Flight Safety Information July 23, 2013 - No. 151 In This Issue Flight's nose gear collapses as it lands at New York's LaGuardia Pilots Decry EASA Proposal for 'Harmonized' Duty-time Limits Officials: Unsure which rig hit teen after Asiana crash FAA Investigates Aborted Landing in Anchorage Think ARGUS PROS Continental Buys Thielert Aircraft Engines UPS Pioneers Aviation Safety, Implements New Fire-Resistant Shipping Containers U.S. Forest Service Seeks Regional Aviation Safety Manager Flight's nose gear collapses as it lands at New York's LaGuardia LaGuardia general manager Thomas Bosco says there was no warning that the landing gear was faulty Ten people were left with minor injuries after a plane's nose wheel collapsed when it landed at New York's LaGuardia Airport, officials say. Six of the casualties were taken to hospital after Southwest Airlines Flight 345 skidded off the runway, said airport general manager Tom Bosco. Emergency vehicles surrounded the Boeing 737 from Nashville, which had 143 passengers and six crew on board. The airport was shut temporarily, but later opened. In an evening news conference, Mr Bosco said the plane's front wheel collapsed when it landed on runway four at 17:40 (21:40 GMT) on Monday. 'Bang and bounce' He said the aircraft skidded on its nose before coming to rest in a grassy patch about half way down the runway. Emergency crews were seen spraying foam on the nose of the plane. Plane on tarmac LaGuardia airport was temporarily shut down after the landing "We are assessing physical damage to the runway caused by the incident and we hope to have everything open by [Tuesday] morning," Mr Bosco said. The Port Authority, which oversees the area airports, said the passengers had exited the plane by using emergency chutes. Port Authority spokeswoman Lisa MacSpadden said those who were injured during the landing suffered back and neck injuries. The crew was also taken to hospital for observation. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. Passengers said it had been a rough touchdown. "It was just a bang and a bounce and then just a slam on the brakes and then it was a skidding feeling," Kathy Boles told CNN. "You could tell they were trying to stop the plane. It was very clear as soon as we went down that something was really wrong." Four people reportedly suffered anxiety attacks, according to the Associated Press news agency. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines said in a statement: "All customers have been deplaned and transferred to the terminal. Southwest is cooperating with local authorities." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-23413358 Back to Top Pilots Decry EASA Proposal for 'Harmonized' Duty-time Limits 'Harmonized' duty-time rules for pilots in Europe would allow shifts starting at 4 p.m. to last as long as 12.5 hours. So-called harmonized flight- and duty-time rules for pilots and cabin crew approved by a European Aviation Safety Agency committee on July 11 drew sharply different reactions from Europe's pilot union coalition and airline associations on Monday. Speaking with AIN last Tuesday, European Cockpit Association president Nico Voorbach characterized the basis for the new rules as unscientific and driven wholly by the interests of the airline lobby in Europe. In a joint statement issued July 15, the Association of European Airlines (AEA), the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) and International Air Carrier Association (IACA) lauded the EASA proposal as "balanced" and called for adoption "without delay." Happily for Voorbach, the plan still needs to pass through Europe's customary bureaucratic gauntlet before adoption: the EC must still formulate a formal proposal based on the EASA committee's affirmative vote, then pass it to the European Parliament for acceptance. If the Parliament consents, the regulation goes to Europe's Council of Ministers for their signature. If all that transpires without interruption, adoption of the rule could happen by November or December. However, the timing of final implementation depends on the airlines and their governments. "We still have two years to fight it before it's implemented," said Voorbach. While the ECA opposes the rule on several grounds, it considers one of the most dangerous elements the language that governs nighttime duty-hour limits and the times at which the nighttime rules take effect. "All the scientific studies said very clearly that the human body cannot work more than ten hours during night," insisted Voorbach. "In the EASA proposal the minimum is eleven hours, but if you start at four o'clock [in the afternoon], for example, you can still work twelve-and-a-half hours." In fact, the proposal calls for a complicated set of limits that change in half-hour intervals and vary depending on numbers of sectors flown and the degree to which a crewmember has "acclimatized" to whatever time zone he or she happens to be in. However, according to Voorbach, the committee misinterpreted the recommendations of leading scientists in the field of fatigue study to match its agenda. "That is just playing with science, not including it in the way it should be included," he said. Other aspects of the proposed rule the ECA finds objectionable include differences in allowances for early-morning starts and late-night arrivals, depending on the country. "For example, in Germany people wake up early, so to them it's not a problem to start early," said Voorbach. "But since most airlines around the world start their duties early, everybody will say, 'OK, we are an early country and we don't have to follow the regulations for early starts.' "We say the rules are there; early starts and late arrivals are disruptive; the science says you have to take into account that you'd then have limited working hours because of that and more rest." http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-air-transport-perspective/2013-07-22/pilots-decry- easa-proposal-harmonized-duty-time-limits Back to Top Officials: Unsure which rig hit teen after Asiana crash Chinese student Ye Meng Yuan survived the crash-landing of Asiana Flight 214 only to be killed accidentally on the runway by a fire truck racing to the wrecked plane, a coroner confirmed SAN FRANCISCO A San Francisco Fire Department spokeswoman says the agency is still investigating which rig ran over and killed a 16-year-old Asiana Airlines crash survivor, and infrared equipment wouldn't have had any bearing on the situation. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a two-axle truck believed to have run over Ye Mengyuan as it moved to get a better position to spray foam on fire was not equipped with infrared imaging technology now required by federal law. However, fire spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said officials are still probing which vehicle was responsible for the Chinese girl's death after Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashed July 6. "Our investigation is not complete," she said. "I cannot tell you what vehicle was involved." The first trucks to respond were foam-throwing trucks, but it is unlikely Ye was killed during that initial response, Talmadge said. "The 16-year-old girl was under a foam blanket" when she was struck, Talmadge said, "and so I don't believe the incident occurred while crews were first responding." In addition, Talmadge said, all four foam-spraying rigs at San Francisco International Airport have infrared systems to identify hot spots on planes that need to be cooled down, and all four were working. The Boeing 777 crash-landed after approaching the runway too low and too slow. The landing gear and then the tail broke off as the plane hit the airport seawall, and the plane skidded and spun before coming to a stop. Two other Chinese girls also died, one who was thrown out the back of the plane and a second who died days later from her injuries. San Francisco's airport fire divisions are equipped with four Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Vehicles -- the massive foam throwers that usually respond first to crashes or fires -- as well as two engines, one truck, two paramedic units, four watercraft and a command unit. Talmadge said there has been confusion about the difference between what's known as Driver's Enhanced Vision systems, or DEV, which describes many different systems aimed at helping fire truck drivers, and Forward Looking InfraRed, which is one particular type of DEV. The airport is still in the process of installing two other types of DEV systems, she said. One feeds a library of aircraft models and their layouts to computers in fire engines, so that when they pull up to an aircraft they have its layout available. The second is a mapping system that would allow rescuers obscured by fog or smoke to find their way around the runway. Talmadge said neither of those systems would have made a difference in the Asiana Airlines accident because it was a clear day, rescue workers could see the aircraft, and they knew already where the fire was. The infrared technology, developed at the Federal Aviation Administration tech center in New Jersey and Boston Logan International Airport, was prompted by two crashes. In 1990, visibility was so poor that rescuers drove right past two Northwest Airlines planes that had collided in dense fog on a runway at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. In 1996, when a Federal Express plane with smoke in the cabin made an emergency landing at Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, N.Y., rescuers had no idea where the fire was, so they soaked the entire aircraft with so much water and foam that the plane split in half, exacerbating the mishap. "After those crashes, we decided to try to see if we could use some military technology to help rescuers see in low-visibility situations," said former Logan aviation director Tom Kinton. Adapting military equipment, engineers designed a range of firefighting infrared devices, from $6,000 hand-held thermal imaging cameras with 3.5-inch screens to multimillion-dollar fire trucks with voice commands and alarms. Kinton said the gear was rolled out almost 10 years ago, and it is only routinely used on foam- throwing fire trucks. The heat-sensing equipment was developed to detect hot spots through the skins of planes that are burning or about to burn, said David Williams, who teaches aviation and occupational safety at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus in Daytona Beach, Florida. The technology helps firefighters use a piercing nozzle to get water into the airliners without risking lives. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57594995/officials-unsure-which-rig-hit-teen-after- asiana-crash/ Back to Top FAA Investigates Aborted Landing in Anchorage ANCHORAGE, Alaska July 23, 2013 (AP) - The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after an Alaska Airlines jet was told to abort its landing because another plane crossed the runway. FAA spokesman Ian Gregor says an air traffic controller had Flight 157 make another approach to Anchorage Ted Stevens International Airport on Saturday after a chartered Boeing 737 taxied across the runway without authorization. The plane landed on the second attempt. Gregor said in an email that the "go-around" is a routine procedure to maintain safe distances between aircraft. The two planes were about a mile and a half apart when the go-around order was issued. Alaska Airlines spokesman Paul McElroy says there were no injuries to the 157 passengers or six crewmembers aboard the Los Angeles-to-Anchorage flight. Back to Top Back to Top Continental Buys Thielert Aircraft Engines Continental Motors announced today that it has bought the bankrupt assets of Thielert Aircraft Engines for an undisclosed sum. The deal has been in the works for several months and overnight makes Continental the volume leader in aircraft diesel manufacture. Continental and its parent, the China-based AVIC International, said that the management of Thielert would be integrated into its Mobile, Alabama headquarters, but that diesel manufacturing will remain in Lichtenstein, where Thielert has been headquartered since it launched in 2002. Continental will drop the Thielert name, but retain Centurion as the model nameplate for its line of diesels. In addition to Thielert assets, Continental is ramping up production to build its own in-house diesel, the 230-hp TD300, the basic technology base it bought from the French company, SMA in 2009. That engine was certified in 2012 and Continental will pursue both OEM and STC conversion markets. It has a production engine installed in a Cessna 182 and is continuing development on improved turbocharging. Following the Thielert acquisition, Continental Motors will be divided into five operating units including Continental Motors, Inc., AVIC Continental Motors China, Mattituck Services, its Fairhope, Alabama engine services shop and Technify Motors GmbH, the new operating name for the Thielert assets. The Thielert purchase gives Continental four engines across of a spectrum of horsepower. At the low end are the Centurion 135-hp 2.0 and 155-hp 2.0S, the mid-range 230-hp TD300 and the 350-hp Centurion 4.0 which was certified by Thielert, but never fielded. European STCs exist for installations of the Centurion 4.0 in the Cirrus SR22 and the Cessna 206. Continental CEO Rhett Ross told AVweb that once the purchase is complete, the company's major emphasis will be to integrate-and improve-customer service and support and increase gearbox inspection intervals and engine TBRs or time between replacement on the Centurion core engines. Thielert originally promised that the engines would reach a 2400-hour TBR by 2006, but the best the company ever managed was 1500 hours for the Centurion 2.0. Moreover, both of the four-cylinder Centurions were hobbled by 300-hour gearbox inspections which many owners considered to be an expensive nuisance. Ross said Continental's due diligence of the company revealed sufficient data to support longer TBRs and Thielert had already developed but never fielded a 600-hour gearbox. Although the Centurions ran into significant maintenance issues by 2007, what forced Thielert into bankruptcy was overbroad warranty protection that the company simply couldn't sustain. "When we looked at their data from their current experience and their life experience, it's not bad. For what it is as a product and where it is in its cycle, it doesn't scare me as a business leader," Ross said of the Centurion line of engines. But he conceded Thielert had a deservedly poor reputation for customer service and customers have complained to AVweb that Thielert never built the service centers it promised. Continental will address this, said Ross, by bringing support for all of its engines into a common entity, so when a customer calls for support on any engine, the process will be transparent. Ross said that Continental once had its own customer service problems but invested time and money to improve. It intends to apply the same formula to its diesel line. "We're opening a company in China to provide service, sales and support. We've got people in training to start that right now," Ross said. Continental is clearly bullish on the market potential for diesel engines. Johnny Doo, Continental's VP for business development, thinks that in five years, diesels will represent about 25 percent of the entire light aircraft market, and much of that demand may come from China. "That market may not be tomorrow, but it may not be far away," Doo said. Because it believes time to market is critical, Continental bought mature diesel technology from other companies rather than developing its own clean sheet designs, said Doo. AVweb will have more coverage on the Thielert purchase later this week. http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Continental-Buys-Thielert-Aircraft-Engines220183-1.html Back to Top UPS Pioneers Aviation Safety, Implements New Fire-Resistant Shipping Containers Industry-Leading Devices Able to Contain Intense Fires for More Than Four Hours LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research became reality today when UPS (NYS: UPS) placed an industry-first order for 1,821 fire-resistant shipping containers. The implementation of these unit load devices (ULDs) represents a milestone in aviation history, offering unprecedented protection from intense fires. Delivery of the new containers will begin this September and is expected to be complete by early 2014. UPS placed an industry-first order for 1,821 fire-resistant shipping containers. The unit load devic ... UPS placed an industry-first order for 1,821 fire-resistant shipping containers. The unit load devices (ULDs) will enhance safety on board the company's global fleet of cargo aircraft. (Photo: Business Wire) "These containers are a game changer, both for UPS and the industry as a whole," said UPS Chief Operating Officer David Abney. "They represent a quantum leap forward in safety, an area where UPS places the highest emphasis." "Fire onboard an aircraft has long been a top concern for the National Transportation Safety Board," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "We commend UPS for implementing this real-world solution that addresses our recommendations." The containers are built with a revolutionary new panel material, MACROLite, a fiber-reinforced plastic composite similar to the material used in ballistic body armor. Burn testing conducted by UPS and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and observed by the NTSB, has shown that a ULD with MACROLite panels can contain a fire with a peak temperature of 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four hours. That time frame would give a flight crew ample time to land safely in the event of an in-flight fire. "We have tested these containers in the laboratory and in live operations. They will enhance safety and increase durability, and they are lighter, which will reduce fuel burn and supports our ongoing sustainability efforts," said UPS Airlines President Mitch Nichols. The new containers are the most visible in a series of fire safety enhancements recommended by the UPS-Independent Pilots Association Safety Task Force. Working through that group, UPS has also implemented the following safety enhancements: Fire containment covers for cargo pallets: UPS has purchased 575 of the covers, which can contain a 1,200-degree fire for four hours. Quick donning, full-face oxygen masks for pilots: UPS is installing these masks, which can be put on with one hand in three seconds, throughout its air fleet by the end of 2014. The Emergency Vision Assurance System (EVAS) for pilots: UPS has completed installation of this inflatable cockpit vision system on our 747-400 fleet. The system enables pilots to see their instruments and out of the front window when smoke is present. "Fire safety is an industry-wide matter," said Captain Houston Mills, UPS Airlines Director of Safety. "We are proud to devise solutions that will set a new standard in transportation all over the world." For more information on UPS fire safety advancements, watch the video from David Abney at pressroom.ups.com. UPS (NYS: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS. http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/07/22/ups-pioneers-aviation-safety-implements-new-fire-r/ Back to Top U.S. Forest Service Seeks Regional Aviation Safety Manager News Staff posted on July 19, 2013 15:03 Position: Regional Aviation Safety Manager, GS-2101-13 Duty Station: Milwaukee, WI Area of Consideration: DEMO/Merit The Eastern Region is concurrently outreaching and re-advertising (anticipate July 24) under both merit promotion (internal) and DEMO (external). This position is located on the Regional Forester's Fire and Aviation Management Staff and provides Regional Aviation Safety leadership; formulation and implementation of the Regional Aviation Safety program within the parameters of overall policy and objectives, including Safety Management Systems; development of the principal operating strategy for all phases of the aviation safety program, and guidance for the development of specific annual and long range Regional aviation action plans. The duty station is Milwaukee, WI. The Eastern Region - Candidates are sought to provide leadership in a team environment; strengthening delivery of fire and aviation management expertise; and provide support to Eastern Region line officers and interagency fire and aviation management partners for safe, successful mission planning and accomplishment. This position provides an opportunity to serve in a region of 20 states with 40 percent of the Nation's population, consisting of 14 National Forests and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Work is performed in partnership with the Northeastern Area of State and Private Forestry - Fire and Aviation staff. Milwaukee, WI - The metro-Milwaukee area is Wisconsin's largest population center and is located on the western shores of Lake Michigan, approximately 90 miles north of Chicago. The city and surrounding suburbs encompass four counties and have a combined population of more than 1.4 million people. While the Milwaukee area offers many high-quality urban amenities, it also offers a small- town feeling in many well-established and proud neighborhoods. Milwaukee is served by a community-based public school system, numerous hospital and health care facilities, and college, university, & religious institutions. The city also offers many entertainment opportunities, including summer festivals, performing arts attractions, and various major-league sports venues. The Lake States of the upper Midwest provide outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities, with many in close proximity to Milwaukee. How to Apply - Candidates interested in applying for career positions are encouraged but not required to submit the information requested as displayed below. Given this is a second advertisement for the position, we are sharing the forthcoming opportunity and advising potential candidates of the likely announcement on or about July 24. Contact Information - If you would enjoy working in this exciting environment please complete the optional outreach response form and submit to Scott Ohlman via email (scottaohlman@fs.fed.us) or fax (414-944-3963). If you would like additional information regarding the position, please contact Mark Boche, FAM Director, (mboche@fs.fed.us or 414-297-1280). Posted in: Employment Opportunities http://www.rotor.com/Publications/RotorNews/tabid/843/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3120/US- Forest-Service-Seeks-Regional-Aviation-Safety-Manager.aspx Curt Lewis