Flight Safety Information August 3, 2012 - No. 158 In This Issue Fighter jet from Honolulu makes emergency landing Qantas engine trouble investigation draws blank Dana Air Crash: Plane Had Faulty Engine 2 Years Ago 2012 AIN Product Support Survey Part One: Aircraft PRISM Certification Support With Indonesian Airline's Expansion Comes Problem of Finding Enough Pilots Singapore Airlines Unit Orders 54 Boeing Jets for Regional Unit NTSB TRAINING CENTER - Course: MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS FOLLOWING AN AIRCRAFT Invitation to the 4th Global Humanitarian Aviation Conference Fighter jet from Honolulu makes emergency landing A fighter jet travelling from Honolulu remains on Midway Atoll after making an emergency landing. The F/A-18 was headed home to Iwakuni, Japan after participating in RIMPAC exercises. Late Thursday morning, the U.S. Marine Corp F/A-18 fighter jet made a diversion to Henderson Airfield on Midway's Sand Island. "Luckily they landed safely and are now going through the process of figuring out what the problem with the plane was and how it may need to be repaired," said Don Palawski with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Federal officials believe the fighter jet made an emergency landing after having a fuel problem. The jet was traveling in a convoy of four F/A-18's and a KC-10. No one was injured. "They don't happen often but you always need to be prepared. We're always ready to accept an aircraft in need," Palawski said. Last June, a Delta 747 flying from Honolulu to Japan made an emergency landing at Midway because of a cracked windshield. Military aircraft often land there for refueling purposes and ships at sea call for emergency medical services. But some of these life- support services may be compromised due to a $1.2 million shortfall in Midway's budget beginning October 1. "The running of a commercially certified airport at Midway is like operating a small town. You need all the water supply, all the infrastructure all the electricity," Palawski said. Federal officials say they are looking at ways to reduce costs. But that might not be enough. "And one of our concerns it that we'll have to cutback services to people that want to come to Midway," he said. Midway is the only place in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands where visitors can view wildlife. It also holds historical significance with the Battle of Midway 70 years ago. Officials say it's a key spot in the Pacific and hope Thursday's incident doesn't go unnoticed. This year alone, the staff at Henderson Airfield managed and served more than 30 landings for refueling or emergency purposes. http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Fighter-jet-from-Honolulu-makes-emergency- landing/O_d_MOy78U6GTf7adTZ7EQ.cspx Back to Top Qantas engine trouble investigation draws blank Air safety investigators are still no closer to understanding what caused a turbine blade in a Qantas jumbo's Rolls-Royce engine to break off, showering white hot sparks across Bangkok skies last year. Qantas flight QF2 had just departed Bangkok for Sydney on October 16, carrying 358 passengers and 18 crew, when eight minutes into the flight at 13,000 feet crew and passengers heard a loud bang and the plane shuddered with vibrations. The condition of the blade fragments was such that identification and physical analysis of the blade release mechanism was not possible. Fumes entered the cabin for several minutes afterwards. The pilots shut down engine number 3, and broadcast an emergency "pan" message (one level down from the highest level of emergency, a mayday). The plane then circled for almost an hour as it dumped 55 tonnes of jet fuel, before making a safe landing back at Bangkok. Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau released an updated report today into the incident. Investigators said when the engine was examined, a single compressor blade located in the heart of the engine had snapped off, causing "significant damage" to other engine components it struck on its way to being ejected out the back of the engine. "The condition of the blade fragments was such that identification and physical analysis of the blade release mechanism was not possible," investigators said. Investigators established that the Qantas engine had accrued almost 20,000 hours and 2000 take-offs and landings after it was overhauled and fitted to the Qantas Boeing 747. But they're no closer to understanding why the blade snapped off, something being examined by Rolls-Royce. "The engine manufacturer was continuing their internal investigation into the occurrence," investigators said. Rolls-Royce reported to investigators that in 2005 a blade was found to be cracked at its root, while in 2007 another blade was found to have have moved backwards in an engine. The company maintains the Bangkok incident was the first in which a blade had let go inside an engine in more than 40 million hours of this type of engine flying. The RB211 is a broad family of Rolls-Royce engines, one variant of which is the more powerful Trent 900, the type of engine that exploded under the wing of the Qantas flagship A380 operating as QF32. That explosion was traced to a badly manufactured oil pipe that cracked, starting an oil fire. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-incidents/qantas-engine-trouble- investigation-draws-blank-20120803-23k4m.html#ixzz22TJy31gD Back to Top Dana Air Crash: Plane Had Faulty Engine 2 Years Ago - Official Dana Air spokesman Tony Usidamen on Thursday told a Lagos State Coroner that the plane that crashed on June 3 at Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb, had a faulty engine two years ago. Usidamen, the Head, Corporate Communications of the airline, disclosed this while testifying at the coroner's inquest investigating the crash. He told the coroner, Magistrate Komolafe Oyetade, that the airline had discovered on April 19, 2010 that the engine of the plane was bad. ``The plane was returned to safety and we changed the engine because of our interest in the safety of passengers,''Usidamen said. When asked by a counsel, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, if he was aware that the same plane had hydraulic leakages on May 23, Usidamen said he was not aware of the problem. He said the plane was certified okay by the firm's engineers for the June 3 flights. ``If an airplane is not in perfect condition, according to international laws, it would not be allowed to fly. ``The aircraft had gone on two round-trips on that fateful day before it crashed on the third trip,''he said. A witness from the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Mr Emmanuel Dialla, told the coroner that their investigation was still ongoing. He said: The aim of the investigation is not to apportion blame, but to promote safety and avert a recurrence.'' http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/ Back to Top 2012 AIN Product Support Survey Part One: Aircraft Gulfstream holds the number one spot for jets. Mitsubishi retains the top spot for turboprops, with Pilatus taking the top slot for newer turboprops. Bell once again leads among helicopter manufacturers. The results of this year's AIN Product Support Survey took some interesting turns, but Gulfstream Aerospace once again retains the top spot in the Aircraft Survey, in the combined, newer and older aircraft ratings. The results of the Product Support Avionics Survey will be published in AIN's September issue, followed by the Engines Survey in the October issue. Combined Ratings In first place, Gulfstream saw its rating climb this year, to 8.2 from last year's 8.0, a 2- percent improvement. Embraer's 13-percent jump to 8.1 from 7.2, the greatest change among all the manufacturers, propelled it to second place. Last year, Embraer received many fewer ratings and came in last. Embraer's improved performance is likely due to continual improvement of its product support efforts, which is reflected in many positive comments provided by survey takers; the fact that most of its business jets are fairly new and thus under warranty; and an improved response rate now that many more of its business jets are in service. Boeing Business Jet operators helped boost the company's rating by 4 percent over last year to 8.0 and third place. Bombardier's Challengers and Cessna's Citations tied for fourth place this year at 7.7; Bombardier moved 3 percent higher from sixth place last year, while Cessna dropped 3 percent from second place last year. Dassault Falcon saw a 1-percent improvement this year to fifth place. The rating for Gulfstream's midsize jets dropped 5 percent to sixth place (7.5) this year from third last year (7.9). In seventh place are Bombardier's Globals and Learjets, both with ratings of 7.4 (same as last year for Globals and up 1 percent for Learjets). Hawker Beechcraft moved to the end of the rankings, with a drop of 1 percent to 7.2 for its smaller jets and 3 percent lower to 7.1 for its Hawkers. This may reflect customer uncertainty about the state of the company's finances as it wends its way through the process of bankruptcy protection and restructuring. In the turboprop category, the lineup is the same as last year, with Mitsubishi's MU-2 at number one, although with a 1-percent drop this year to 9.3. Pilatus's PC-12 also dropped, by 6 percent to 7.4, but remained in second place, followed by Hawker Beechcraft's King Airs at 7.0. Read the Full Report