News
02 JUN - Egypt plane crash report delayed to year-end 02 JUN - Taiwanese Fokker 50 loses prop de-icer boot which punctures window
04 JUN - Passengers launch lawsuit for injuries in heavy landing
04 JUN - Little Rock Airport must pay pilot`s widow $2.1 million
07 JUN - FAA issues AD re DHC-8-400 to reduce life limits of certain parts
08 JUN - Report: FAA oversight lagging behind industry changes
09 JUN - Onur Air to sue four European countries over flight ban
13 JUN - Two pilots suspended for runway overrun incidents in Nigeria
14 JUN - Families of U.S. Army personnel killed in CASA 212 crash file suit against contr
14 JUN - Crew training under scrutiny in Jefferson City RegionalJet crash
15 JUN - JAL Boeing 767 loses both nose gear tires on landing at Tokyo
15 JUN - Canada requires airlines to implement safety management systems
17 JUN - FAA acts on sharing of charter licenses after Teterboro accident
19 JUN - Japan to reinforce oversight of airlines
21 JUN - Report: faulty entertainment systems caused smoke in aircraft
21 JUN - Rest schedules and weather minima cited in B737 off-runway landing incident
22 JUN - Indonesia bans commercial aircraft older than 35 years
24 JUN - Report: cover up of operational ATC errors Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
26 JUN - Gulf Air passes IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA)
30 JUN - Airlines face safety restrictions in Australia over GPWS rule
30 JUN - FAA raises safety rating for Greece
02 JUN 2005 Egypt plane crash report delayed to year-end [to table of contents]
The release of the accident investigation report into the Flash Airlines Boeing 737 crash off the coast of Egypt which killed 148 people last year, has been delayed from June until the end of the year. The investigators needed more time to study what caused the crash. (Reuters)
The Taiwanese CAA has requested safety checks on the propellers of all Fokker 50 planes after one of them developed a mechanical problem and made an emergency landing at Kaohsiung. A de-icing boot separated from a propeller blade en route from from Taipei to Hengchun (Mandarin flight AE291, operated by F50 B-12273). The piece struck and punctured the outer window pane at seat 4D. None of the 4 crew members and 50 passengers were injured. (ASC, Taiwan News) 04 JUN 2005 Passengers launch lawsuit for injuries in heavy landing [to table of contents]
Passengers on board a Skyservice Airlines Boeing 767 who allege they were forced to dodge flying baggage and video monitors during a heavy landing at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, have filed a USD 10-million class-action lawsuit against the airline. The incident happened on May 21 to B767 C-GLMC, which sustained damage to the fuselage. (Canadian Press) 04 JUN 2005 Little Rock Airport must pay pilot`s widow $2.1 million [to table of contents]
A U.S. federal court jury ordered Little Rock National Airport to pay more than $2.1 million to the widow of a pilot who was killed when his American Airlines MD-80 crashed during a severe thunderstorm in June 1999. Flight 1420 overran the runway hit a structure supporting approach lights, broke apart and caught fire. Witnesses said the structure was 453 feet off the north end of the runway instead of 1,000 feet which is the standard. After the accident, the airport reconfigured the safety area to remove obstructions. (Chicago Sun-Times, AP) 07 JUN 2005 FAA issues AD re DHC-8-400 to reduce life limits of certain parts [to table of contents]
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD requires revising the Airworthiness Limitation section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness of the Dash 8 400 Series (Bombardier) Maintenance Requirements Manual to reduce the life limits of the main landing gear (MLG) orifice support tube, upper bearing, and piston plug; and to reduce the threshold for initiating repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of the engine isolator brackets. This AD is prompted by the discovery of fatigue failures, during type certification fatigue testing, at the engine isolator bracket and at the orifice support tube, upper bearing, and piston plug in the shock strut assembly of the MLG, which are principal structural elements. We are issuing this AD to prevent the development of cracks in these principal structural elements, which could reduce the structural integrity of the engine installation and the MLG. Reduced structural integrity of the engine installation could result in separation of the engine from the airplane, and reduced structural integrity of the MLG could result in collapse of the MLG. (FAA)
AD 2005-12-15
08 JUN 2005 Report: FAA oversight lagging behind industry changes [to table of contents] The Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transport released a report on the FAA`s oversight of the changes network air carriers are making in response to financial challenges and FAA`s oversight of the growth of low cost air carriers. FAA has made progress in implementing risk based oversight systems, but these systems were not flexible and comprehensive enough to permit FAA to adequately monitor the changes in the industry. FAA is facing extraordinary budgetary challenges and expects to lose some of its safety inspectors; therefore, it is imperative that FAA have well-planned and well-executed oversight programs. FAA needs to: (1) strengthen its oversight and monitoring of its field offices to ensure inspectors conduct their inspections in a timely and consistent manner; (2) refine its risk assessment, inspection planning, and data analyses process so they are more comprehensive and flexible; (3) determine if it can make enough efficiency gains in its operations to sustain the planned cuts of 233 safety inspectors beyond 2005. (OIG)
OIG Report AV-2005-062 (PDF file)
09 JUN 2005 Onur Air to sue four European countries over flight ban [to table of contents] Turkish airline Onur Air lodges a damages claim against the aviation inspectorates of the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland. The Dutch inspectorate IVW imposed a temporary ban on Onur Air on 12 May after a series of safety incidents. The IVW can expect an additional damages claim of between EUR 15 to 20 million. The Onur Air lawyer has already lodged an official protest with the IVW and a hearing will be held at the authority's headquarters in Hoofddorp on Wednesday 15 June. (Expatica) 13 JUN 2005 Two pilots suspended for runway overrun incidents in Nigeria [to table of contents]
The captains of an EAS Boeing 737-200 and a Chanchangi Airlines Boeing 727 were suspended for three months by the Nigerian Aviation Minister. The EAS flight aquaplaned off the runway at Jos on June 11 while the Chanchangi plane overshot the flooded runway at Lagos a day later. The Boeing 727 struck a drainage ditch. (Vanguard) 14 JUN 2005 Families of U.S. Army personnel killed in CASA 212 crash file suit against contr [to table of contents]
The families of three U.S. Army personnel who were killed in a CASA 212 accident in Afghanistan in November 2004, are now filing suit for negligence against Blackwater (and related companies like Presidential Airways). Blackwater is a large civilian contractor to the U.S. military. They claim that a proper flight plan had not been filed and the crew was newly deployed in the region. The crew was north of its intended route of flight and in violation of FAA regulations that required them to wear oxygen masks at an elevation above 10,000 feet. Blackwater did not provide them with adequate safety equipment including an advanced GPWS, a radar altimeter GPS. (Spohrer, Wilner, Maxwell and Matthews) 14 JUN 2005 Crew training under scrutiny in Jefferson City RegionalJet crash [to table of contents]
It appears that two Canadair RJ200 pilots on a repositioning flight last October, wanted to `have a little fun` by taking the plane to an unusually high altitude (FL410). The cockpit voice recorder transcript released during the NTSB hearing regarding the accident showed how the pilots cracked jokes and decided to take the jet to its maximum altitude. At that altitude almost simultaneously, both engines shut down and the aircraft crashed at Jefferson City. The NTSB hearing will a.o. focus on operator and FAA oversight of flight operations and crew training. (NTSB, Jefferson City News Tribune)
NTSB Hearing
15 JUN 2005 JAL Boeing 767 loses both nose gear tires on landing at Tokyo [to table of contents] A JAL Boeing 767-300, JA8986, lost both nose gear tires after landing at Tokyo-Haneda Airport. Flight JL1002 from New Chitose Airport touched down around 10:00. None of the 12 crew members and 222 passengers were injured in the mishap. (NHK, Yomiuri Shimbun) 15 JUN 2005 Canada requires airlines to implement safety management systems [to table of contents]
Transport Canada announced regulatory amendments to further improve the safety performance of Canadian air operators and increase accountability in the aviation sector through the implementation of safety management systems. Amendments to the Canadian Aviation Regulations require air operators to implement safety management systems in their organizations and appoint executives who are accountable for safety. These systems will make organizations more accountable for day-to-day operations and permit them to use the most appropriate system to improve their safety performance. (Transport Canada)
Media Release
17 JUN 2005 FAA acts on sharing of charter licenses after Teterboro accident [to table of contents] FAA officials are cracking down on U.S. charter jet operators who lease their certificates to other companies so those companies can operate as air carriers. The action comes in the aftermath of a Feb. 2 crash at Teterboro Airport in which a chartered Challenger jet overran the runway on takeoff. A memo sent to FAA operations inspectors, stated that charter jet companies must have "operational control" over any flights that take off under their certificates. (NorthJersey.com) 19 JUN 2005 Japan to reinforce oversight of airlines [to table of contents]
The recent series of incidents involving major airlines in Japan has prompted the Construction and Transport Ministry to consider increasing its oversight of public transport, including airlines. Looking to the U.S. FAA as a role model, the ministry will study the possibility of creating aviation safety inspectors to be stationed permanently at airlines, or increasing the number of supervisory officials. (The Yomiuri Shimbun) 21 JUN 2005 Report: faulty entertainment systems caused smoke in aircraft [to table of contents]
An airline industry report says an entertainment system short-circuited, smoked and heated the insulation aboard two Canadian Airbus 320 planes. The report reveals that a taping unit related to the entertainment system on board gave off `sufficient heat to cause burning of the insulation blanket above`. The report also states that the troublesome unit is being replaced on the A320, but that the supply of modified ones has been slow. A spokesman for Airbus said the taping unit merely overheated and smoked due to short-circuited wires with no risk of fire. (Broadcast News) 21 JUN 2005 Rest schedules and weather minima cited in B737 off-runway landing incident [to table of contents]
The TSB of Canada released its final report into the First Air Boeing 737 aircraft that landed beside the runway at Edmonton International Airport on February 25, 2004. The investigation found that, with deteriorating visibility and with only runway edge lighting for guidance, the pilot was unable to land on the runway. The TSB identified three important safety risks associated with this incident. First, Canadian regulations, which set minimum visibilities for approaches, may be deficient under certain weather conditions. In this case, the runway lighting available was inadequate for the conditions at the time of the incident. As well, the aircraft was not on the preferred autopilot mode for the approach. Finally, both Canadian regulations and the company's operations manual provide insufficient guidelines on rest and restorative sleep schedules for crews when switching from night flying to day flying or vice versa. (TSB)
Communiqués
22 JUN 2005 Indonesia bans commercial aircraft older than 35 years [to table of contents] New Indonesian regulations which will come into effect on December 7, 2005 will ban the country`s airlines from using aircraft older than 35 years or having made more than 70,000 landings. At least 20 aircraft operated by commercial airline companies will need to be replaced toward the end of this year. (Antara News) 24 JUN 2005 Report: cover up of operational ATC errors Dallas/Fort Worth Airport [to table of contents]
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) issued a report detailing findings and recommendations regarding allegations of a substantial and specific danger to public safety. A Department of Transportation report confirmed that air traffic personnel systematically covered up operational errors at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) for seven years, thereby jeopardizing air traffic safety. (U.S. Office of Special Counsel)
26 JUN 2005 Gulf Air passes IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) [to table of contents] Gulf Air has been placed on the IOSA registry following its successful completion of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) on 5 May 2005. The audits were developed by IATA and determine the standards for safety and quality covering various areas in the airlines activities such as security, flight operations, maintenance, ground services and cargo. The programme aims to standardize and promote air safety practices, and is accredited by the ICAO, FAA and all the aviation authorities around the world. (Gulf Air) 30 JUN 2005 Airlines face safety restrictions in Australia over GPWS rule [to table of contents]
Three airlines face severe flying restrictions from July 1 because their planes have not been fitted with a GPWS. Australia`s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) gave airlines around the country five years to install the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System in turbo prop and jet-engine planes carrying 10 passengers or more. All but three have complied. Planes yet to be fitted with the devices will be restricted to flying only under VFR. The operators that have not yet complied are Regional Pacific Airlines, Skippers Aviation and Air Niugini. (News.com.au) 30 JUN 2005 FAA raises safety rating for Greece [to table of contents]
The FAA today announced it was raising Greece`s safety rating to the highest international safety category following a reassessment of that country`s civil aviation authority conducted in May 2005. As a result of the reassessment, Greece's safety rating was raised from Category 2 to Category 1. A Category 1 rating means that the Greek civil aviation authority has been assessed by FAA inspectors and has been found to license and oversee air carriers in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. (FAA)
press release
