Flight Safety Information July 27, 2012 - No. 153 In This Issue FedEx Jet Issues MayDay Call Mechanical failure cited in Harrier crash Three people killed in Arizona plane crash NTSB: Pilot killed in Nevada crash was low on gas PRISM Certification Support Airbus delays new passenger jet A350 after glitch Southwest Airlines Announces Executive Changes AirAsia purchases Batavia Air for $80 million in cash FedEx Jet Issues MayDay Call Shannon Airport's emergency plan was put into action for a time yesterday (Thursday) after a the crew of transatlantic cargo jet issued a MayDay distress call and requested to make an emergency landing. FedEx flight FDX-78, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F jet, was en route from Memphis, Tennessee in the US to Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris. At around 4.30pm, when the flight was about 150 kilometres west of Donegal, the crew alerted air traffic controllers at Shannon to an unspecified technical problem. The crew informed controllers that they wished to divert to Shannon and requested that emergency crews be on standby. Airport fire and rescue service crews mobilised to strategic locations along Shannon's main runway up to 20 minutes prior to the jet's expected arrival. In the meantime, local authority fire crews from Shannon Town and Ennis along with HSE emergency medical services from Ennis, Shannon and Limerick City were also sent to the airport. When the jet was still 15 minutes from Shannon, the crew notified controllers that the situation on board had been resolved and they planned to continue onto Paris. Emergency procedures at Shannon were then stood down. The FedEx jet continued onto Paris where it landed safely at 7.15pm local time. Shannon is one of several airports in Western Europe designated as an emergency landing site for aircraft travelling on the North Atlantic route. At 3.2kms in length, Shannon's main runway is the longest in Ireland and capable of handling the world's largest cargo and passenger jets. ttp://www.clareherald.com/news/134-transport-a-travel/4237-fedex-jet-issues-mayday- call.html Back to Top Mechanical failure cited in Harrier crash The crash landing of the AV-8B Harrier aircraft near Felicity, Calif. Wednesday was caused by an unspecified mechanical failure, military officials stated. The site of the crash landing is still cordoned off by military and law enforcement personnel because two 500-pound bombs attached to the harrier that did not detonate upon impact still pose a danger to the public. The jet was carrying the bombs en route to the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range to drop the ordnance on targets. A Crash Fire Rescue Team from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma is "trying to work as quickly as possible" to deal with the threat, said Capt. Staci Reidinger, director of public affairs for MCAS Yuma. Marine Corps officials were in the process of deciding what to do with the bombs Thursday afternoon. "They are working... to make a decision on which way to go," Reidinger added, noting that one option is to bury the bombs at the crash site and to detonate them there. The second option is to disarm the bombs and to transport them to a Marine Corps ordnance disposal location. If the bombs are detonated at the site, the public may hear a loud noise and feel a slight tremor in the vicinity. "They are all doing all the calculations on the blow radius," Reidinger said. "It is not a very large radius that would be impacted because it would be below ground." The AV-8B Harrier crashed during a training exercise about 15 miles northwest of MCAS Yuma at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The pilot, whose identity will not be released at present because the investigation is ongoing, was able to safely eject from the fighter aircraft before it hit the ground. According to Reidinger, the pilot ejected safely and upon landing used his cell phone to call the base for help. He was able to walk away from the scene. The aircraft was a total loss, officials said. Gary Redfern of Imperial, Calif. witnessed the jet crash from a nearby road along with a friend. "We were southbound on Ogilby Road at 3:30 p.m. going from Palo Verde to Yuma and suddenly I saw a large plume of black smoke rise up from the open desert maybe a mile to our southeast," he said. "As we got closer the smoke dissipated somewhat, but did linger." After the pilot called the base, a Search and Rescue helicopter and crew stationed at MCAS Yuma was dispatched to the area of the crash to transport the pilot. The pilot, who did not suffer major injuries, was taken to Yuma Regional Medical Center for observation and was released the same day. The multimillion-dollar Harrier was assigned to Marine Attack Training Squadron 203, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Air Wing stationed at MCAS Cherry Point in North Carolina. Also known as the Hawks, the squadron trains pilots how to fly Harrier aircraft. The Hawks are in the Yuma area to conduct aerial combat training operations. Read more: http://www.yumasun.com/articles/harrier-80621-pilot- marine.html#ixzz21p7N4Jvt Back to Top Three people killed in Arizona plane crash (CNN) -- Three people were killed Thursday when a small plane burst into flames after going off the end of a runway at the airport in Sedona, Arizona, a police spokesman told CNN. A spokesman for the Sedona Fire Department confirmed the deaths but said he could not identify the victims, CNN affiliate KPHO reported. The plane was registered to Pat Porter, a two-time Olympian and an eight-time U.S. cross country champion. He finished 15th in the 10,000 meters at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and also raced the event in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. His wife, Trish, was also an Olympian in 1988. The couple lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ron Wheeler, a spokesman for the Sedona Police department, told CNN the plane struck a fence after going off a runway. KPHO reported that a witness said the plane, a twin-engine Beech B-60, was trying to take off. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, KPHO reported. ************* Date: 26-JUL-2012 Time: 08:30 LT Type: Beech B-60 Duke Registration: N880LY C/n / msn: P-524 Fatalities: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Sedona Airport - KSEZ, Sedona AZ - United States of America Phase: Take off Departure airport: KSEZ Narrative: The aircraft, a Beech B-60 Duke, N880LY, experienced a loss of lift on takeoff from Sedona Airport - KSEZ, Sedona, Arizona, and impacted terrain SW of the departure end of runway 21. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and post-impact fire. The three passengers onboard the aircraft received fatal injuries. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top NTSB: Pilot killed in Nevada crash was low on gas RENO, Nev. (AP) - A fighter pilot on a Navy training mission told air traffic controllers he was running out of gas before he crashed and died at Fallon Naval Air Station in March. Retired Capt. Carroll LeFon had been playing the enemy in an Israeli-built F-21 before attempting to land at the base 60 miles east of Reno. The National Transportation Safety Board hasn't ruled on a cause but raised the fuel issue in a preliminary report on Wednesday. The NTSB said LeFon abandoned two initial attempts to land at Fallon and diverted to Reno but found the same snowy and windy conditions there. Headed back to Fallon, he told controllers he was in "a critical fuel state" before he maneuvered toward one runway, then another and crashed into a concrete building. Back to Top Back to Top Airbus delays new passenger jet A350 after glitch Paris: European plane maker Airbus delayed the introduction of its newest passenger jet, the carbon-composite A350, as parent EADS unveiled better-than-expected second- quarter earnings lifted by resilient demand for its existing range of jetliners. The three-month delay follows a glitch in wing production and pushes first delivery of the all-new A350 - Europe's answer to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner - into the second half of 2014. Delivering his first results since stepping up from the Airbus unit to become head of Europe's largest aerospace company in June, EADS Chief Executive Tom Enders said improving profits by delivering on major projects would be a top priority. "Another focus of our efforts is to further integrate and globalise EADS," he said in a statement, weeks after Airbus unveiled plans to build an assembly plant in the United States. The A350 was already a year behind its original schedule but new Airbus Chief Executive Fabrice Bregier has stressed he would rather take time to iron out problems before the start of final assembly. A backlog of unresolved problems were blamed in part for three- year delays on the A380 superjumbo and Boeing's 787. Problems in drilling holes in the wings on the A350 were first reported by Reuters after analysts said they had been briefed at this month's Farnborough Airshow. The delay will result in a charge of 124 million euros, EADS said. Airbus and Boeing are ramping up production to meet a surge in demand for fuel-saving jets as airlines seek to cut costs while preparing for transport growth in emerging markets. But both have run into persistent problems with their newest projects. EADS raised its forecast for Airbus deliveries this year to 580 aircraft from 570 and formalised a goal to sell 600 to 650 Airbus airplanes in 2012. However, a resurgent Boeing is expected to reclaim the number one spot in sales and deliveries this year as it reduces a bottleneck of undelivered Dreamliners. EADS also raised its operating profit forecast to 2.7 billion euros from 2.5 billion on revenue which it now expects to rise 10 per cent rather than 6 per cent or more. The upgrade, which contrasts with bleak economic news in its home European markets, comes after EADS operating profit almost doubled in the second quarter to 735 million euros. Revenue grew by 12 per cent to 13.53 billion, led by Airbus and strong helicopter and space divisions. EADS quarterly defence profits and revenue were flat. Analysts were on average expecting second-quarter operating profit to rise by a third to 626 million euros on revenue of 12.979 billion, according to a Reuters survey. The earnings follow a spate of stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings by U.S. aerospace and defence companies in the past week as they pushed through tough cost cutting and share buybacks to prepare for heavy cuts in defence spending. Boeing raised its full-year earnings forecast on Wednesday as rising commercial airplane deliveries and defence sales offset higher pension costs. Back to Top Southwest Airlines Announces Executive Changes DALLAS, July 26, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today announced executive changes at the Company. Teresa Laraba, most recently Southwest's Senior Vice President of Customer Services, has been named the airline's Senior Vice President of Customers. In this new role, Laraba will continue to provide senior Leadership for three departments: Customer Support & Services, Customer Relations & Rapid Rewards, and Customer Services. Laraba also will ensure that the airline's many Customer-focused activities are coordinated and aligned to one vision for how it continues to better meet its Customers' current and future needs. Laraba began her Southwest career in El Paso in May 1984 and has held numerous positions at the Company, including Director of Field Employment, Senior Director of Ground Operations Training and Airport Solutions, and Vice President Ground Operations. Laraba will continue reporting to Southwest's Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, and AirTran Airways President, Bob Jordan. Jack Smith, most recently Southwest's Vice President of Ground Operations/AirTran, has been named the airline's Vice President of Customer Support & Services. Customer Support & Services, formerly known as Reservations, provides travel information and assistance to Southwest's Customers and Employees. In his new role, Smith will lead more than 4,000 Customer Support & Services Employees. An industry veteran of more than 30 years, Smith joined AirTran in April 2002 and became a Southwest Employee in March 2012. During his career, Smith has gained experience overseeing various airline functions like Ground Operations, Inflight, Cargo, Reservations, and Customer Relations. Smith will report to Laraba. Both changes are effective immediately Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/26/4662438/southwest-airlines- announces-executive.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top AirAsia purchases Batavia Air for $80 million in cash JAKARTA, Indonesia - Largest budget airline in Asia, AirAsia Bhd, is purchasing Indonesian carrier Batavia Air for $80 million in cash. The acquisition will allow AirAsia to expand in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, the two groups said on Thursday. Reuters reports that the move will ratchet up competition among low-cost carriers in Indonesia, a field already crowded with players like Lion Air, the nation's biggest with 47 percent of the market and flag carrier Garuda's Citilink unit with a combined 23 percent share. Batavia had 11 percent and once the sale is complete should give AirAsia about 13 percent of the market. "It's an interesting move and it surely going to make the competition even tighter in an already competitive market," Edward Sirait, a Lion Air director, told Reuters. "It also shows the recognition by foreign investors that Indonesia's aviation market has a very huge potential." The purchase is somewhat of an about-face for AirAsia CEO and founder Tony Fernandes who said previously he was against acquisitions, calling them "value destroying" in an interview with Reuters a year ago. On Thursday however, Fernandes changed his view. "This is the way for us to expand our business in Indonesia. Lion Air is big and if we're not big enough, then Lion Air can eat us," Fernandes told a news conference in Jakarta. "Aviation is a hard business...hopefully this marriage is a good marriage." According to Reuters, the move will help AirAsia to expand its fleet and routes in Indonesia where Batavia Air currently operates 33 aircraft on about 48 routes, including some to several international destinations. The acquisition will also help Malaysia-based AirAsia compete against regional rivals like Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd and Singapore Airlines Ltd once the Southeast Asian open-sky policy comes into effect in 2015. That policy will allow the budget carriers to fly more regional routes and removes various restrictions on passenger, cargo and charter services. AirAsia will buy 76.95 percent of Batavia Air this year and the rest by 2013. AirAsia will also take up Batavia Air's debt as a part of the deal, said Dharmadi, chief executive of its Indonesian unit, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. The amount of debt was not disclosed. Malaysia-based AirAsia will own 49 percent of Batavia Air while its Indonesian unit will control 51 percent in order to comply with Indonesian ownership rules. MOVING TO JAKARTA Fernandes said in early May his group was looking to list its Indonesian operations by the first quarter of next year as it moves its regional base to Indonesia to focus on further expansion. Fernandes is also expected to move to Jakarta to oversee the airline's expansion plans in Southeast Asia. "There will also be a positive impact on its Indonesian unit's listing. The IPO will be helped by this acquisition," said an aviation analyst with MIDF Research in Kuala Lumpur, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media. AirAsia will benefit from Batavia Air's strong agent network in Indonesia, said Ahmad Maghfur Usman, a Kuala Lumpur-based equity analyst with OSK Research. "The Internet penetration in Indonesia AirAsia in terms of ticket bookings is not as great as Malaysia or Thailand. So that's why AirAsia sees value through the purchase of Batavia Air," he added. The acquisition will add a network of more than 5,000 travel agents as well as 70 sales offices across Indonesia so it can expand its focus to off-line retail customers. AirAsia's move is also "a battle among the global giants, Boeing versus Airbus, of how they battle for dominance in the Indonesian market," said Harry Su, head of research at Bahana Securities in Jakarta. Lion Air ordered 230 Boeing short-haul jets worth $22 billion in November last year to take it its total orderbook to more than 400 planes. AirAsia said in May that it is in talks with Airbus to buy 50 A320 passenger jets worth $4 billion, only months after it placed a record order for 200. Batavia itself flies a mix of planes from both manufacturers. Shares of AirAsia closed down 0.3 percent at 3.73 ringgit per share on Thursday compared to Malaysia's benchmark index which was down 0.68 percent. Source: reuters.com Back to Top Diesel Emerging As New Technology of Choice for General Aviation WASHINGTON, July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Cessna's New Turbodiesel Engine Is "A Major Step" In Increasing Range And Lowering Operating Costs In General Aviation Having the world's leading general aviation company make a strong commitment to using turbodiesel engines is a "welcome and major step in the continued recognition of the many benefits of diesel technology", according to Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum. "Cessna's new 182 NXT turbodiesel engine is being described as a 'game changer' by experts in the general aviation industry," Schaeffer said. "With its increased range, greater payload capacity and lower direct operating costs, it's easy to see why Cessna's new diesel powered aircraft is going to transform general aviation." The Cessna 182 NXT has already been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency, according to Cessna's announcement this week. Diesel Technology Powers A Diverse Variety of Vehicles and Vessels- From Submarines To Construction Machinery Schaeffer said that while diesel engines are now emerging in general aviation transportation, diesel power is an established technology and industry that provides prime motive power to a diverse variety of vehicles and vessels ranging from submarines and cruise ships, to race cars and the world's largest construction machinery. "The same attributes that have made diesel engines the power behind nearly all modes of surface transportation are now driving the future for the aviation industry and Cessna has reinforced its leadership role in aviation," Schaeffer said. The diesel equipment, fuels and servicing sectors collectively contribute over $480 billion annually to the U.S. economy, with significant influence on 16 sectors ranging from agriculture to wholesale trade. More than 90 percent of all global trade is moved by diesel power. "There is a reason today that diesel powers the overwhelming majority of the nation's commercial trucking, school and transit bus fleets," Schaeffer said. "Diesel's unmatched combination of availability, safety, energy efficiency and economical operation and performance has made it the technology of choice, but it is also the environmental performance and prospects for even greater energy efficiency that make it the technology of choice for the future." The new 182 NXT turbo-charged piston engine is a diesel power plant with the ability to burn Jet A aviation fuel - the same middle distillate fuel used by turbine and jet aircraft. The fuel is similar to diesel, but unlike the fuel that goes into cars and trucks, Jet A is standardized around the world making certification of the engine and aircraft easier. New Turbodiesel Engine Has Zero Lead Emissions and Zero CO Emissions Cessna officials predict the new aircraft will have strong international appeal with the transformation to Jet A fuel. In making its announcement this week, Cessna officials highlighted the environmental benefits that go with the Turbo 182 NXT. The fuel technology used in the engine eliminates concerns about carbon monoxide emissions, fuel mixtures, propeller control and exhaust gas. The engine operates at a lower propeller speed. As a result, the turbocharger technology delivers a quieter flight line and reduces noise pollution. There are zero lead emissions and zero CO emissions. Flight at the maximum cruise speed demonstrates greater fuel efficiency, and will burn approximately 30 percent to 40 percent less fuel than comparable avgas engines. Powered by a turbocharged, direct-drive SMA SR305-230E-C1 engine, the Turbo 182 NXT will burn 11 gph at a max cruise speed of 155 knots, granting owners a lower fuel burn and increased range from avgas counterparts. Cessna estimates that the engine will burn 30 to 40 percent less fuel than comparable avgas engines and have a range of 1,160 nautical miles at max cruise speed. (View this press release online here.) ABOUT THE DIESEL TECHNOLOGY FORUM The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit national organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. Forum members are leaders in clean diesel technology and represent the three key elements of the modern clean-diesel system: advanced engines, vehicles and equipment, cleaner diesel fuel and emissions-control systems. For more information visit www.dieselforum.org . SOURCE Diesel Technology Forum Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP, FRAeS, FISASI CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC