Flight Safety Information August 24, 2012 - No. 172 In This Issue Stowaway corpse found in British Airways jumbo jet Flight aborts landing, given go-around to avoid collision EU air safety assessment Improvement seen in PIA operations to Europe Hot-air balloon in fiery crash; 4 die, 28 hurt in Slovenia accident The attraction and risks of hot air balloons Report: Bird-strike data for planes skimpy Birds threaten flight safety at Shanghai airport Student pilot gets probation for false records PRISM Certification Support Boeing's Conner Sticking to 777 Jet's Upgrade Plan Cirrus Aircraft Chosen For French Air Force NTSB to Meet on 2011 Reno Air Race Accident Paris's Charles de Gaulle 'rudest airport in Europe' Stowaway corpse found in British Airways jumbo jet as it landed in Heathrow from Cape Town A stowaway was found dead inside a British Airways jumbo jet after it touched down at Heathrow early today. The body of the man was discovered in the landing gear bay of the Boeing 747 after a 6,000-mile (9,656km) flight from Cape Town, BA said. Police said the man was not a passenger or a member of the crew on the flight from South Africa's second busiest airport. Authorities in South Africa said a man was spotted jumping a fence at the transport hub before running towards a BA flight as it waited to take off last night. Security staff gave chase but backed off for safety reasons and a subsequent search of the airport failed to find the man. Airports Company South Africa, which runs the airport, said it was carrying out an investigation. A spokeswoman said: "Last night at approximately 8.40pm a person was detected scaling the perimeter fence at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA). "The airport immediately responded and, as a security patrol officer attempted to apprehend the man, he ran in the direction of a British Airways aircraft already in its holding pattern ready for take-off. "For safety reasons the security officer could not approach the aircraft. "A search of the airfield was immediately conducted but the person was not found. "British Airways, in addition to various other parties, were notified. Further sweeps were conducted of the runway and the broader airfield. "This morning, reports from London's Heathrow Airport confirmed that a stowaway was found on board a British Airways aircraft. The person was found dead. "Airports Company South Africa is concerned about the loss of life and thus views this incident in the utmost serious light. A full investigation will be undertaken." The Metropolitan Police said they were called to the scene at 6.25am along with paramedics and the man was confirmed dead at shortly after 7am. "The death is being treated as non-suspicious," a spokesman said. "Inquiries are ongoing to establish the man's identity." British Airways confirmed the body was found inside the landing gear bay of a Boeing 747, which can carry 345 passengers and has a top speed of 614mph (988kph). They can fly at heights of up to 45,000ft (13,716m). A company spokesman said: "We are liaising with the South African authorities and Cape Town airport after a body was found in the landing gear bay of one of our aircraft. "They are investigating how this incident took place, which involved a Boeing 747 which arrived this morning from Cape Town. "This is a very rare and sad event and our thoughts are with the individual's family." http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/stowaway-corpse-found-in-british-airways- jumbo-jet-as-it-landed-in-heathrow-from-cape-town-8078496.html Back to Top Flight aborts landing, given go-around to avoid collision (Mumbai, India) Major air disaster averted at Mumbai airport MUMBAI: A few moments of panic prevailed at Mumbai airport late on Wednesday night when a Jet Airways aircraft started rolling for take-off while an Air India (AI) flight was approaching to land at the same end of the main runway. The air traffic controller first asked the AI flight to make a go-around then asked the Jet airways flight to abort take- off, both within a minute, to prevent the two aircraft from coming on collision path. Both flights eventually completed the respective landing and take-off safely without a breach in separation, but the incident has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The DGCA is investigating the incident to ascertain if it was a precautionary decision or if one of the flights actually rolled late for take-off. Officials at the airport said Jet Airways flight 9W 012 to Singapore was on the main runway for take-off. At 11.41pm, the flight, with 142 passengers on board, was given take-off clearance by the ATC. Around the same time, an AI flight from Riyadh was also making an approach for landing. The flight was asked to continue the approach till up to one mile from landing. About a minute later, the Jet Airways flight started rolling for take-off. Sources said at this juncture, the controller felt the aircraft had taken a little longer to roll for take-off, while the AI flight was proceeding from behind to land. In an attempt to prevent the two flights coming too close for comfort , the controller first commanded the AI flight to turn and make a missed approach. In the next few seconds, he also commanded the Jet Airways flight to reject the take-off, a command the pilot could not execute as the aircraft was already rolling in full speed. "It was a moment of confusion. The controller felt the Jet Airways flight had taken a few seconds longer to roll for take-off. Hence, he asked for the go-around and then asked for the take-off to be aborted, all in a matter of few seconds. The two aircraft may have come too close for comfort, but the situation was in control as the AI flight turned and missed its approach while the Jet flight took-off. The pilot could not reject take-off as the aircraft was past decision speed," an airport official familiar with the incident said. "A minute later, the Jet Airways pilot requested to speak to the tower staff and asked if he gave any instructions while taking off. The tower staff mentioned that he had asked him to reject takeoff, to which the 9W012 pilot told him that they were at a very high speed and could not monitor what the tower had said," he added. The AI flight finally landed 12 minutes late at 11.54pm. A Jet Airways spokesperson said, "The commander was on a take off roll when he was informed by the ATC to reject take off. The commander of Jet Airways could not reject take off since he had gone past the decision speed. But it did not result in an unsafe situation." ATC officials said that the incident has not been classified as a "near miss" as the separation between the two flights was appropriate to carry out a go-around. "We have reported it as a go-around. The AI flight was 1,600 feet above the Jet airways flight. This is the ideal separation between two flights and no near-collision situation was possible," said Jayant Dasgupta, general manager, ATC. "A flight can be asked to carry out a go- around if the controller or a pilot doesn't feel confident to execute the approach due to various factors. It is a notified procedure," he added. Sequence of Events 11.41pm: Jet Airways flight 9W012, from Mumbai to Singapore, was given clearance for take off 11.42 pm: Air India flight, AI, 920, Riyadh to Mumbai was told to continue approach up to one mile before landing 11.42 pm: Jet Airways flight started rolling and was ready to take-off when the AI flight was asked to go-around 11.42pm: ATC instructed the Jet Airways flight to reject take-off, but it was already in full speed for take-off 11.43 pm: Jet Airways commander requested to speak to the tower staff and asked him if he gave them any instructions while taking off. The tower staff mentioned that he had asked him to reject takeoff, to which the commander told him that they were at a very high speed and did not monitor what the tower had said 11.54 pm: AI flight landed on the main runway Past Incidents August 4,2012: A runway incursion was reported when a Jet Airways aircraft entered the main runway while an Etihad flight was coming in to land from the opposite side. The Jet aircraft,readying for take-off,was instructed to enter taxiway N1,but it went to taxiway N5.The aircraft had nearly entered the main runway when the pilot noticed an Etihad flight. A near-miss was eventually ruled out as the Etihad flight was still seven nautical miles away. March, 2012: Three Jet Airways aircraft had a near-miss at the Mumbai airport. The Air Traffic Controller cleared a Mumbai-Udaipur flight for take-off. The flight was cleared for take-off although the runway was being vacated by another Jet flight, which had landed from Bhuj. A jetlite flight was also cleared for landing around the same time. the JetLite flight was asked to go around to keep the necessary separation. October 12, 2010: A breach of separation was reported between two aircraft arriving. The two aircraft, one an Indigo flight and another a private chartered aircraft, reportedly came 3.5 miles from each other when the ideal distance is five miles.This separation was lost while the aircraft was still around 20 minutes from landing at Mumbai airport. A near-miss situation was prevented just in time when the controller saw the breach and corrected the separation. February 9, 2009: An AI flight had to reject take-off after a helicopter from Pratibha Patil's convoy landed without prior warning or intimation. The chopper landed in the middle of the runway forcing an AI flight to abort take-off at a high speed. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Flight-aborts-landing-given-go-around- to-avoid-collision/articleshow/15623889.cms Back to Top EU air safety assessment Improvement seen in PIA operations to Europe LAHORE, Aug 23: The Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) has inspected 25 flights of the PIA to Europe from May till date and found only two minor objections. The SAFA is a safety assessment programme for foreign aircraft operating in Europe. The EU air safety rules and regulations strictly put all the airlines under its observation. Poor safety upkeep and maintenance forces EU inspectors to even detain certain aircraft putting airlines on watch list. With minor objections being removed, officials say the SAFA report reflects improvement in the national carrier operations under the new management. They say the management is making sufficient funds available for spares and removing some bottlenecks from procedures enabling the airline to bring its fleet in conformity with the international safety guidelines and requirement. The management has also done away with some contracts and expensive human resource which have been a burden on the financial health of the airline. It diverted the funds towards procurement of some of the badly-needed spares for the grounded as well as operating aircraft. Previously, PIA has seen SAFA penalties on a number of occasions. In Jan this year a flight (PK-734 Paris to Lahore) was denied permission to leave as it had a seal defect. The aircraft remained stranded at Paris for two days. Similarly, a PIA Airbus bound for Lahore was stopped at Paris in August last year due to fuel leakage and 39 safety lapses and defects. The aircraft was released after nine days. During last month, sources said, PIA improved its overall punctuality from 60 to 78 per cent for on-time departures. Meanwhile, the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) president Shaukat Jamshed said the engineering and maintenance department was the backbone of any airline. "An airworthy fleet activates all other departments of the airline that makes it efficient and profitable," he said, adding the present management had not only recognized this fact but was taking practical steps to provide needed spares on a priority. "Now the spares and engines requirement is easing out the fleet and it is hoped that soon the whole fleet will be operational to give desired dividend." http://dawn.com/2012/08/24/eu-air-safety-assessment-improvement-seen-in-pia- operations-to-europe/ Back to Top Hot-air balloon in fiery crash; 4 die, 28 hurt in Slovenia accident A balloon outing gone wrong near Ljubljana, Slovenia, resulted in four dead and 28 injured among the 32 people onboard, including children. A police officer stands near a crashed hot-air balloon gondola in the town of Ig near Ljubljana, Slovenia. Four people were killed and 28 injured when the balloon carrying tourists, including children, caught fire and came down, police said. LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) - A hot air balloon carrying 32 people, including children, was swept up in a storm and crashed in a fireball outside Slovenia's capital on Thursday, killing four people and injuring 28 others, police and doctors said. Milan Znidarsic from Ljubljana's Medical Center said four charred bodies were found at the scene of the crash, some six miles south of the capital. Znidarsic did not say if any children were among those killed. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. The official STA news agency said two hot air balloons were in the air at the time of the crash. The agency quoted eyewitnesses saying that one of the balloons caught fire while trying to land in a storm. The other balloon landed safely, the report said. The head of the firefighting team, Tomaz Kucic, said that by the time firefighters got to the scene the balloon was already burning on the ground. Kucic did not specify whether the balloon caught fire while still in the air, or after it crashed. Znidarsic said that 21 people were admitted in the Ljubljana hospital, while seven more were taken to other hospitals. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/hot-air-balloon-fiery-crash-4-die- 28-hurt-slovenia-accident-article-1.1142751#ixzz24SGxKrlt Back to Top The attraction and risks of hot air balloons LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) - The hot air balloon that crashed in Slovenia was one of the largest of its kind in the world. Tourists who are willing to pay more than $100 each to be crammed aboard the capsules of such balloons often enjoy sightseeing adventures over the Slovenian Alps and its lakes. But the giant balloons aren't always easy to operate. On Thursday, one was swept up in a storm and crashed in a fireball outside Slovenia's capital, killing four of its 32 riders and injuring the rest. HOW DO SUCH HOT AIR BALLOONS OPERATE? The hot air balloon is the oldest successful flight technology that carries passengers, also known as balloon aircraft. A hot air balloon consists of a bag called the envelope that contains heated air. Suspended beneath it is a gondola, or in some high-altitude balloons, a capsule. A source of heat for the air in the balloon in most cases is an open flame blower. WHAT'S A TYPICAL BALLOON JOURNEY IN SLOVENIA LIKE? Thursday's flight offered a 100 euro ($125) ride from near the capital, Ljubljana, and over the Alpine scenery toward Bled, the most popular tourist resort in scenic Slovenia. The flight usually lasts about 1 ½ hours and the participants riding in the large basket receive a diploma and a glass of champagne. WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES ARE USING SUCH BALLOONS? Similar balloons are used for sightseeing in Kenyan and South African safari parks and in Australia. WHAT DID THURSDAY'S BALLOON LOOK LIKE? Its brown woven rattan basket is 5.20 meters long (18 feet) and 1.70 meters wide (5 feet, 7 inches), and is usually divided into four compartments. All the passengers must stand during the flight, with their feet spread. Children under 15 are not allowed. WHAT ARE THE SAFETY RECORDS OF SUCH BALLOONS? Smaller balloons are much easier to handle and maneuver. Those carrying up to 32 people usually climb vertically up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) and don't move sideways or glide with the wind. Balloon accidents occur for a variety of reasons, but human error and the decision to fly during weather warnings are frequently cited as a primary cause. There were rare cases where an accident was attributed to failure of the balloon hardware. WHAT ARE THE SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR BALLOON FLIGHTS? According to international safety regulations, balloon pilots are certified just like airplane pilots and must have operational certificates. Like planes, balloons must meet safety standards and are inspected on a regular basis. In addition, pilots must inform passengers about safety guidelines during flights prior to liftoff. The basket must be robust enough to ensure adequate protection to all occupants even during rough landings. The burner unit must be designed and installed in such a way to avoid a fire hazard. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE WORST HOT BALLOON ACCIDENTS? On Aug. 13, 1989, two hot air balloons collided near Alice Springs, Australia, causing one to crash to the ground, killing 13 people. It is the deadliest hot air ballooning accident in the history of aviation. On Jan. 7, 2012, a scenic hot air balloon flight from Carterton, New Zealand, collided with a high voltage power line while attempting to land, causing it to catch fire, disintegrate and crash just north of the town, killing all 11 people aboard. Slovenia has had two major ballooning accidents in recent years. In 2002, one caught fire and nine people were injured. In 2006 four people were hurt when a balloon crashed. Back to Top Report: Bird-strike data for planes skimpy The Federal Aviation Administration doesn't keep good track of how many times planes strike birds, and its inspectors often aren't familiar with wildlife, according to an inspector general's report Thursday. Jeffrey Guzzetti, assistant inspector general for aviation at the Transportation Department, said the FAA can't be sure that airports have good plans for coping with wildlife or that FAA inspectors who review the plans have expertise in wildlife. Reported bird strikes have quintupled in the past two decades. "Increases in the populations of hazardous wildlife species continue to challenge airports' ability to provide a safe operating environment," Guzzetti said in his 30-page report. The FAA said in a statement Thursday that the agency has taken a comprehensive approach to reduce wildlife strikes since 1960, using better research, technology, training and online reporting. "The FAA has already adopted and completed a majority of the (inspector general's) recommendations and will continue to make improvements to the wildlife hazard mitigation program," the agency said. The danger of bird strikes was dramatically illustrated in January 2009, when a US Airways flight taking off from New York's La Guardia Airport struck Canada geese and Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger landed the plane in the Hudson River. All 155 passengers and crewmembers survived. No flights are immune. Vice President Biden's plane hit birds April 19 while landing at California's Santa Barbara Airport but was able to land. There were no injuries. The number of reported bird strikes rose from 2,166 in 1990 to 10,483 last year, according to the FAA. The agency estimates that bird strikes cause $123 million in damage per year to engines, windshields and navigational equipment. However, the inspector general found that 108 strikes in internal logs at eight airports - more than one in five - weren't reported to the FAA in 2010. "Airport officials stated that they did not report all known strikes ... because it was not a requirement," the report said. The FAA gave $458 million to airports from 1997 to 2011 to reduce wildlife hazards. The agency estimates it will spend an additional $366 million on the projects over the next 20 years. The FAA created a program to educate pilots about the danger of bird strikes. It also developed a bird radar that has been deployed at Seattle, Chicago (O'Hare), New York (JFK) and Dallas/Fort Worth airports. Other steps airports can take are reducing nesting places, draining ponds and eliminating food sources. Chemical sprays and noise can repel birds, and the red light from handheld lasers has been found to disperse Canada geese. Part of the challenge in coping with