Flight Safety Information October 02, 2012 - No. 199 In This Issue FAA Probes Seats on Two American Flights American to reinspect eight 757s after loose seats found midflight NTSB Chief Promotes 21st Century Aviation Safety Toolkit Namibia: Outdated Civil Aviation Act to Be Replaced 787 from Tokyo lands in Seattle but return trip delayed Air safety agency proposes new limits on flight duty (EASA) PRISM Certification Support GOL announces order for 60 Boeing 737 MAX jets Philippine Airlines orders 10 more A330s Air Evac Moves to Level 3 SMS PIA MD reposes trust in pilots FAA Probes Seats on Two American Flights By ANDY PASZTOR (WSJ) Federal air-safety regulators are investigating maintenance lapses that caused rows of passenger seats to come loose during a pair of flights on jets of AMR Corp.'s American Airlines over the past three days, according to industry and government officials. Both planes, the officials said, were Boeing Co. 757 models that recently went through maintenance overhauls at an outside facility, though American's own mechanics later reworked some seats. The Federal Aviation Administration, among other things, is looking into why a dozen or more rows of seats on one of the planes were improperly secured after being removed for maintenance. The airline said six of its other 757s have been temporarily grounded as a precaution. Nobody was hurt in either incident and the planes landed safely at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. The aircraft were being inspected Monday by officials from the carrier and the FAA. The first incident, which occurred over the weekend, prompted pilots of American Flight 685, bound for Miami from Boston, to divert to New York after a row of seats in the coach cabin came loose. After landing, according to people familiar with the details, a dozen other rows were determined to be attached improperly to the cabin floor. On Monday, according to these people, a second American Airlines jet, which had taken off roughly 30 minutes earlier from Kennedy Airport, experienced similar problems while airborne. The plane returned to the field. One person said three rows of seats were loosely or improperly attached in the cabin. An FAA statement said the agency was looking into both flights. The statement added that "preliminary information indicates that a row of three seats in the coach cabin apparently became loose" on the weekend flight. All eight aircraft will stay on the ground until they are checked and fixed, if necessary. An American spokeswoman confirmed the events and said they were similar. She added that the company was investigating them in cooperation with the FAA. In a statement, the spokeswoman said that an internal investigation so far indicates "there could be a possible issue with a certain model of seats and how they fit into the tracking used to secure" them. As a precaution, the statement said, "American has decided to proactively reinspect eight 757s" that could have the same issue. The American spokeswoman said the seats "were installed by American maintenance and contract maintenance" and noted that "the issue does not seem to be tied to any one maintenance facility" or group of workers. The carrier said that it flew engineers, inspectors and other employees to New York from its Tulsa maintenance base "to evaluate the aircraft and determine the next course of action to correct the problem." The unusual events come amid continuing, high-profile labor-management clashes at the airline. American struggled last month with an increase in late and canceled flights spurred by pilot-initiated maintenance requests and a shortage of crew members amid a labor dispute. Last week, the airline's management sent a letter threatening to seek an injunction against its pilots union if it fails to take steps to "halt disruptions of operations by some [American] pilots." The union, the Allied Pilots Association, has responded that it isn't sanctioning, condoning or encouraging any sort of job action. Union officials have said pilots are exercising proper caution in writing up maintenance problems and demanding that some must be fixed prior to departure. American, the third-largest U.S. carrier by traffic, has been reeling from a high rate of maintenance write-ups-pilot notations for maintenance-as well as pilot sick leave since the airline won a bankruptcy judge's permission to throw out its pilots' contract and impose terms on the 10,000 aviators. The turbulence comes in the wake of more than 60% of American pilots rejecting a tentative agreement in August. American's operational performance deteriorated for much of September and the airline said it ended up with only 58% of its domestic flights arriving within 14 minutes of schedule for the month, compared with 82% the year before. In response to a shortage of available pilots and planes out of service for maintenance, American has trimmed its flight schedule by as much as 2% through the end of October. Back to Top American to reinspect eight 757s after loose seats found midflight on an aircraft on Saturday American Airlines said it will inspect eight Boeing 757 aircraft in its fleet after a row of seats became loose during a flight on Saturday. The Fort Worth-based carrier said there could be an issue with a particular model of seats and added it has contacted the Federal Aviation Administration about a possible problem. "An initial internal investigation into why a row of seats became loose on two American Airlines Boeing 757s has indicated that there could be a possible issue with a certain model of seats and how they fit into the tracking used to secure the seats," said American spokesman Andrea Huguely. On Saturday, American flight 685 from Boston to Miami made an emergency landing at New York's JFK Airport when a row of seats shifted in air. The passengers in that row were moved to other seats and no one was injured during the landing. Passengers were then placed on another aircraft to continue to Miami. American said it found a loose row of seats on another Boeing 757 at JFK Airport on Monday, prompting the reinspection of similar aircraft. The company said it flew engineers and mechanics from its Tulsa maintenance base to New York to examine the aircraft. One of the affected airplanes had been worked on at one of American's in-house maintenance facility while the other had maintenance work performed on it at a third- party aircraft maintenance company, Huguely said. "Preliminary information indicates that both aircraft had recently undergone maintenance during which the seats had been removed and reinstalled," the FAA said in an e-mailed statement. American's additional checks on the two 757s "found other rows of seats that were not properly secured." The maintenance issue is the latest challenge for American as it has struggled with numerous flight delays and cancellations in the past two weeks. The carrier has blamed its operational problems partly on last-minute maintenance requests by pilots. The pilots' union denies that it has coordinated a work slow-down. As of 7 p.m. on Monday, American's on-time arrival rate was 61 percent with 17 cancelled arrivals for the day. Its competitors, United Continental and Delta Air Lines, had on-time rates of 85 percent and 79 percent respectively on Monday. American is also preparing to shift more of its maintenance work to third-party companies, like TIMCO and ST Aerospace, as it closes its Alliance Fort Worth maintenance facility in the next few months and layoffs close to 4,000 employees, including 2,600 mechanics, store clerks and other ground service personnel. http://blogs.star-telegram.com/sky_talk/2012/10/american-to-reinspect-eight-757s- after-loose-seats-found-midflight-on-an-aircraft-on-saturday.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top NTSB Chief Promotes 21st Century Aviation Safety Toolkit The safety investigator's role has changed significantly over the past 15 years and investigators cannot use 20th century techniques to investigate 21st century accidents, NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman told last month's International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) seminar in Baltimore. "Today, there are four major tools in aviation safety's 21st century toolkit: continued emphasis on forensics, data collection and analysis, new and emerging technologies and, to be sure, international cooperation." Forensics helps investigators learn to become less reactive and more predictive by evaluating incidents against what might happen across the rest of the fleet. Another tool is data, the basis for today's safety management systems (SMS). Hersman said the NTSB's goal is to ensure it does more than simply gather numbers. "We don't want to become information rich and knowledge poor," she stated. "We need to know the right questions to ask. And just as important is knowing what we don't know." Investigators must also continue to exploit new sources of information, such as "non- volatile memory and new tools such as geographic information systems." Non-volatile memory retains information even if system power is cut off. "The last tool is perhaps one of the most effective: our counterparts and colleagues," said Hersman. "We must continue to help each other and share what we know. Our professional relationships lead to improved collaboration, better understanding and more effective recommendations." http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ Back to Top Namibia: Outdated Civil Aviation Act to Be Replaced NAMIBIA'S 50-year-old Civil Aviation Act will soon be replaced to pave the way for a Namibian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to take over from the Directorate of Civil Aviation. An outline of the new bill was presented at a meeting in Swakopmund last week by Peter O'Brien, legal advisor of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The meeting was opened by the Minister of Works and Transport, Erkki Nghimtina. In short, the new bill will improve the regulation of civil aviation in Namibia by updating all relevant legislation. "The 1962 act dates from an entirely different technical and social age. Aircraft and air navigation services were technically different and less complex. Public expectations of safety, reliability and security were lower in the 1960s. The hijacking of aircraft was almost unheard of and the phrase 'unruly passengers' would not be heard for 35 years," said O'Brien. He added that civil aviation was fast changing on the technical and social front, and that it was for this reason that the regulator of the industry must remain abreast of the developments. The new bill will be a comprehensive and up-to-date piece of legislation with a set of powers for the regulation of the industry in the interest of public safety and to cover other important related areas such as aviation security and accident and incident investigations. "People want to be safe when they fly. If not, there will be no business," O'Brien said. As for the NCAA, O'Brien said it would follow international trends, and would be autonomous and self-funding. He added that it would not be established overnight as the right people with the right qualifications would have to be appointed - which would be an expensive investment. The Minister of Works and Transport will be the Director General of the NCAA. The NCAA will promote, control and regulate civil aviation and security, oversee the functioning and development of the aviation industry, develop and enforce regulations to achieve an integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable transport system. A board of directors will be responsible for the policy, control and management of the NCAA. Funding will come from money appropriated by Parliament, fees, charges and penalties, licences and revenue for services provided, fuel and passenger levies, airspace overflight and air traffic control revenue. According to Nghimtina, it is imperative to replace the 50-year-old Act because aviation has changed and become more complex. "Through this, Namibia wants to position itself to become a leader in civil aviation in Africa," he said http://allafrica.com/stories/201210010143.html Back to Top 787 from Tokyo lands in Seattle but return trip delayed Faulty cooling system part grounds first 787 to fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in regular passenger service, stranding ANA's Tokyo-bound passengers. A day of celebration for the 787 Dreamliner turned into a public relations disaster Monday for All Nippon Airways (ANA) of Japan and for Boeing. The first of the jets to fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in regular passenger service was grounded after arrival due to a maintenance issue, leaving ANA's Tokyo- bound return flight passengers stranded. ANA spokeswoman Nao Gunji said that, due to "a faulty part in the cooling system," the jet's return to Tokyo will be delayed 24 hours. No further detail was available and Boeing referred questions to the airline. Passengers heard the deflating news that they would be delayed a full day after waiting in the airport lounge three hours past their 1:15 p.m. scheduled departure time. ANA had already passed out meal vouchers and, following its announcement of the postponement, it distributed hotel vouchers to those who needed them. The milestone passenger flight into Seattle came a few days after the anniversary of the first 787 Dreamliner delivery to ANA. The jet that flew in Monday from Tokyo was the 14th Dreamliner for ANA. It was brand new, delivered just a week ago. It landed smoothly at Sea-Tac shortly after 10 a.m., about 50 minutes early. The jet was greeted by airport fire trucks spraying a ceremonial arch of water that in the brilliant sunshine created a rainbow over the jet as it taxied to the gate. Unaware of the big glitch just ahead, a welcoming reception was ready inside the airport. ANA's invited guests included about 50 Boeing employees. One was Tammy McCord, a mechanic whose job is to join the aft and mid-fuselage sections. "It makes me happy inside to see this baby flying," said McCord. "It's an outstanding bird." In a welcoming speech, Larry Loftis, Boeing vice president in charge of the 787 program, reminded attendees that 35 percent of the jet's airframe was made in Japan, including "the most beautiful set of wings on any airplane flying." "It's great to have this airplane flying in and out of Seattle for the whole community to see and experience," Loftis said. ANA has been flying daily between Tokyo and Seattle since July 25, using until now a bigger 777 airplane. This was the first chance for locals to see how the plane looks in service. The airline configured the 787 for international flights with 46 lie-flat, business-class seats and 112 economy seats. While the plane looked very comfortable, certainly in business class, one aspect of the interior disappointed. Boeing has often touted its redesigned entryway to the Dreamliner, advertising a light- filled atrium effect. And ANA's domestic 787 configuration does feature this open entryway with a central bar-style counter beneath a high-domed ceiling. But as passengers board the international version, they face a large galley storage unit right in front of the entry door. This design, fairly typical on airplanes, provides storage for all the meals to be served but spoils Boeing's hoped-for aesthetics. Still, the passengers scheduled to leave for Tokyo on Monday afternoon would likely have been glad of any entryway if it had opened on schedule. ANA rescheduled the flight for 1:15 p.m. Tuesday. A second ANA Dreamliner will arrive Tuesday morning, so if all goes as now planned there should be two Dreamliners taking off then. http://seattletimes.com/ Back to Top Air safety agency proposes new limits on flight duty (EASA) Europe's aviation safety regulator today (1 October) recommended 30 new regulations that agency officials say would make flying safer but acknowledged would not make either airlines or trade unions happy. The proposed changes to a 2008 EU regulation deal broadly with the hours pilots and flight crews can work. The results cap three years of studies by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which was under pressure from struggling airlines for flexibility and trade unions for tougher limits on duty hours. "If I were to tell you that our proposals will make everybody happy, I would be wrong," Jean-Marc Cluzeau, the head of flight safety standards at EASA, told a news conference in Brussels. Amongst its main recommendations, EASA calls for reducing the time pilots can be on duty if their shift involves nighttime flying from 11 hours and 45 minutes to 11 hours, with a nine-hour cap if duty time involve multiple take-offs and landings that occur at night. The recommendations also prescribe additional weekly rest times for pilots who have worked "disruptive schedules" - such as those involving periods of long flight delays or multiple start times. And the proposals would ban the growing practice of reserving an economy-class seat for pilots to rest during long-haul flights amid complaints that the practice contributes to fatigue. A commission official welcomed the proposals and said they would be reviewed in the next few weeks. "Implementing EASA's proposals should result in a significant improvement in safety across the EU as a whole," said Matthew Baldwin, head of air transport the Commission's transport directorate. But he admitted that the recommendations are under fire for not being rigorous enough in capping duty times. "Some stakeholders are already indicating that they are not fully satisfied with the EASA's proposals and they of course will be making their views public," Baldwin said, adding: "All I can usefully say at this stage is that we in Commission will listen with great care to each and every view that is presented to us." Turbulent year for airlines With European passenger airlines on course for a loss-making year, airlines have pressed for more flexibility in work rules to control additional staff costs, such as when extra flight and cabin crews must be called in during peak congestion or inclement weather because pilots were nearing maximum flying times. Pilots operating in the EU can now be on duty 13 hours during the day and 11 hours and 45 minutes at night, though airlines can request they work additional time and the flight captain can add extend crew shifts if long delays are expected. Trade unions representing pilots and cabin crews have pressed EASA to impose far tougher limits on work hours, citing safety concerns about cockpit fatigue. Philip von Schöppenthau, secretary-general of the European Cockpits Association, told EurActiv recently that the pilots were adamant in holding out for a 10-hour cap on nighttime duty, an hour less than what EASA proposes, and sees little room for middle ground. The night restrictions are of particular concern, with studies showing the likelihood of accidents rising sharply the longer a pilot spends at the controls. In November 2008, a study submitted to EASA by Mobeus Aviation consultancy in Zürich argued that pilots can lose awareness after 10 hours and recommended flight duty periods for crew "should not exceed 10 hours overnight." The draft standards for flight crews follow what EASA officials said was a vigorous review of dozens of safety studies and medical assessments, as well as analysis of material provided by national aviation safety agencies. EASA is proposing an 11-hour standard for duty starting times between 5 p.m. and 4:59 a.m. The EASA recommendation also removes the possibility of one-hour extensions for night duty. Most airlines already operate under restrictions carved out in trade union contracts that are far stricter than either EASA or national safety policies. Next steps: End of 2012: European Commission to consider the EASA recommendations and present a legislative package to the European Parliament and Council. Mid-2013: Revisions to the 2008 regulation on flight safety expected to be adopted into law Mid-2015: Full implementation of new rules http://www.euractiv.com/transport/air-safety-agency-proposes-new-l-news-515104 Back to Top Back to Top GOL announces order for 60 Boeing 737 MAX jets Brazilian low-cost airline Gol said it has ordered 60 of Boeing's forthcoming 737 MAX jets featuring new fuel-efficient engines Brazilian low-cost airline GOL on Monday announced a firm order for 60 of Boeing's forthcoming 737 MAX jets featuring new fuel-efficient engines. The order is worth about $6 billion at list prices. However, based on market-pricing data from aircraft-valuation firm Avitas, the real value of the order after standard discounts is about $3 billion. "Boeing has partnered with GOL since their inception just over 12 years ago," Ray Conner, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a statement. "We've watched them grow from a small startup airline to a driving force in global aviation, and we are proud to partner with them as the South American launch customer for the 737 MAX." The order brings Boeing's order tally for the MAX to 724. The company has said it aims to have 1,000 orders booked by year end. The Renton-built airplane is competing against the re-engined Airbus A320 neo family, which launched about a year before the MAX and has more than 1,400 orders. Boeing promises the MAX will have 13 percent lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions than the current 737. GOL said in a news release that Boeing has agreed to develop a further version of the MAX capable of landing on and taking off from relatively short runways. Such a derivative of the jet would probably be developed only toward the end of the decade, after the initial three standard versions of the jet family have entered service. In 2006, Boeing developed what's called a "Short Field Performance" version of the current 737 for GOL, allowing the airline to fly out of the 4,300-foot runway at Santos Dumont airport in Rio de Janeiro with a bigger aircraft than other airlines. Design enhancements for that version included a two-position tail skid that enables reduced-approach speeds, as well as sealed leading-edge slats and increased flight- spoiler deflection for improved takeoff and landing performance. http://seattletimes.com/html/boeingaerospace/2019316423_gol737maxxml.html Back to Top Philippine Airlines orders 10 more A330s Philippine Airlines (PAL) has placed a firm order with Airbus for an additional 10 A330- 300 widebody aircraft. The latest purchase agreement follows a major order from the airline in August for 44 single aisle A321s and 10 A330s under the carrier's fleet modernisation programme. For its latest order the airline has selected the 240 tonne high gross weight version of the A330, offering extra range capability. This will enable the airline to operate the aircraft non-stop from Manila to any destination in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to the Middle East and as far as Honolulu in the US. "This additional order will complete our current medium-to-long range requirements under our fleet modernisation programme," said PAL Chairman Lucio Tan and PAL President Ramon S. Ang. "With the latest enhanced versions of the A330 we will be providing our passengers the highest levels of in-flight comfort, while benefitting from the low operating costs offered by these super-efficient aircraft." "We are extremely pleased that the A330 has been selected by Philippine Airlines to play a key role in its future fleet," said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Airbus. "This order once again highlights the success of the A330 as the most popular aircraft in its class, offering the lowest operating costs, proven reliability and a great in- flight experience." The A330 is one of the most widely-used widebody aircraft in service today. Airbus has recorded over 1,200 orders for the various versions of the aircraft, with more than 900 delivered to 120 customers and operators worldwide. http://www.eturbonews.com/31457/philippine-airlines-orders-10-more-a330s Back to Top Air Evac Moves to Level 3 SMS Helicopter EMS provider Air Evac Lifeteam has entered the third level of the FAA's safety management system (SMS) voluntary pilot project. Air Evac has 110 bases in 15 states and has been enrolled in the pilot project since February 2010. Dave Hardin, Air Evac's director of safety, characterizes the company's participation in the pilot project as a "challenging, but beneficial, process in the interest of safety." Air Evac is only the third Part 135 operator to progress beyond Level 2, according to the FAA. Level 2, also known as the "reactive" phase of the project, pertains to the development and implementation of robust safety assurance and safety risk management processes. This level effectively prepares the company for further safety and quality systems, corrects potential deficiencies in safety management practices and develops a proactive process to identify and mitigate hazards before they result in an unwanted occurrence. Level 3 will continue to focus on further enhancing the proactive and predictive processes and procedures. This will include implementation of a "just culture of safety" within the company, and the development of more robust quality assurance, analysis and quality improvement processes. "It's all about measuring, assessing and analyzing, controlling and mitigating safety hazards," said Hardin. Having an SMS is widely considered an industry best practice but is not yet mandated by the FAA. Air Evac's SMS currently includes trend analysis, hazard reporting, a non-punitive employee reporting system, risk mitigation, internal evaluation programs, risk assessment and a flight/maintenance quality assurance program. This systemic approach to SMS has resulted in marked safety improvements at Air Evac in recent years, said Hardin. Hardin said Air Evac was the first helicopter EMS provider to design and implement an enhanced, high-tech operational control center to assist its flight crews with timely and accurate weather information, flight risk assessment and risk-mitigation strategies. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2012-10-01/air- evac-moves-level-3-sms Back to Top PIA MD reposes trust in pilots KARACHI: Managing Director PIA, Muhammad Junaid Yunus expressed confidence and full support to Pakistan Airline Pilots Association (PALPA) in all their endeavors for the growth of the airline and addressing the aviation safety measures to make the air travel safe in Pakistan. At PALPA Award 2012 event for Aviation Safety, he said, "PIA management and employees are a united family and he appreciated PALPA for their efforts for the welfare of the PIA pilots". Aviation Safety Experts from Canada Caj Frostell and Micheal Doiron also attended the function. The airline would be turned around and all the current difficulties would be overcome as the management and the employees Unions and Associations would be making a joint struggle with consensus to make it profitable. He commended the establishment of PALPA Institute of Aviation and Management Sciences. President PALPA, Captain Sohail Baluch informed about the formation of PALPA in Pakistan with the objective of welfare of the pilots together with the safety of the passengers, aircraft and the cargo as foremost to PALPA. staff report http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/ Curt Lewis