News
02 MAY - UK: Pirate radio `risk to aircraft` 03 MAY - NTSB issues TCAS safety recommendations after Brazil mid-air
04 MAY - Free subscription to Flight Safety Foundation`s AeroSafety World magazine
05 MAY - Australia: $24 million for Indonesian air safety
06 MAY - SAT Airlines receives warning regarding aircraft safety
06 MAY - Tamil Tiger air raids force Sri Lanka to shut airport at night
10 MAY - CAA Pakistan grounds Aero Asia
11 MAY - NBAA, FSF denounce Brazilian police investigators charging Legacy pilots in mid-
12 MAY - Aircraft lands on wrong runway at Visakhapatnam
13 MAY - Serious runway incursion incident at LAX
14 MAY - Australia: new aviation policy puts passenger safety first
15 MAY - Swiss trial of air traffic controllers charged in 2002 mid-air collision begins
18 MAY - Northwest flight makes emergency landing at Buffalo: 12-inch hole in fuselage
18 MAY - Japan to help Indonesia investigate aircraft accidents
20 MAY - Canadair RJ main gear folds at Toronto
22 MAY - New agency to boost air safety in Africa
23 MAY - Nigerial airlines count losses to bird strike, as NCAA seeks co-ordinated action
24 MAY - Derry Airport shut over safety concerns
24 MAY - Runway incursion incident at Honolulu
24 MAY - Swarm of bees forces 737 to return to Bournemouth
26 MAY - U.S. pilots and controllers accused in Brazil mid-air collision
26 MAY - Adam Air nears black box salvage deal
30 MAY - Safety warning for UK`s corporate jets
30 MAY - Faulty maintenance, inadequate oversight cited in Miami seaplane crash
31 MAY - Runway incident at Auckland
02 MAY 2007 UK: Pirate radio `risk to aircraft` [to table of contents]
Pirate radio stations are causing increasing problems to aircraft flying over London, UK regulators have said. Air traffic controllers say the illegal radio broadcasts often block out vital communications with pilots. (BBC)
Preliminary findings in the 2006 mid-air collision between a Legacy jet and a GOL Boeing 737-800 prompted the NTSB to issue 3 safety recommendations to the FAA: 1) Require, for all aircraft required to have a traffic alert and collision avoidance system installed and for existing and future system designs, that the airborne loss of collision avoidance system functionality, for any reason, provide an enhanced aural and visual warning requiring pilot acknowledgment; 2) Evaluate the feasibility of providing enhanced aural and visual warnings for future systems that may provide ground collision avoidance functionality. If feasible, require that future design criteria include such warning functionality; 3) Inform all pilots who use transponders or transponder/traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) units about the circumstances of this accident and the lack of a conspicuous warning to indicate the loss of collision protection resulting from a compromise in functionality of either the transponder or TCAS unit and ask all pilots who use transponders or transponder/TCAS units to become familiar with the annunciations currently used to indicate failure or lack of active functionality of these components. (NTSB)
NTSB Safety Recommendations A07-35/37
04 MAY 2007 Free subscription to Flight Safety Foundation`s AeroSafety World magazine [to table of contents] The Flight Safety Foundation in July 2006 launched AeroSafety World, a monthly magazine to provide those in the global aviation system with in-depth analysis of important safety issues facing the industry and timely safety news, presented in an easily readable and appealing layout. Previously available just to FSF members, the Foundation now is making the digital version of ASW available at no cost. Just fill out a brief subscription application and every month you will receive an e-mail with a link to download the new edition of AeroSafety World from our website. Stay knowledgeable about current safety trends, events and topics by reading the journal of the Flight Safety Foundation, your impartial, nonprofit voice of international air safety. AeroSafety World editorial staff members blend their experience as pilots, writers, researchers, editors, journalists and specialists in graphics and design with the aviation safety expertise of other FSF staff, FSF members and contributing authors to deliver original articles and adaptations of accident-investigation reports and technical papers. The result is consistently high-quality information. (FSF)
Subscribe here to AeroSafety World magazine
05 MAY 2007 Australia: $24 million for Indonesian air safety [to table of contents] Australia will spend AUS$24 million to help improve aviation safety in Indonesia in the wake of the plane crash in March, which killed five Australians. The three-year funding will be used for training and technical assistance for aviation and maritime personnel. (Sydney Morning Herald) 06 MAY 2007 SAT Airlines receives warning regarding aircraft safety [to table of contents]
The Sakhalin Regional Transport prosecutor`s office issued 12 warnings to SAT Airlines regarding frequent mechanical problems with their airplanes. These warnings came as the result of an investigation concerning a recent mishap when the nose landing gear of an An-12 failed to extend on approach to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport. The crew was eventually able to lower the nose wheel and safely landed the airplane. The follow-up investigation by the prosecutor`s office revealed that SAT aircraft experienced 12 serious problems in 2005, 9 in 2006, and 2 more during the first 3 months of 2007. (Sakhalin Times) 06 MAY 2007 Tamil Tiger air raids force Sri Lanka to shut airport at night [to table of contents]
Sri Lanka will close Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport at night following bombing raids by Tamil Tiger aircraft. Bandaranaike shares a runway with an adjoining military air base and will close between 22:30 (17:00 UTC) and 04:30 (22:00 UTC) from May 10. (AFP) 10 MAY 2007 CAA Pakistan grounds Aero Asia [to table of contents]
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Pakistan grounded private airline Aero Asia on safety and operational concerns. The airline`s failure to comply with CAA`s safety and regularity requirements has led to this action. According to the CAA the airline could restart operations after satisfying the regulator `on all safety-related issues, in addition to exercising better operational control over their aircraft.` (The News) 11 MAY 2007 NBAA, FSF denounce Brazilian police investigators charging Legacy pilots in mid- [to table of contents]
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) denounced a decision by Brazilian criminal authorities to assign criminal responsibility to two pilots involved in a mid-air collision between a Gol Airlines Boeing 737 and a Legacy business airplane over Brazil in September of 2006. `We are disappointed that Brazilian police officials continue down the road of emphasizing 'criminalization' in the wake of last year's tragic accident, instead of recognizing the premium the international aviation community places on investigating the root causes of an accident, so that safety improvements can be made,` said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. FSF President and CEO Bill Voss echoed Bolen's statement. `We are deeply concerned that the criminalization of the investigation into the tragic accident of September 2006 could have a negative impact on aviation safety worldwide. We call on the police and other authorities to resist the pressure to prosecute and allow investigators to complete their work, so that the flying public can feel safe in the skies over Brazil and every other country.` Bolen and Voss maintained that the decision has the potential to set a precedent for criminal charges to be applied to any pilot or party involved in international aviation accidents or incidents, in effect causing parties in accidents to hide information that is essential to improving safety. The two cited another concern: The decision to indict the Legacy pilots prior to the conclusion of the safety-oriented aviation accident investigation does not reflect a fair or balanced view of all factors involved in the accident. Voss added: `We recognize the need to ultimately see justice served. However, because the Brazilians have elected to proceed with a criminal investigation without the benefit of having concluded an objective aviation safety investigation, we are very concerned about whether any judicial proceedings could be conducted in a balanced or impartial fashion.` (NBAA, FSF)
press release
12 MAY 2007 Aircraft lands on wrong runway at Visakhapatnam [to table of contents] A Paramount Airways plane landed on a runway at Visakhapatnam (VTZ), India, that was not open for traffic. The newly constructed 10,000 ft runway had not been calibrated yet and had not been approved for use yet. The airplane, arriving from Hyderabad at 10:55 overshot the runway and came to rest in bushes on muddy land. (IANS)
Vishakhapatnam Airport satellite photo
13 MAY 2007 Serious runway incursion incident at LAX [to table of contents] A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A.340-600 came with 50 feet from a Skywest Embraer 120 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on May 6. Skywest flight 1006 had arrived on a ferry flight from Redding (RDD) and landed on runway 24R. The pilot was instructed to taxi onto taxiway Zulu, but inadvertenly entered Yankee. After the controller stated that the plane was on the wrong taxiway, the pilot turned the aircraft around and taxied back toward the runway. At that moment Virgin flight 23 from London was landing on runway 24R. The controller then urged the Skywest pilot to make a sharp left turn onto Zulu, which he did. Just after vacating the runway, the Airbus passed by. (LA Times)
LAX airport diagram
14 MAY 2007 Australia: new aviation policy puts passenger safety first [to table of contents] The safety of people on board aircraft is the focus of a new key-stone policy issued by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Under the policy aviation operations that carry passengers are given the highest safety priority, standards and regulatory oversight. CASA will allocate the majority of its resources to the safety of passenger carrying flights, including safety audits and surveillance. (CASA)
media release
15 MAY 2007 Swiss trial of air traffic controllers charged in 2002 mid-air collision begins [to table of contents] Nearly five years after a mid-air collision over southern Germany, eight employees of the Swiss company responsible for air traffic control in the region went on trial. The employees are charged with negligent homicide and negligently disturbing public transport. All deny any responsibility for the collision of a Russian airliner and a DHL Boeing 757 cargo plane in the airspace supervised by the Skyguide air navigation service. Prosecutors have called for them to receive suspended prison sentences of six to 15 months. (AP) 18 MAY 2007 Northwest flight makes emergency landing at Buffalo: 12-inch hole in fuselage [to table of contents]
Northwest flight 1411, operated by a DC-9, carried out an emergency landing at Buffalo (BUF) following cabin decompression. The airplane had departed Syracuse (SYR) en route to Detroit (DET) when the cabin lost pressure at an altitude of about 18400 feet. After landing at Buffalo a 12-inch hole was reportedly found in the fuselage. (The Buffalo News) 18 MAY 2007 Japan to help Indonesia investigate aircraft accidents [to table of contents]
The Japanese government has decided to send two inspectors from the Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission (ARAIC) to Indonesia to help the aircraft-accident plagued country prevent further accidents. The two ARAIC inspectors will advise their Indonesian counterparts and conduct an on-site investigation into an accident that occurred at the Yogyakarta Airport in March. They are expected to lead the investigation of that accident. (The Yomiuri Shimbun) 20 MAY 2007 Canadair RJ main gear folds at Toronto [to table of contents]
The main landing gear of an Air Canada Jazz Canadair RJ100 retracted or collapsed shortly after landing at Toronto (YYZ). Flight AC8911 from Moncton had landed on runway 06R and took a left turn onto a taxiway when the incident happened. None of the 3 crew and 37 passengers were injured. (Air Canada Jazz, CBC) 22 MAY 2007 New agency to boost air safety in Africa [to table of contents]
On June 28 African governments will inaugurate a continent-wide air safety agency that is modeled on the EU`s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency (FAA). It is the mission of the African Civil Aviation Authority (AFRO-CAA) to provide integrated leadership to develop and focus implementation of a unified strategy to improve African commercial aviation safety and security. It's goal is to reduce the African civil aviation accident and security breach rates significantly (by about 60%) by 2008. (AFRO-CAA)
AFRO-CAA web site
23 MAY 2007 Nigerial airlines count losses to bird strike, as NCAA seeks co-ordinated action [to table of contents] The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is seeking co-ordinated action against bird strikes. Aerocontractors, in the last three months, spent no less than N1.36 billion to effect repairs of damage to engines caused by bird strike. Virgin Nigeria has suffered 12 bird strike incidents in 2007 alone, causing $2 million in repair costs. Director-General of the NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, listed ways the problem could be tackled, including the need to appoint a responsible officer at each of the nation`s airports; provide them with adequate resources; cut grasses in and around airports and eliminate farmlands/food sources from airports’ vicinities. According to Demuren, efforts should also be geared at keeping drains clean; cleaning up rubbish; scaring birds with falcons, dogs, pyrotechnics etc., as well as trapping or killing persistent pests. (Vanguard) 24 MAY 2007 Derry Airport shut over safety concerns [to table of contents]
The City of Derry Airport (LDY) is being shut by the CAA UK until further notice because of safety concerns. The CAA decided to provisionally suspend its licence following an inspection this week. Problems found include lack of an effective bird control plan, unsuitable temporary repairs to the area where planes park and poor runway drainage. (BBC) 24 MAY 2007 Runway incursion incident at Honolulu [to table of contents]
On May 19, 19:45 a go! Airlines Canadair CRJ200 came within 150 feet of a USAF C-130 Hercules as it was taking off from Honolulu (HNL) runway 8L. A controller instructed the C-130 that had just landed on another runway to take a left and taxi parallel to Runway 8L. The C-130 headed across the runway instead, just as a go! plane was taking off. The tower controllers saw this and immediately instructed the C-130 crew to stop. (KITV Honolulu)
24 MAY 2007 Swarm of bees forces 737 to return to Bournemouth [to table of contents] A Palmair European Boeing 737 returned to Bournemouth, UK because of engine problems. The flight, en route to Faro, was carrying 96 passengers. The airplane apparently had encountered a swarm of bees as inspection on the ground revealed that the engine had ingested a large amount of bees. (BBC) 26 MAY 2007 U.S. pilots and controllers accused in Brazil mid-air collision [to table of contents]
A Brazilian public prosecutor accused two U.S. pilots and four air traffic controllers of contributing to a mid-air collision last year that killed 154 people. The two Legacy pilots, who surived the collision were accused of flying at the wrong altitude. They also inadvertently deactivated the transponder, according to his report. The prosecutor also accused four air traffic controllers of giving incomplete flight instructions and failing to try different frequencies when radio communication with the Legacy jet failed. A federal judge will decide whether to formally indict the six men and open a trial. (Reuters) 26 MAY 2007 Adam Air nears black box salvage deal [to table of contents]
Adam Air of Indonesia is close to signing a deal with a salvage firm to retrieve the flight recorders of the Boeing 737-400 which crashed at sea on January 1 with 102 people aboard. `We have a deal with U.S.-based Phoenix International to retrieve the black box. The plan will go ahead in early July,` Adam Air chief executive Adam Hermawan told Reuters. (Reuters) 30 MAY 2007 Safety warning for UK`s corporate jets [to table of contents]
At the EBACE seminar, UK air navigation service provider NATS said 3.5% of the movements in the airspace it manages are business jets. Yet 16% of level bust incidents, 33% of failures to follow standard instrument departures, 12% of altimeter setting errors and 10% of the particularly dangerous error in which a pilot correctly acknowledges a level change instruction but fails to carry it out, involve business jets. At the same seminar the UK Civil Aviation Authority head of flight operations David Chapman came to similar conclusions. Taking fatal accidents in UK per million flying hours, the total business-aviation rate is eight and a half times that for large public transport aircraft and in line with the rate for pure freight operations, which Chapman says is unacceptable. He also presented evidence that suggests one reason is that the airlines have bought in to the well-established mandatory occurrence reporting scheme, but reporting from the business-aviation sector is proportionately much lower. However, data presented by business aviation safety analyst Robert Breiling and Stuart Matthews of the Flight Safety Foundation shows the best two pilot-operated corporatejet aviation has safety standards as good as those of the airlines. (Flight International)
FlightGlobal article
30 MAY 2007 Faulty maintenance, inadequate oversight cited in Miami seaplane crash [to table of contents] The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the crash of a Grumman Turbo Mallard (G-73T) amphibious airplane, in Miami, FL, in December 2005, was `the failure and separation of the right wing, which resulted from (1) the failure of Chalk`s Ocean Airways` maintenance program to identify and properly repair fatigue cracks in the wing, and (2) the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to detect and correct deficiencies in the company`s maintenance program.` (NTSB)
Synopsis
31 MAY 2007 Runway incident at Auckland [to table of contents] TAIC New Zealand was notified by the CAA of an occurrence that occurred on 29 May 2007, involving an Air New Zealand Beech 1900 and an Air Nelson Saab SF340A at Auckland (AKL). Information reported to date is that the Air New Zealand Beech was landing at Auckland airport and the Air Nelson Saab was due to take off. There was a breach of the required separation between the 2 aircraft when the both ended up on the active runway at the same time. No-one was injured and there is no reported damage to either aircraft. (TAIC)