bird strikes is that 90% involve federally protected species. The non-migratory population of Canada geese, which are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, has quadrupled in the past two decades, according to the FAA. http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2012-08-23/Report-Bird-strike-data-for-planes- is-skimpy/57257818/1 Back to Top Birds threaten flight safety at Shanghai airport Airlines are concerned about flocks of birds around Pudong Airport in Shanghai, after one flight was forced to return to the airport just after taking off and another had to abort its take-off when birds were sucked into the engines. These birds were spotted flying near planes on runway number two at Pudong Airport on Wednesday afternoon. Bigger birds could be seen hovering above the landing area. Frequent flyers say this is not a rare scene. Tiny as they are, these birds pose a real danger. A United Airlines flight headed to Los Angeles was forced to return to the runway on Tuesday after birds crashed into it while it was taxiing down the runway. They destroyed the blades of one engine. A Hong Kong- bound Spring Airlines flight was forced to return to Pudong just after takeoff on Saturday when birds were sucked into one engine, which stopped working. Fortunately nobody was hurt during the incidents. Chen Zhi, Maintenance Manager of China Eastern Airlines, said, "Sometimes when an aircraft is taxiing by, the huge noise will stir up birds and make them shoot into the air aimlessly. A plane's speed is usually too fast for the birds to avoid coming at it, so sometimes the birds will be sucked into an engine of the plane, and damage its blades." Chen says the current migration season is one reason the birds are so active. He said the airport has tried various ways of driving the birds away, such as firing loud gunshots or setting up special nets to stop them from coming close to the planes. But that hasn't always worked. We've seen bird attacks about three to five times a week. Ground staff sometimes spots feathers and blood on an aircraft's body. Chen added that some birds are so small pilots don't notice when they crash into a plane. http://www.china.org.cn/video/2012-08/24/content_26323597.htm Back to Top Student pilot gets probation for false records DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - An Iowa pilot who lied to federal officials to obtain a license that allowed him to fly using instruments without the necessary experience avoided prison time Wednesday when a judge settled for probation. Attorneys for Fahad Nabeel Hussein Al-Daous, a joint resident of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia who lives in Waterloo, argued that the stay-at-home father lied about his flight hours simply to save money getting the license. But prosecutors said he posed a public safety risk, because his false logbook would have allowed him to get advanced pilot's licenses without adequate flight experience. Prosecutors asked for a one-year prison sentence. But U.S. District Court Judge John Jarvey sided more with defense attorneys, who argued that the 33-year-old had learned his lesson, and sentenced him to four years' probation. Al-Daous had pleaded guilty to making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration, which carried a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. During Wednesday's sentencing hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger said Al-Daous jeopardized public safety because he had applied to enter a commercial pilot's license program based on the falsified hours. Had he been successful, he could have been in a position to fly passengers with significantly less flying experience than he claimed and far fewer hours than the FAA requires. "He was putting himself in a position to be a real danger to the community," she said. A federal investigator testified that Al-Daous had flown about half of the hours he had claimed. But defense attorney J. Keith Rigg said Al-Daous presented no real danger and never actually flew beyond his qualifications. Rigg said it was fraud and a shortcut to get the license, but that Al-Daous had no intention of putting himself or anyone else in danger. Rigg asked for a year of probation, noting that his client had no criminal history and that he is raising his three children while his wife finishes a graduate degree at the University of Northern Iowa. Al-Daous, who was born in the U.S. and grew up in Saudi Arabia, is living in the U.S. with his family on a stipend from the Saudi government. He previously worked as a flight attendant in Saudi Arabia. Al-Daous listened to the proceedings through headphones so an interpreter could relay what was being said in the courtroom. When asked by the attorneys, witnesses and the judge were saying. When asked by the judge if he had anything to say, Al-Daous stood and apologized. "I'm sorry for everybody here," he said. Rigg and Ebinger declined comment after the hearing. Al-Daous attended flight training at Livingston Aviation in Waterloo during 2010 and 2011. In May 2011 he presented the log book with inflated flying hours to a pilot examiner at the Ottumwa airport, where he obtained an instrument-rated license that allows pilots to fly in conditions when instruments are required such as cloudy or bad weather. He applied for Livingston Aviation's commercial pilot training program in September. The fraud was uncovered when the flight school compared his FAA logbook with its own billing records and found many of the flights he claimed had not occurred. As part of his probation, Al-Daous isn't allowed to apply for a pilot's license and cannot pilot an aircraft. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Student-pilot-gets-probation-for-false- records-3805877.php#ixzz24SBuq3cz Back to Top Back to Top Boeing's Conner Sticking to 777 Jet's Upgrade Plan (Bloomberg) - Boeing Co. (BA) said it's sticking to its schedule for developing an upgrade of the 777 wide-body plane, its most profitable jet, that will enter service by the end of the decade. "Our timing on a decision to offer that airplane has not changed," Boeing Commercial Airplanes President Ray Conner wrote in a message to employees today. "We are absolutely committed to the 777X and continue to invest the necessary time and resources to ensure we produce a superior airplane for our customers." The development of a stretch version of the Dreamliner, called the 787-10X, continues as well, Conner wrote. The Seattle Times reported today, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter, that Boeing had slowed down the development process. Boeing's former commercial president, Jim Albaugh, had talked earlier this year about taking a plan for selling the wide-body jets to the board for approval by the end of 2012. After Conner was appointed June 26, he said the plan will be presented once it's ready, comments that were repeated in today's message. Boeing's larger rival, Airbus SAS, plans to introduce the A350-1000 in 2017 to compete with the 777 and 787. Back to Top Cirrus Aircraft Chosen For French Air Force LE PLESSIS-BELLEVILLE, France and DULUTH, Minn., Aug. 23, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Cirrus Aircraft announced today that Cirrus SR20s and SR22s have been selected by Cassidian Aviation Training Services (CATS) in a public tender for the French Air Force and Navy. A fleet of 13 Cirrus SR20s will be dedicated for training pilots at the French air force base of Salon de Provence. An additional fleet of seven Cirrus SR22s will be dedicated to training flights of navigating officers arm systems (NOSA) and liaison flights, in particular to accompany the French Air Force's aerobatic team. Through the agreement with CATS, another fleet of three Cirrus SR20s will be dedicated to the students of the Ecole Navale at the naval air station of Lanveoc Poulmic. CATS will be in charge of maintenance and airworthiness of all fleets. The transaction was handled by Cirrus France. Cirrus Vice President, Global Fleet and Special Mission Aircraft Sales, Jon Dauplaise said, "The French Air Force and CATS are committed to the highest quality of flight training. By using our SR20s and SR22s - aircraft that set the standards for training and advanced performance - they are setting the standard for the highest quality air force." "To respond to the tender for Salon de Provence, we studied the best solutions to fit the needs of the French Air Force. With regards to performance, the Cirrus SR20 and SR22 are the most appropriate aircraft to meet the current needs of the French Air Force and also the most versatile for the future", added Laurent Blattner, CEO of CATS. Each aircraft delivered to the French Air Force will be equipped with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System™ (CAPS), airbag seatbelts, Cirrus Perspective® by Garmin™ avionics and all the active and passive safety systems and features that are standard on all Cirrus aircraft. Specific options such as UHF and G-Meter will also be equipped in the entire fleet. The Cirrus SR20s and SR22s will be added to a fleet of 18 Grob 120 already owned by CATS in the outsourcing agreement of the French Air Force Flight School, in addition to 35 TB30 Epsilon managed by CATS for the French Air Force and the Xingy managed by CATS for AVORD, the French Air Force Transport Flight School. The first SR20 was delivered in Salon de Provence on August 9 and the first SR22 will be delivered in September. Delivery will continue through the end of 2012. ABOUT CIRRUS FRANCE Aerolithe/Cirrus France is the sole importer of Cirrus aircrafts for France and has its offices on the airfield of Le Plessis-Belleville and on the airport of Cannes-Mandelieu. Aerolithe/Cirrus France is working closely with Cassidian Aircraft Training Services. Aérolithe/Cirrus France is a Certified Center for full service, e.g. sales of new and pre- owned aircrafts, maintenance, flight training, aircraft rental, spare parts, etc. ABOUT CIRRUS AIRCRAFT Cirrus Aircraft is a recognized leader in general aviation. Its all-composite line of personal aircraft - the SR20, SR22 