementation of FAA's next generation air transportation system (NextGen) to accommodate the projected growth. "More and more Americans are relying on air travel, and the Obama Administration is committed to making sure the US can meet our growing aviation demands," said US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. "Our investment in NextGen is the key to getting passengers and cargo to their destinations more safely, faster, and with less impact on the environment." The aviation standard for measuring commercial air travel volume is revenue passenger miles (RPM) which represents one paying passenger traveling one mile. The FAA forecasts that RPMs will nearly double over the next two decades, from 815 billion in 2011 to 1.57 trillion in 2032, with an average increase of 3.2 percent per year. The number of commercial operations at FAA and contract towers is expected to increase by more than 45 percent from current levels. "This year, more people will be flying more miles, and we expect that to continue in future years," said FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta. "The American people deserve an aviation system that can keep pace with our increasing reliance on air travel and NextGen will help us get there." Through NextGen, the FAA is transforming the US air transportation system with the use of satellite-based technology that will help passengers reach their destinations more quickly, increase air traffic capacity, and enhance safety. New, more precise routes will also reduce fuel burn, carbon emissions, and noise. According to the forecast, the total number of people flying commercially on US airlines will increase by 0.2 percent to 732 million in 2012, then to 746 million in 2013, and then increase more rapidly to 1.2 billion in 2032. The aviation system is expected to reach one billion passengers per year in 2024. Cargo traffic on US airlines, as measured by revenue ton miles (RTMs - one ton of cargo flying one mile - is projected to more than double over the course of the forecast, growing at an average rate of 4.9 percent per year. The forecast also notes that in 2011, the average percent of occupied seat miles per plane on commercial flights reached a record level of 82 percent. These load factors are expected to reach an average of 83.4 percent in 2032. In 2011, traffic growth remained modest with passengers increasing by 2.5 percent from 2010 and RPMs up 3.5 percent from 2010. http://www.eturbonews.com/28284/faa-air-travel-numbers-double-next-two-decades Back to Top Dreamliner, Sukhoi superjet to be showcased at India Aviation HYDERABAD: The Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Sukhoi Superjet 100 are all set to be showcased for the first time in India at India Aviation 2012, beginning here on March 14. The Dreamliner and Sukhoi Superjet 100 will be among the 21 flying machines which will be on static display. About 250 aviation companies from 18 countries would be exhibiting their products and services at the international exhibition and conference on civil aviation. While US aircraft manufacturer Boeing would bring the world's most advanced commercial airplane, Russia's UAC-Sukhoi would display their much-anticipated Sukhoi Superjet 100. Making their debut at the India Aviation, Brazil's Embraer will showcase their new business jets Phenom 300 and 100. Russian Aerospace Organisation IRKUT will also be participating in IA for the first time. Airbus, Bombardier, Dassault, Gulfstream, Hawker beechcraft and Piaggio Aero will be other leading business and commercial aircraft manufacturers which will participate in the show. The event will also witness presence of major helicopter manufacturers including Augusta Westland, BELL-Textron group, Eurocopter-EADS and UTC Sikorsky. This year, Britain would be the partner country, France the focus country and the US guest country. The third edition of the event will be inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh at Begumpet airport in the city. The event is being organised by the ministry of civil aviation and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and it would be open on the first three days for business visitors only while it would be thrown open for the public on the last two days. Lt Col Vivek Kodikal, regional director (trade fairs), FICCI, said the exhibition, conference, CEO Forum, chalets, static display, demonstration flights and media conferences would be the components of the show. Eminent speakers, policy makers and experts will address a conference on civil aviation with focus on policy issues and business aspects. Kodikal made it clear that it is purely a business event aimed at attracting investments in the aerospace sector, into the country in general and Andhra Pradesh in particular. "This is not a mela," he said. Andhra Pradesh is developing country's first aviation Special Economic Zone in Hyderabad. Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) at its facility here is manufacturing cabins for Sikrosky-92 helicopters. GMR is also developing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility. The event will also feature a special session by Andhra Pradesh government to discuss its plans to connect tier II and tier III cities by 70-seater aircraft. The exhibition area this time will be 20,000 square metres, up from 12,000 square metres in 2010. The officials, however, said it was not possible to give any figures on the business generated in each edition as the participating companies don't share the sales, MOUs and other details. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-aviation-2012/Dreamliner-Sukhoi- superjet-to-be-showcased-at-India-Aviation/articleshow/12230531.cms Back to Top Ukrainian jet has sat at U.S. airport for years MARQUETTE, Michigan (AP) - A Ukrainian jet that has been sitting at a Michigan airport for nearly three years is one step closer to moving on. The Marquette County Board approved a temporary lease this week designed to help a Spanish company inspect and remove the Ilyushin IL-78 tanker jet that has been parked at Sawyer International Airport since it landed there on July 17, 2009. The jet was making a fueling stop at the former U.S. Air Force base during a trip from Texas to Pakistan when it was ordered held at the airport because of a legal dispute over non-payment of $63,910 for goods and services, The Mining Journal newspaper reported. Marquette County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Solka eventually awarded possession of the jet to Headlands Limited, a Spanish company that said it had a $1 million lien on the aircraft. Sawyer Operations Manager Scott Erbisch said representatives of Headlands Limited recently requested use of an aircraft hangar at Sawyer to perform a detailed inspection of the jet, which may have been damaged by the elements or by having fuel in its tanks for a long time. The plane won't be moved until the Spanish company pays $35,000 in fees for the use of the hangar, electricity and gas heat, and snow removal services needed to move the plane inside. Back to Top Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP, FRAeS, FISASI CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC