News
02 NOV - United Boeing 777 diverts to Glasgow, UK after cockpit fire 04 NOV - Umtata Airport (S.A.) still being used despite suspension of lice
05 NOV - UN accuses D.R. Congo of blocking plane crash inquiry
06 NOV - Volcanic ash detector successfully trialled at airports
08 NOV - US on alert for cargo plane attack
08 NOV - Korean airlines install bulletproof cockpit doors
09 NOV - Incident highlights need for winter-time runway friction measurement equipment
11 NOV - BA pilots reportedly breached alcohol rules
13 NOV - Expert: pre-implementation risk analysis for RVSM flawed
15 NOV - FAA investigates UPS safety report
18 NOV - Major study of aircraft icing launched in Ottawa/Montreal area
19 NOV - NTSB issues safety recommendations on FDR parameters
21 NOV - New Canadian aircraft fire protection regulations announced
21 NOV - FAA Gives Suriname IASA Rating of Category 1
22 NOV - DHL A.300 hit by missile near Baghdad
26 NOV - Air Florida Express grounded by FAA over safety violations
02 NOV 2003 United Boeing 777 diverts to Glasgow, UK after cockpit fire [to table of contents]
A United Boeing 777, N795UA, en route from Frankfurt to Washington diverted to Glasgow (GLA), UK for an emergency landing following what has understood to have been a fire in the cockpit. The crew had the fire under control by the time the aircraft landed safely and no-one of the 276 occupants was injured. (BBC)
While the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has suspended the Umtata Airport (UTT) licence for non-compliance with CAA standards, aeroplanes are still landing there, it was reported. The airport's licence was suspended in July due to inadequate fire fighting facilities, poor management, vandalism of equipment and inadequate fencing to keep livestock from nearby villages off the runway. (Business Day) 05 NOV 2003 UN accuses D.R. Congo of blocking plane crash inquiry [to table of contents]
The United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has strongly protested to the transitional government for allegedly blocking its efforts to check out reports that an airplane that crashed in Katanga Province had been carrying weapons, which would be in contravention of the arms embargo imposed against the African country. (UN)
UN News
06 NOV 2003 Volcanic ash detector successfully trialled at airports [to table of contents] An Australian scientist with CSIRO Atmospheric Research has invented a volcanic ash detection system. The Ground-based Infra-Red Detection (G-bIRD) system has been successfully trialled in Hawaii and Guam by Tenix. The trials are part of Tenix's work with commercial and government partners to make G-bIRD available at cities and airports near volcanoes, to provide early warning and data about the nature and location of ash and sulphur dioxide clouds. (CSIRO)
media release
08 NOV 2003 US on alert for cargo plane attack [to table of contents] U.S. officials said there is recent intelligence suggesting terrorists may want to use cargo aircraft to attack targets in the United States. Officials said the information came from a single source and is uncorroborated, but the advisory was issued out of an abundance of caution. (BBC, CNN) 08 NOV 2003 Korean airlines install bulletproof cockpit doors [to table of contents]
Both Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have installed bulletproof cockpit doors in their planes to help prevent terrorist attacks. A total of 101 airplanes for Korean Air and 57 for Asiana now have bulletproof doors to their cockpits. (The Korea Herald) 09 NOV 2003 Incident highlights need for winter-time runway friction measurement equipment [to table of contents]
The AAIB issued two safety recommendations following the Jan. 30 incident in which an Embraer 135 aquaplaned and overran the slush covered runway at Norwich, UK. It is recommended that the CAA encourage research that could lead to the production of equipment that can accurately measure the braking action of runways under all conditions of surface contamination. Additionaly, City Airline should review its Embraer 135 landing configuration policy. (AAIB)
AAIB Bulletin No: 11/200
11 NOV 2003 BA pilots reportedly breached alcohol rules [to table of contents] Three British Airways crew are being investigated for allegedly being under the influence of alcohol on duty. The pilot, co-pilot and head of cabin crew were prevented from flying from Oslo to Heathrow on flight BA761 morning after being reported by colleagues. (BBC) 13 NOV 2003 Expert: pre-implementation risk analysis for RVSM flawed [to table of contents]
An air safety expert is warning of a serious flaw in the risk analysis undertaken before rules were changed to halve the vertical separation minima over Europe. In particular, he points to the unpredictability of the response by pilots to warnings from the airborne collision avoidance systems. (New Scientist)
The Pre-Implementation Safety Case for RVSM in European Airspace is Flawed / Peter Ladkin
15 NOV 2003 FAA investigates UPS safety report [to table of contents] The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating allegations from UPS aircraft mechanics that the company mishandled inspections and repair work on two planes in late September and early October. (The Courier-Journal) 18 NOV 2003 Major study of aircraft icing launched in Ottawa/Montreal area [to table of contents]
Over 50 researchers from four countries are carrying out a major study of winter storms and their effect on air traffic in the Ottawa/Montreal area this winter. The $3 million study will focus on freezing rain and other severe weather. (Environment Canada)
Alliance Icing Research Study website
19 NOV 2003 NTSB issues safety recommendations on FDR parameters [to table of contents] The NTSB issued three safety recommendations, stating the need for flight data recorders that are capable of recording values that meet the accuracy requirements through the full dynamic range of each parameter at a frequency sufficient to determine a complete, accurate, and unambiguous time history of parameter activity, with emphasis on capturing each parameter's dynamic motion at the maximum rate possible, including reversals of direction at the maximum rate expected. (NTSB)
NTSB safety recommendations A03-48/-50
21 NOV 2003 New Canadian aircraft fire protection regulations announced [to table of contents] Transport Canada announced new Canadian Aviation Regulations to protect cargo and baggage compartments on aircraft from fire. The new regulations build on existing fire safety requirements by implementing extensive improvements to Class C and by modifying the former Class D to meet the same stringent requirements of Class C cargo and baggage compartments. The amendments will come into effect on June 1, 2004. (Transport Canada)
TC news release
21 NOV 2003 FAA Gives Suriname IASA Rating of Category 1 [to table of contents] The FAA announced that Suriname complies with international safety standards set by the ICAO, giving the country a Category 1 rating following an reassessment of its civil aviation authority. Suriname was previously rated Category 2. (FAA)
press release
22 NOV 2003 DHL A.300 hit by missile near Baghdad [to table of contents] A DHL Airbus A.300 cargo plane was reportedly struck by a SAM-7 missile shortly after taking off from Baghdad Airport, Iraq. A safe emergency landing was carried out with the left wing on fire. (ASN)
accident description
26 NOV 2003 Air Florida Express grounded by FAA over safety violations [to table of contents] Air Florida Express, a charter firm that flies from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas, has been ordered to cease operations by the FAA after being accused of falsifying weight and balance forms and failing to have enough flotation devices for each passenger. (Sun-Sentinel)
