News
03 APR 2003
An audit by the U.S. Department of Transportation`s Office of Inspector General found an 11 percent reduction in the number of operational errors and 17 percent fewer runway incursions in FY 2002 than FY 2001. Nonetheless, FAA still needs to take additional actions to further reduce the number of incidents and safety risks they pose. (DOT, OIG)
Audit # AV-2003-040
Every large commercial plane flying in the United States will have bulletproof cockpit doors by next week. Boeing has delivered 4,300 kits that include the new doors, which airlines` regular maintenance crews can install, while Airbus has delivered 557 kits to U.S. operators and about 1,800 worldwide. (AP) 06 APR 2003
Israel Aircraft Industries has developed an anti-missile system designed to deflect missiles fired at civilian planes. The system, which has been used in military planes for over a decade, must first pass Israeli Aviation Authority standards before it can be installed on Israeli civilian airplanes, but should be operational by the end of the year. (AP) 08 APR 2003
Air Canada has completed the installation of enhanced cockpit doors on all of its over 200 aircraft in service. With the installation of the new reinforced cockpit doors and security devices on Airbus A.321 C-GKOJ, Air Canada mechanics have completed the flight deck security enhancement program in compliance with Transport Canada and FAA requirements. (Air Canada) 09 APR 2003
Preliminary results of the investigation into the May 25, 2002 accident of a China Airlines Boeing 747 of Taiwan led the NTSB to issue four safety recommendations with regards to possible improper repairs to the airplane pressure vessel which may be hiding damage, allowing the development of multiple-site fatigue damage and fatigue fracturing that could lead to structural failure. (NTSB)
Safety Recommendations A-03-07/-10
10 APR 2003 The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority is asking air operators and maintenance organisations for their views on the Service Difficulty Report system. CASA needs to understand why the number of total number of fault reports is falling to be able to take action to address the situation. (CASA)
media release
17 APR 2003 The first class of commercial airline pilots who volunteered to carry handguns in the cockpit is being trained this week in a class run by the Transportation Security Administration. The inaugural group of Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) candidates will spend the week learning how to use a handgun and apply defensive tactics in an effort to stop a terrorist or anyone else attempting to hijack an airplane in flight. (TSA)
press release
24 APR 2003 The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a 2-day en banc public hearing, in which all five Board Members will participate, as part of its ongoing investigation into the fatal crash of Air Midwest flight 5481 at Charlotte-Douglas. The hearing will convene on May 20th and is expected to last 2 days but may continue into a third day. (NTSB)
press release
26 APR 2003 The French BEA released their investigation report regarding the May 2, 2000 accident involving Learjet 35A G-MURI at Lyon. The aircraft lost control and crashed after power was added during an unstabilized single engine approach. (BEA)
accident description
26 APR 2003 The U.K. AAIB released their investigation report regarding the February 27, 2001 accident involving a Loganair Shorts 360 near Edinburgh. The aircraft ditched when both engines flamed out on climbout because of air flow disturbance due to the presence of snow, ice or slush in the intake systems. (AAIB)
accident description