http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2012-08-01/2012- ain-product-support-survey-part-one-aircraft Back to Top Back to Top With Indonesian Airline's Expansion Comes Problem of Finding Enough Pilots JAKARTA - Susi Pudjiastuti runs a practical airline in a country where impracticalities make her business thrive. "Disadvantage provides an opportunity," said Ms. Pudjiastuti, the 48-year-old founder of Susi Air. With 45 planes in its fleet, the charter airline runs as many as 200 flights a day, serving about 200 destinations and carrying fresh fish to market, the genesis of the company's operations. Since its start in 2004, demand has increased among mining and palm oil executives needing to reach remote operations. In Papua, the country's easternmost province, Susi delivers vital goods like rice, cement and fuel. The airline also operates as a commuter service, helping connect people who live in remote areas to primary cities. "People need transportation," Ms. Pudjiastuti said. She has taken advantage of her country's lack of infrastructure to build a flight network that delivers customers directly to their destinations, cutting costs and travel times as much as 80 percent. But as her airline expands it has struggled with a persistent and increasingly urgent problem - finding enough pilots. "Business is so promising, but you have to develop the manpower," she said. Industry analysts say the country is facing a shortage of as many as 200 pilots per year, causing some carriers to fall back on underqualified staff members. That could damage new airlines struggling to establish themselves in an increasingly crowded market. "Growth has not been matched in skills," said Gerry Soejatman, an aviation specialist at Dini Nusa Kusuma, a communications company that focuses on aerospace services. The smaller the airline, the more it depends on key people, like the chief pilot and director of safety, he added. "If you don't hire the right people, you're going to start off on the wrong foot." Susi Air relies almost entirely on pilots from Europe and the United States. It has had luck finding recruits, thanks in part to economic crises in those regions, but Ms. Pudjiastuti is setting up a school with a goal of training 100 new Indonesian pilots each year, starting in 2015. The Ministry of Transportation says it plans to add two new flight schools to the 13 already in operation. It is also working with the private sector and the Indonesian National Air Carrier Association to organize a handful of conferences this year on airport development, airline technology and aviation training and education. Meanwhile, Ms. Pudjiastuti said she was in a sweet spot in a country where people were desperate to travel. "The demand has always been there," she said. "Before, there was just no service." http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/business/global/03iht-airlinesside03.html Back to Top Singapore Airlines Unit Orders 54 Boeing Jets for Regional Unit SINGAPORE (WSJ)--Singapore Airlines Ltd. (C6L.SG) on Friday announced an order for 54 Boeing Co. (BA) aircraft valued at US$4.9 billion, its biggest single purchase in six years, for regional unit SilkAir, which currently operates jets from Boeing rival Airbus. The order comprises 23 single-aisle 737-800 planes and 31 737 MAX-8s, but the carrier has the option of switching to other variants of the aircraft if needed, Singapore Airlines said in a statement to Singapore Exchange. The unit also has the option of increasing the order by 14 jets. The new planes will enlarge and update SilkAir's fleet, which currently comprises 21 A320 family aircraft made by Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (EAD.FR). Singapore Airlines is hoping regional carrier SilkAir and low-fare unit Scoot will help drive earnings growth as Singapore's flagship carrier faces stiff competition in its own premium market. Singapore Airlines last month reported a net profit of 78 million Singapore dollars (US$63 million) for the April-to-June quarter, recovering from a net loss in the previous quarter. The company's Boeing order is its biggest single order since 2006, when it ordered 20 Airbus A350s and nine A380 superjumbos valued at US$7.5 billion. Also that year, the company ordered 20 Boeing 787 jets valued at US$4.5 billion. Its last major order was last year, when it announced a deal to buy eight Boeing 777-300 ER jets valued at US$2.3 billion. All prices are based on manufacturers' published list prices, but airlines typically get large discounts and actual prices paid are rarely disclosed. SilkAir will begin receiving the 737-800 single-aisle jets in 2014, with deliveries continuing into 2021, the statement said. "We continue to see very strong growth within the region and these new aircraft will position SilkAir well. They will enable us to spread our wings to even more destinations and increase capacity on existing routes," said Mervin Tan, the chief executive of SilkAir. Mr. Tan said the decision to buy Boeing jets followed detailed evaluations and extensive negotiations with both Boeing and Airbus. Boeing welcomed the announcement. Airbus declined to comment on the decision. Shukor Yusof, an analyst at Standard & Poor's Equity Research, said the 737 is an efficient aircraft, and having such planes in its fleet will help SilkAir compete against its main rivals, Indonesian carriers Garuda Indonesia (GIAA.JK) and Lion Air, which also use 737s. Separately, China Southern Airlines Co. (ZNH) said its 51%-owned unit Xiamen Airlines Co. has agreed to buy 40 B737 jets from Boeing at a combined list price of US$3.36 billion. Back to Top NTSB TRAINING CENTER - Course ____________________ MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS FOLLOWING AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT October 25-26, 2012 NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, VA Tuition: $852 (Early Bird Discount: $802 for registrations received by October 8) CEUs: 1.3 DESCRIPTION The course will teach participants what to expect in the days immediately following an aviation disaster and how they can prepare for their role with the media. OVERVIEW * How the National Transportation Safety Board organizes an accident site and what can be expected in the days after an aviation disaster from the NTSB, FAA, other federal agencies, airline, airport, media and local community * Strategies for airline and airport staff to proactively manage the communication process throughout the on-scene phase of the investigation * How the NTSB public affairs officers coordinate press conferences and release of accident information and what information the spokespersons from the airport and airline will be responsible to provide to the media * Making provisions for and communicating with family members of those involved in the accident * Questions and requests likely encountered from the airlines, airport staff, family members, disaster relief agencies, local officials and others PERFORMANCE RESULTS Upon completion of this course the participant will be able to: * Be better prepared to respond to a major aviation disaster involving a flight departing from or destined for participant's airport * Demonstrate greater confidence in fielding on-scene questions about the many aspects of the investigation and its participants, including what types of specific information may be requested * Identify the appropriate Public Affairs roles for the various organizations involved in an accident investigation. * Be more productive in the first few hours after an aviation disaster by understanding which tasks are most important and why * Perform job responsibilities more professionally and with greater confidence given the knowledge and tools to manage the airport communications aspect of a major aviation disaster COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS "A must for people in the industry." - participant from a U.S. airline "Best two professional days I have ever spent. Very Beneficial. Provided real-life examples of guidelines of what can and can not be said." - participant from a state transportation department "Provided great insight into the role of print, wire, and live media in disseminating accurate and valid information free of spin and speculation." - participant from business aviation "Very good information for those who have never been through a major accident." - participant from a U.S. airport "As a corporate communications manager, the information is invaluable." - participant from a U.S. airline See more comments and a complete list of the 219 organizations from 28 countries that have sent staff to this training: http://www.ntsb.gov/TC/CourseInfo/PA302comments.htm Complete course description and registration information>>> http://www.ntsb.gov/trainingcenter/CourseInfo/2012-Courses/PA302_2012.html List of area hotels and restaurants>>> http://www.ntsb.gov/TC/facilityloc.htm GROUP TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE: Do you have 10 or more people in your organization that could benefit from this training? If so, it may be more cost-effective to have the course come to you. A one-day version of this course is now available and can be customized and delivered at any location. See the course description for more details: http://www.ntsb.gov/TC/CourseInfo/2011-Courses/PA303_2011.html MORE INFORMATION Web: http://www.ntsb.gov/TC/TrainingCenter.htm E-mail: TrainingCenter@ntsb.gov Phone: 571-223-3900 Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP, FRAeS, FISASI CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC