Flight Safety Information April 27, 2012 - No. 085 In This Issue Fuel system foul-up blamed for latest Susi Air crash in Kalimantan IATA reveals four-step program for airline safety Data driven safety approach is best: A4A Woman removed from Des Moines-to-Chicago flight for raising a fuss FAA Wants Detailed Inspections of Boeing 757 Windshields Eclipse Receives Production Certificate from FAA for the Eclipse 550 PRISM CERTIFICATION CONSULTANTS Hijack threat forces PIA plane to land after takeoff from Karachi Rash on passenger causes quarantine of plane in Chicago Former TSA chief says airport security is broken Global Aerospace Launches New Aviation Safety Website Fuel system foul-up blamed for latest Susi Air crash in Kalimantan Fuel problems are thought to be behind the crash of a Susi Air aircraft that killed two en route from Balikpapan to Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan. The aircraft was conducting a mining survey when it lost contact with Balikpapan Airport five hours after take-off. "The pilot told air-traffic controllers that the aircraft suffered technical glitches in its fuel system before completely losing contact at around 5 p.m. local time," Susi Air owner Susi Pudjiastuti told media in Jakarta on Thursday. The victims were identified as pilot Jonathan Willis of South Africa and Ian Russell McDougall, an Australian surveyor working for PT Surtech. Their bodies were taken to Harapan Insan Sendawar Hospital in West Kutai and will be transported to Jakarta for autopsies. A search-and-rescue team comprising officers from the Melak Police and the East Kalimantan Mobile Brigade special operations unit located the crash site and the bodies of Willis and McDougall around midnight near Muara Ritan village in Tabang subdistrict. McDougall's body was removed from the wreckage of the plane on Thursday afternoon, according to Harmoniady, the head of the Balikpapan office of the National Search and Rescue Agency. "The removal and evacuation of the pilot's body from the wreckage was relatively easy," he said as reported by Antara news wire. Kasiadi, the operations manager of Sepinggan Airport, said that an employee of Susi Air received a text message sent from the plane before it crashed. "When trying to land, one of the victims managed to send a short notice to a colleague at Susi Air telling him that they were about to make an emergency landing," he said. The crash is the second air accident in East Kalimantan this year, following a Batavia Air jet bound for China that skidded off the runway at Sepinggan Airport in March. Susi said that she was shocked to hear of the deaths and that the aircraft was manufactured in 2009 and had logged only 2,000 flying hours. "We are still waiting for a thorough investigation by KNKT [National Committee for Transportation Safety]," Susi said. Separately, KNKT air transportation safety head Masruri said that an investigation was underway. "We sent two investigators and a maintenance engineer to the site to collect data and later investigate the crash," Masruri told the Post. The KKNT has another two pending investigations involving Susi Air aircraft dating to September, when two of the airline's planes crashed into mountainous terrain in Papua. Masruri said that human error and the difficult terrain were likely behind all the crashes. "Flying a plane in a mountainous area is difficult and sometimes pilots underestimate the conditions," he said. (nfo) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/04/27/fuel-system-foul-blamed-latest-susi-air-crash- kalimantan.html Back to Top IATA reveals four-step program for airline safety Pilot and engineer training, operational safety audit enhancements, group operations efficiency and harmonisation of regulations will be under focus over the next year as part of IATA's new air safety regulations. Announced this week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s 2012 Operations Committee said it had reached an agreement of four main priorities to lead the organisation's safety initiatives over the next 12 months. Topping the list this year is pilot and engineer safety, a priority IATA hopes to facilitate through its new Quality and Training International Civil Aviation Organisation, the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations and encouraging regulators to shift to a competency-based approach to training. As well, IATA said it was looking to promote mutual recognition of standards for pilots and engineer licensing and certification. An enhanced Operational Safety Audit program is also in the cards this year, with the plan expected to include recommended practises for quality control processes as well as self auditing in between the two- year audit cycle. "Safety remains the top priority. We have a full agenda to make an already safe industry even safer," IATA senior vice president for safety, operations and infrastructure Guenther Matschnigg said. "Industry and governments have always cooperated to achieve our common goals based on global standards and harmonization. "The need to take those even further in the areas of training, ground safety, and auditing will be our priority over the coming year." As well efficiency improvements on ground operations will also be looked at this year while the airline Group also hopes to harmonise the implementation of targeted safety measures in place of adding costly regulations that "do little to improve safety". http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com/article/83486/iata-reveals-four-step-program-for-airline-safety Back to Top Data driven safety approach is best: A4A US airline group Airlines for America (A4A) has urged the government to anchor future regulatory change on the findings of operational data in an effort to maintain safety. "We operate at a higher level of safety because we have become much better at identifying and managing risk and the demonstrated effectiveness of our safety systems, which gives us the confidence to undertake change, when warranted," said A4A senior vice president for safety, security and operations Thomas Hendricks, who testified before the House Aviation Subcommittee. Hendricks warned those involved in aviation safety of the need to stick to this disciplined approach, "We must resist the temptation to tinker with the safety system, lest we disturb what we have accomplished - and the benefits of that to our passengers and crew members." The same hearing heard one Department of Transportation official claim that while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains that the increase in operational errors by air traffic controllers is likely due to improved reporting practices, that assertion is not actually based on fact. "While enhanced reporting has yielded important data on safety issues like operational errors and runway incursions, the FAA will need to ensure that the data are accurate, comprehensive, and effectively analysed to better identify baselines and safety trends," said the official Hendricks said a data driven approach improves safety through identifying emerging patterns and allowing the prompt deployment of focused resources.: "Risk assessment has been used in aviation for many years. What has changed since the 1990s is the volume and accessibility of operational data that can be applied to safety issues. Airline safety professionals work in an information-rich environment. "That means that we now rely on data-driven analysis, which frequently involves the combined scrutiny of the FAA, employees and management. This yields a high-definition picture, if you will, of operating environments and transient events, and thus more refined risk assessments. "Some of the most effective of these safety-data programmes are voluntary. They are very tangible manifestations of the industry's willingness to explore new means and develop new relationships within the aviation community to improve safety. In short, a cultural shift has occurred that promotes and enables a higher level of safety." http://www.airtrafficmanagement.net/2012/04/data-driven-safety-approach-is-best-a4a/ Back to Top Woman removed from Des Moines-to-Chicago flight for raising a fuss DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- A woman who raised a fuss about her missing wallet was removed from a Des Moines-to-Chicago flight. A Des Moines police report says the 33-year-old woman had gotten on the United Express flight Wednesday afternoon. She soon realized her wallet was missing. A quick check of the plane's restrooms turned up nothing, so the woman began arguing with flight attendants and demanding to be let off the plane. As the arguments escalated, the United personnel decided she should be removed from the plane. She was interviewed by security officials. They checked her background as a precaution but found no reason for alarm. Her wallet wasn't in the Des Moines airport either. It turned up in Chicago, on the plane she'd been removed from. Back to Top FAA Wants Detailed Inspections of Boeing 757 Windshields . By ANDY PASZTOR (WSJ) U.S. aviation regulators are proposing stepped-up checks or replacement of suspect windshields on more than 600 Boeing 757 jetliners, seeking to resolve years of safety concerns over short-circuits and fires resulting from cockpit windows. The Federal Aviation Administration's proposed directive for the widely used airliners calls for more frequent and detailed inspections of windshields and anticipates that airlines will replace some of the windshields. The FAA's move directly affects more than 660 Boeing 757 planes operated by U.S. carriers. Regulators in other countries are expected to require similar safety enhancements for approximately 300 additional 757s flown by foreign airlines, according to airline industry and government officials. The proposal was posted Tuesday on the Federal Register's website, where government regulations are released, and covers most of the 757 jets currently in service at U.S. airlines. The windshield problems have been identified mostly on planes built before 2004, when safety experts began looking into the issue. The FAA's proposal-subject to aviation industry comment before it becomes final-follows nearly five years of debate among industry and federal safety experts over how to deal with recurrent cracking, smoke, and flames resulting from malfunctioning electrical connections and heaters in the windshields of thousands of Boeing 757, 767 and 777 jets. Starting in the fall of 2007, federal accident investigators criticized delays in fixing what they called hazardous windshields and urged faster replacement of those with defective wiring. Between 2001 and 2011, Boeing Co. BA -0.12%has identified electrical problems involving windshields on all three of its models. Over that time span, Boeing said it is aware of 39 incidents. On Tuesday, a Boeing spokeswoman said the company supports the proposed rule, which follows similar voluntary recommendations Boeing made to airlines. The recommendations aren't binding. She said airlines have the option of continuing inspections or choosing to retrofit windshields. The FAA said the latest proposal was prompted by numerous reports of malfunctioning electrical connections in the windshields. During one midair incident, according to the FAA, the crew of a 757 experienced smoke in the cockpit, followed by cracking of the inner pane of the co-pilot's windshield. This fracture "resulted in total loss of [the co-pilot's] outside visibility and small shards of glass striking" the co-pilot, the agency said. Many of the windshield problems occurred at or near cruise altitude and resulted in emergency diversions. Government and industry officials haven't identified any instances of decompression resulting from the faulty windows. Cockpit windshields have more than one pane, and safety experts have said none of the incidents resulted in cracks extending through all the layers or causing sudden loss of cockpit or cabin pressure. But the issue of smoldering windshields has caused controversy over the years, despite various mandatory and voluntary efforts to reduce risks. The debate was revived in the spring of 2011, when during a two-week period short-circuits cracked or burned portions of cockpit windows on a pair of American Airlines 767 jets. One of the planes flew hundreds of miles after the first sign of trouble on an international flight, without declaring an emergency or diverting to a closer airport. AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, for instance, years ago voluntarily decided to gradually replace certain windshield designs on portions of its fleet. But other carriers have stopped short of such action. In its latest move, the FAA said it is acting to "prevent smoke and fire in the flight deck, which can lead to loss of visibility, and injuries or incapacitation of the flight crew." Under the proposed rule, some inspections would have to be repeated every 500 flight hours. Back to Top Eclipse Receives Production Certificate from FAA for the Eclipse 550 Eclipse Aerospace, Inc., manufacturer of the world's first very-light jet (VLJ), today announced that it has received Production Certificate #550 from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), paving the way for production of the new Eclipse 550 twin-engine jet. Albuquerque, NM, Apr 25, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Eclipse Aerospace, Inc., manufacturer of the world's first very-light jet (VLJ), today announced that it has received Production Certificate #550 from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), paving the way for production of the new Eclipse 550 twin-engine jet. Representatives from the FAA presented the production certificate to Cary Winter, Senior Vice President of Eclipse Aerospace, earlier today at a ceremony held at Eclipse's Albuquerque headquarters. A production certificate allows a company to manufacture aircraft and parts in conformance with FAA- approved type design, and is only granted when the FAA has determined that the organization's manufacturing processes and quality systems comply with all federal regulations. "Armed now with a fully certified aircraft, a certified production process, and an established supply chain, Eclipse is well positioned to re-introduce the Eclipse Jet to new production. Earning our FAA production certificate means we have successfully built a reliable, high-quality manufacturing process, and are well positioned to expedite aircraft deliveries," said Winter. The rigorous FAA production certificate approval process includes the exhaustive evaluation of an organization's manufacturing processes, quality control, and production inspection system. A team of FAA inspectors performs multiple audits on the organization and examines approved design data for compliance. "This was a great effort by our Quality, Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, and Facilities teams. We also appreciate the professionalism and dedication the FAA MIDO demonstrated throughout this initiative, and look forward to advancing the Eclipse 550 aircraft to full scale production," commented Winter. The new model Eclipse 550 twin-engine jet is built upon the same proven Eclipse 500 platform, but will deliver with the next evolution of aircraft systems for general aviation jets. Systems upgrades include auto-throttles, synthetic vision, enhanced vision, and a redundant flight management system. First deliveries are expected in mid 2013. For more information, including how to order, visit www.ECLIPSE.aero . SOURCE: Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. Back to Top Back to Top Hijack threat forces PIA plane to land after takeoff from Karachi (AFP) A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 777 aircraft takes off from Karachi airport on November 11, 2010. - Photo by AFP KARACHI: An airliner was forced to land shortly after takeoff in Pakistan on Friday after a passenger made a hijack threat, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) officials said. The domestic flight carrying more than 50 passengers and five crew had left Karachi on its way to the eastern city of Bahawalpur, a spokesman for the national flag-carrier said. "Soon after the plane took off a passenger on board warned the staff that he could hijack the plane," Sultan Hasan told AFP. "The captain was informed of the situation, who returned the plane back after getting the nod from the control tower." The passenger was detained and handed over to security personnel for questioning, PIA said, and the plane was searched and found safe. Pakistan's aviation industry has been in the spotlight after a Boeing 737 of private airline Bhoja Air crashed near Islamabad on April 20, killing all 127 people on board Back to Top Rash on passenger causes quarantine of plane in Chicago CHICAGO (Reuters) - Passengers and crew were held for more than two hours on an airplane at Chicago's Midway Airport on Thursday while a passenger with a rash was checked out for a possible infectious disease, but none was found, authorities said. The Delta Air Lines flight from Detroit was met by Chicago health and fire officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was contacted, after the report of a passenger suffering from "a medical problem," said city aviation department spokeswoman Karen Pride. The CDC said the passenger had been in Africa and a family member had reported concerns that the rash could be monkeypox, a rare and potentially deadly viral disease that occurs mostly in central and west Africa. "Based on the patient's symptoms and photographs of the rash, it does not appear that the signs and symptoms are consistent with a monkeypox infection," the CDC said. Pride said the department was notified at about 3:45 p.m. local time that the flight was landing and the passengers and crew were allowed to leave the airplane by about 6:15 p.m. with no one taken to a hospital. The CDC said the ill passenger was advised to seek medical care and health officials believed there was "very little risk to other passengers." Back to Top Former TSA chief says airport security is broken WASHINGTON - Kip Hawley, the former head of the Transportation Security Administration, says airport security is broken and should be fixed. Hawley, who headed the agency from 2005 to 2009, contends that TSA became too rigid after its creation a decade ago and blanketed airline passenger with too much unnecessary screening. Instead, Hawley said Thursday, the agency should focus more on high-risk threats that could cause a catastrophe. For example, he said, knives no longer pose a threat because cockpit doors on airline planes are hardened and locked. So the list of prohibited items should drop to guns, bombs and toxicants, he said. He also would encourage airlines to drop baggage fees in exchange for lower government taxes so that fewer bags are carried on. "The amount of time we spend fishing through bags and pulling out prohibited items is a waste," said Hawley, who is promoting his book, Permanent Emergency: Inside the TSA and the Fight for the Future of American Security, and spoke at George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute. Instead, Hawley said, the TSA should monitor passenger behavior for threats and reward officers who take initiative to find threats. He would encourage more random security checks. He said the TSA should "act now to make some major changes" to avoid the routine criticism of the agency and resistance to security measures such as routine patdowns. Hardly a week goes by without complaints from passengers about the screening, many of which go viral on the Internet. Among the latest: *Rep. Francisco Canseco, R-Texas, complained that a TSA officer patted him down so aggressively last week in San Antonio that it hurt, so he pushed the officer's hand away. After sorting out the dispute, law enforcement officers didn't file charges against either man. *A 4-year-old girl became hysterical during an airport patdown April 15 in Wichita that her mother criticized TSA in a Facebook post as treating her like a terrorist. TSA defended its officers and said they explained why the child needed additional screening. "We live in a world where TSA is in a permanent emergency," Hawley says. John Pistole, the current TSA chief and a former top official in the FBI, has been focusing more attention on the riskiest travelers. During the past year, the agency has reduced patdowns for children and the elderly, provided faster screening at some airports for passengers who provide more information about themselves and let uniformed pilots skirt regular screening lines at some airports. TSA officials also have maintained that additional screening is sometimes needed and that random checks still occur, such as the one for Canseco. "TSA is focused on providing the most effective security in the most efficient manner, while ensuring the freedom of movement of people and goods," said Sterling Payne, an agency spokeswoman, who added that the agency has "the utmost respect" for Hawley. "The agency is moving away from one-size-fits-all screening to progress toward improving both security and the passenger experience," Payne said. For his part, Hawley said Pistole is a good leader for the agency and he hopes he serves the remainder of his 10-year tenure. http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2012-04-26/Former-TSA-chief-says-airport-security-is- broken/54562740/1?csp=34news Back to Top Global Aerospace Launches New Aviation Safety Website Parsippany, N.J. - Global Aerospace, Inc., a leading provider of aerospace insurance products and services, announced the launch of a new website dedicated to providing safety resources to the aviation community. Developed through the company's SM4 safety program, the new website is an indispensable resource for aviation professionals who are serious about improving and promoting safety within their organizations. The new website can be seen at: http://SM4.global-aero.com. "The articles and tools found on the new website can have an immediate, positive effect on a company's safety program," said program director Richard Keltner. "The entire site is dedicated to the improvement of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and safety culture, regardless of a company's size or specialization within aviation." Highlights of the new SM4 website include: Expanded Resource Library with Powerful Search Tools Users can access the numerous articles and tools on the website covering a wide range of safety issues free of charge. The site's search tools allow location of these resources by keyword, by topic or by author. On-Demand PDF Creation All articles and tools in the Resource section can be immediately converted to PDF files that can be printed or distributed by email. This allows users to make the content on the site available to the people within their organizations as part of their SMS Safety Promotion efforts. The SM4 Safety Blog The new SM4 website is home to an aviation safety blog with insights and timely information provided by SM4's partners and the leadership team. The goal of the blog is to create cutting edge conversations about the most important topics in aviation safety and risk management. Information on SM4 Partners The new SM4 website provides important information about the SM4 Partners. These organizations and individuals are highly regarded experts who collaborate with Global Aerospace to provide current, high quality aviation safety support tools and information. Each partner provides a unique focus on each of the components that add up to a comprehensive safety system. The SM4 Partners are: · Baldwin Aviation · Convergent Performance · Fireside Partners LLC · ICF SH&E · MedAire, Inc. The new SM4 website also contains information on upcoming SM4 Safety Seminars sponsored by Global Aerospace, current and past issues of the SM4 Safety Newsletter and links to other safety-related websites. About Global Aerospace Global Aerospace is the world's leading provider of aerospace insurance with a worldwide portfolio of clients engaged in every aspect of the aviation and space industries. Headquartered in London, Global Aerospace has offices in Canada, Paris, Zurich and throughout the United States. Across the world, the company employs more than 350 people. With experience dating back to the 1920s, the company's underwriting is backed by a pool of high quality insurance companies representing some of the most respected names in the business. The SM4 Safety Program is fully funded by Global Aerospace and made available to customers and non-customers alike. http://rotor.com/Publications/RotorNewssupregsup/tabid/177/newsid1237/75399/mid/1237/Default.aspx Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP, FRAeS, FISASI CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC