01 MAY 2003
The FAA may add 10 pounds to its estimates of how much air travelers weigh, following a survey showing that passengers and their bags generally are heavier than the estimates now used. Regional carriers say they might have to eliminate seats to comply. A US Airways Express Beech 1900 that crashed at Charlotte, NC, on Jan. 8, was estimated to be within 100 pounds of maximum takeoff weight. After the crash, the FAA ordered 15 airlines to survey passenger weights. (AP)
06 MAY 2003
The NTSB issued 2 recommendations to the FAA regarding airport runway safety area improvements and the installation of engineered materials arresting systems to meet the minimum standards established by Advisory Circular 150/5300-13. (NTSB)
Safety Recommendations A-03-11/-12
`Police will send papers to prosecutors about a pilot and two air traffic controllers suspected of professional negligence resulting in injuries to 100 people in a near-miss incident involving two Japan Air Lines planes in January 2001.` (Kyodo)
ASN Incident Description
08 MAY 2003 The UK AAIB issued six airworthiness directives regarding the operation of air bridges following an incident in June 2002 when the pressure hull skin of a Boeing 747 was punctured at London-Heathrow by an air bridge. Issued addressed include the famailiarity with specific types of air bridges and training of air bridge operators. (AAIB)
Bulletin May 2003 (p.22)
09 MAY 2003 An aircraft carrying a government delegation was hit by gunfire on as it approached Bunia airstrip. The stricken aircraft diverted to the Ugandan city of Entebbe, a 25-minute flight away, where it made an emergency landing. Two shells hit the plane, damaging the right engine. (allafrica.com) 12 MAY 2003
The FAA increased its estimates of how much passengers and their luggage weigh, prompted by January`s crash that killed all 21 people aboard a Beech 1900. It is adding 10 pounds to its estimate for passengers and five pounds to luggage. (AP) 15 MAY 2003
The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct a 2-day en banc public hearing as part of its ongoing investigation into the fatal crash of Air Midwest flight 5481 at Charlotte, NC. The hearing will convene on May 20th. (NTSB)
press release
17 MAY 2003 `A federal judge in San Francisco ruled that families of those killed in the January 2000 crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 cannot seek punitive damages from Boeing.` (Seattle Times)
Seattle Times article
18 MAY 2003 Continuing research by the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has proved that mobile telephone transmissions made by airline passengers can interfere with aircraft equipment. The tests support the existing CAA ban on the use of mobile telephones on board aircraft when the engines have started. (CAA)
news release
21 MAY 2003 Following the July 2002 collision over Germany and another incident near Denver in April 2000, the NTSB recommended the FAA to modify air traffic control radar data processing backup systems to provide () 21 MAY 2003
The FAA is investigating the takeoff of a Federal Express Airbus A.310F cargo jet from a darkened, closed runway at the Newark airport that brought the plane near workers on the ground. The incident happened on May 10th. (AP) 22 MAY 2003
A Pakistan Air force board of inquiry concluded that the February 20 Fokker F-27 accident was caused by the pilot`s premature descent. As a consequence, the aircraft hit a cloud covered ridge at 3,000 feet above sea level. (AFP)
accident description
22 MAY 2003 In line with a 2002 UK AAIB recommendation, the NTSB issued two safety recommendations Require that all Embraer 135/145, Canadair RJ/Challenger, and Fairchild Dornier 328-300 airplanes be modified with a digital flight data recorder system that meets the FAR 121 sampling rate, range, and accuracy requirements. (NTSB)
Safety Recommendations A-03-15/-16