and the turbocharged SR22T - incorporate innovative and advanced performance, electronic and safety technologies, including Cirrus Perspective™ by Garmin® avionics and the unique Cirrus Airframe Parachute System™ (CAPS). As of mid-2012, total time on the worldwide Cirrus Aircraft SR-series fleet surpassed five-and-a-half-million flight hours with 57 lives saved to date as a direct result of CAPS being a standard safety feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The Cirrus Vision SF50 jet, with over 500 production positions reserved, will provide a new personal and regional business transportation solution - the personal jet. All Cirrus aircraft are made in the USA with a direct sales force in North America and authorized sales centers covering export markets in more than 60 countries around the world. Cirrus Aircraft is wholly owned by China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (CAIGA). SOURCE Cirrus Aircraft Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/23/4750950/cirrus-aircraft-chosen- for-french.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top NTSB to Meet on 2011 Reno Air Race Accident WASHINGTON - The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a Board meeting to determine the probable cause of the accident that occurred during the 2011 National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada. On September 16, 2011, an experimental, vintage P-51D Mustang aircraft, The Galloping Ghost, crashed into the spectator box seating area during the Reno Air Races. As a result, the pilot and 10 people on the ground were killed and more than 60 others were injured. Event: Board Meeting Date/Time: Monday, August 27, 2012, 9:30 a.m. (EST) Location: NTSB Board Room and Conference Center 429 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20594 Participants: NTSB Board Members Related Material: * Reno Air Races Recommendations Issued Earlier this Year: http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2012/120405.html * Air Race and Air Show Safety Hearing : http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2012/120105.html * Investigation Update: http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2011/111021.html * NTSB Opens Docket on Reno Air Races Crash http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2012/120821b.html Contact Information Office of Public Affairs 490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20594 (202) 314-6100 terry.williams@ntsb.gov www.ntsb.gov Back to Top Paris's Charles de Gaulle 'rudest airport in Europe' The experience of using Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is described by travelers as similar to cattle being herded to market with complaints ranging from endless lines to manhandling at security and abrupt responses from staff. Paris Charles de Gaulle airport rates as the rudest in Europe. According to a survey, Paris Charles de Gaulle, the second busiest airport in Europe, is the rudest in the region, while Copenhagen Airport features as the friendliest. A survey published by travel website Skyscanner shows that Paris Charles de Gaulle, which hosts more than 60 million passengers a year, is the rudest airport in Europe with a score of 4.86 out of ten. The survey rates airports according to the friendliness of their staff. The experience of using Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is described by travelers as similar to cattle being herded to market with complaints ranging from endless lines to manhandling at security and abrupt responses from staff. Second rudest was Moscow with a score of 5.03, followed by Istanbul with 5.91. Copenhagen Airport, with a total of 22.7 million passengers in 2011, received the highest score with 7.08 out of ten, featuring as Europe's friendliest airport. Copenhagen is followed by Amsterdam Airport Schipol (6.92), which served around 49 million passengers in 2011. Amsterdam Airport Schipol was awarded as 'Europe's best airport' this year by passengers at the Passenger Terminal Expo in Vienna. Stockholm, scoring 6.92, came in as third friendliest. Across all airports, staff at security gates as well as at restaurants and shops rate as among the friendliest, while check-in staff appear bottom of the list. In the UK, the survey shows that London Luton airport is the least friendly airport while Edinburgh features as the friendliest, with Newcastle in second place. Skyscanner surveyed more than 500 passengers who have traveled in the past 12 months asking them to rate the European airports according to the friendliness of their staff. 5 Rudest Airports in Europe 1. Paris CDG 4.86 2. Moscow 5.03 3. Istanbul 5.91 4. London -Heathrow 5.94 5. Madrid 6.01 5 Friendliest Airports in Europe 1. Copenhagen 7.08 2. Amsterdam 6.92 3. Stockholm 6.68 4. Barcelona 6.46 5. Frankfurt 6.21 http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/paris-charles-de-gaulle-rudest-airport-europe- article-1.1142874 Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP, FRAeS, FISASI CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC