News
01 OCT - FAA adopts ICAO definition for runway incursions 02 OCT - Reports: Boeing 747 off-course on finals to Lagos- nearly hits building
02 OCT - Brazil court rejects request to indict air traffic controllers in plane crash
03 OCT - Three Indonesian airlines upgraded to top safety rank
03 OCT - NTSB determines cause of B737 runway overrun at Chicago Midway
03 OCT - NTSB investigating incident involving jet taking off from closed runway at Dulle
03 OCT - SAS seeks 77 million dollars from Bombardier for faulty planes
04 OCT - NTSB investigating MD-80 engine fire incident in St. Louis
05 OCT - Taiwanese B737 hits approach light on takeoff from Saga, Japan
07 OCT - ANA jet lands on wrong runway at Osaka-Itami airport
11 OCT - BEA issues safety recommendations on Twin Otter flight control cables
11 OCT - Congo Brazzaville bans Antonov planes
11 OCT - MD-83 damaged in emergency landing at Istanbul
11 OCT - Mexico moves to revoke AOC of Azteca Airlines
14 OCT - Chanchangi Airlines grounded
15 OCT - AMI Jet appeals emergency suspension to NTSB
18 OCT - Excel-Jet sues FAA over Sport-Jet VLJ crash
18 OCT - India issues regulations to improve runway safety
21 OCT - CRJ-700 takes off with open cargo door: loses bags after takeoff from MDW
22 OCT - Final report issued on Garuda B737-400 accident at Yogyakarta
28 OCT - SAS removes Dash 8 Q400 from service permanently
31 OCT - FAA exceeds annual goal for reducing the most serious runway incursions
01 OCT 2007 FAA adopts ICAO definition for runway incursions [to table of contents]
Effective immediately, the FAA will use the definition for a runway incursion that has been adopted by ICAO.
The FAA is making the change so the worldwide aviation community will have a single runway incursion definition, which in turn could help in the search to determine common factors that contribute to these incidents.
The biggest difference between the two definitions is that ICAO defines a runway incursion as any unauthorized intrusion onto a runway, regardless of whether or not an aircraft presents a potential conflict. For the FAA, an incident without an aircraft in potential conflict — such as an unauthorized aircraft crossing an empty runway — was defined as a “surface incident” and not a runway incursion.
The new definition means that some incidents formerly classified as surface incidents will now be classified as C or D category runway incursions, which are low-risk incidents with ample time and/or distance to avoid a collision.
The FAA has always tracked surface incidents, in addition to runway incursions. The new definition simply means that certain less severe incidents will be classified differently. All incidents tracked in the past will continue to be tracked.
The classification of the most serious kinds of runway incursions, Categories A and B, remains unchanged. The total number of Category A and B incursions has fallen from 53 in fiscal year 2001 to 31 in FY 2006. A and B incursions are on track for another drop in FY 2007, with 24 recorded through Sept. 9.
The FAA helped ICAO come up with its definition, which was adopted in November 2005. Before that definition was developed, countries around the world used at least 20 different definitions for a runway incursion. (FAA)
FAA news release
Press reports indicate that an Atlas Air Boeing 747 cargo plane deviated from the approach path while on finals to Lagos-Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The airplane, arriving from Dubai, was said to have passed the newly commissioned terminal building at extremely low height. The crew carried out a missed approach and landed safely on runway 18R. NAMA managing director, Captain Ado Sanusi witnessed the incident and assured that the agency had started making a preliminary investigation into the incident, which happened at 12:30. Weather at 13:00 local time was reported as: DNMM 021200Z 00000KT 1500 HZ BKN010 FEW020CB 26/24 Q1013 TEMPO 5000=. (This Day, Xinhua) 02 OCT 2007 Brazil court rejects request to indict air traffic controllers in plane crash [to table of contents]
A Brazilian military court declined to indict five Brazilian air traffic controllers regarding their involvement in a mid-air collision last year between a GOL Boeing 737 and an executive jet over the Amazon rainforest that killed 154 people. Military prosecutors' request for an indictment did not specify what regulations the controllers allegedly violated, making it impossible to mount a proper defense, Judge Zilah Maria Callado Fadul Petersen said in explaining the ruling. Military prosecutors want to try four of the controllers on charges of breaking regulations, and the other one faces charges of involuntary manslaughter. (AP) 03 OCT 2007 Three Indonesian airlines upgraded to top safety rank [to table of contents]
Indonesian aviation authorities have upgraded the safety rankings of three domestic airlines to its top category. `The three airlines have gone up by one rank to the first category, joining Garuda Indonesia,` air transport director-general Muliawan Suyitno said, according to the Bisnis Indonesia newspaper. The carriers are Mandala Airlines, Premi Air and Airfast Indonesia, he said. (Straits Times) 03 OCT 2007 NTSB determines cause of B737 runway overrun at Chicago Midway [to table of contents]
The NTSB today determined that the probable cause of a fatal Boeing 737-700 runway overrun at Chicago-Midway Airport was the pilot`s failure to use available reverse thrust in a timely manner to safely slow or stop the airplane after landing. This failure occurred because the pilots` first experience and lack of familiarity with the airplane`s autobrake system distracted them from thrust reverser usage during the challenging landing. Contributing to the accident were Southwest Airlines` failure to provide its pilots with clear and consistent guidance and training regarding company policies and procedures related to arrival landing distance calculations; programming and design of its on board performance computer, which did not present critical assumption information despite inconsistent tailwind and reverse thrust assessment methods; plan to implement new autobrake procedures without a familiarization period; and failure to include a margin of safety in the arrival assessment to account for operational uncertainties. Contributing to the accident was the pilot`s failure to divert to another airport given the reports that included poor braking action and a tailwind component greater than 5 knots. Also, contributing to the severity of the accident was the absence of an engineering materials arresting system (EMAS), which was needed because of the limited runway safety area beyond the departure end of runway 31C. (NTSB)
press release
03 OCT 2007 NTSB investigating incident involving jet taking off from closed runway at Dulle [to table of contents] The NTSB is investigating an incident involving an aircraft taking off from a closed runway at Washington Dulles International Airport. On September 12, 2007, about 03:13, the Dulles tower controller cleared a Learjet 35 (N66NJ) for takeoff from a closed unlit runway. Earlier in the evening, runway 19R was closed for surveying and the runway lights were turned off. The tower controller instructed N66NJ to taxi into position and hold, then cleared it for takeoff. The departure controller at Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control, located in Warrenton, Virginia, noticed the radar target depart runway 19R and asked the tower controller if the runway was open, and was told no. The closure was advertised on the automated terminal information service and the tower controller placed an X on the tower's ground radar display as a reminder of the closure. The closure also was annotated on the tower status display. There were no injuries or damage to the aircraft. At the time of the incident, there was one tower controller in the cab; the second controller assigned to the shift was on break. The FAA has classified the incident as an operational error. This is considered a runway incursion as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization. (NTSB)
press release
03 OCT 2007 SAS seeks 77 million dollars from Bombardier for faulty planes [to table of contents] SAS said it would request about $77 million in compensation from Bombardier for costs and lost income due to accidents with two DHC-8-400 aircraft. `The incidents were caused by flaws in components not included in the maintenance manual. This is why we feel the responsibility lies with Bombardier,` SAS spokesman Hans Ollongren said. The company will start its compensation talks with the Canadian plane maker shortly. Ollongren said SAS has lost around 400 million kronor ($62 million) since the grounding of its turboprop fleet. `But there are other costs involved, too, related to credibility and other things.` He declined to comment on whether SAS plans to sue Bombardier, saying only that `we`ll start with discussions. We won't go into methods yet.` (AFP) 04 OCT 2007 NTSB investigating MD-80 engine fire incident in St. Louis [to table of contents]
The NTSB is investigating an incident that occurred on September 28, 2007, in which an engine on an American Airlines MD-82 caught fire shortly after take-off from the Lambert-St.Louis International Airport. The plane returned to the airport and landed safely. The passengers and crew deplaned via air stairs. None of the passengers or crewmembers was injured. The event is being investigated as an incident. The flight crew received a left engine fire warning during climb and subsequently discharged the aircraft engine fire bottles into the affected engine. During the visual return and approach, the nose landing gear did not extend. The flight crew then extended the nose landing gear using the emergency landing gear extension procedure. The airplane landed and was met by airport rescue and fire-fighting vehicles. In addition to determining any mechanical factors involved in this incident, the investigation will include an examination of the evacuation procedures and the response of the airport fire-fighting unit. (NTSB) 05 OCT 2007 Taiwanese B737 hits approach light on takeoff from Saga, Japan [to table of contents]
A China Airlines Boeing 737-800 bound for Taipei returned to Saga Airport, Japan after experiencing discrepancies with its airspeed indicators. The airplane was being ferried without passengers from Saga Airport following repair work after a 70-centimeter (28-inch) fracture was found in its fuselage on Sept. 21. The plane had been slow to take off, using the entire 2000m runway before becoming airborne. One of the eight approach lights near the end of the runway was later discovered broken. (AP, NHK)
Video of the takeoff
07 OCT 2007 ANA jet lands on wrong runway at Osaka-Itami airport [to table of contents] The Japanese Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry said ANA Flight 448, an Airbus A320 with 165 people on board, was on approach to Osaka-Itami (ITM) runway 32R, but the air traffic controller misheard the pilot and thought he requested a landing on the longer runway 32L. The controller gave him permission to land on runway 32L. The ANA pilot repeated his plans to land on runway 32R, but the controller did not catch his words, the ministry said. At the same time, Japan Airlines Flight 2441 - an MD-87 carrying 147 passengers and crew - was about to depart from runway 32R, but its pilot reported the incoming ANA plane to the air traffic controller. This was when the controller realized the ANA plane was heading toward the wrong runway. The JAL plane was set to depart shortly, but the controller allowed the ANA plane to land on the unauthorized runway after judging there was enough space between the two planes, the officials said. (The Japan Times) 11 OCT 2007 BEA issues safety recommendations on Twin Otter flight control cables [to table of contents]
In their investigation into the cause of the fatal DHC-6 Twin Otter accident in French Polynesia in August, 2007, the French BEA discovered some problems relating to the elevator control cables. Two stainless steel cables were found to be severely worn due to friction. These zones of wear were difficult to identify without a thorough examination. Consequently, the BEA recommends Transports Canada and the European Agency of Air Safety: - to ask the owners to inspect the stainless steel pitch control cables of DHC-6 Twin Otter planes as soon as possible, especially the zones of friction were the cables contacts cable guides; - to determine if steel-carbon cables are also suitable for pitch control. (BEA)
BEA press release
11 OCT 2007 Congo Brazzaville bans Antonov planes [to table of contents] Congo Brazzaville banned domestic airlines from using Antonov planes to carry passengers, following an Antonov crash in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, killing 50 people. `For reasons of air safety, Antonov passenger aircraft are suspended from flying from Tuesday, October 9, 2007 in accordance with new regulations,` the national aviation agency said in a statement. (AFP) 11 OCT 2007 MD-83 damaged in emergency landing at Istanbul [to table of contents]
An Egyptian AMC Aviation MD-83 (reportedly SU-BOY) carrying 163 people to Warsaw (WAW) caught fire after making an emergency landing at Istanbul. Flight AMV 4270 from Hurghada (HRG) was forced to land in Istanbul (IST) due to a technical problem. Apparently the crew encountered problems selecting the undercarriage down before landing. One or more undercarriage legs are understood to have collapsed on landing, causing a (small) fire which was quickly contained. One passenger was slightly injured. (AP) 11 OCT 2007 Mexico moves to revoke AOC of Azteca Airlines [to table of contents]
The Mexican DGAC moves to revoke the Air Operator Certificate of Líneas Aéreas Azteca because the company did not resolve the detected problems that led to a suspension since March 26, 2007. (Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes)
press release
14 OCT 2007 Chanchangi Airlines grounded [to table of contents] The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) grounded Chanchangi Airlines, following the reduction of the aircraft in the airline`s fleet to one. This was as a result of the fire that damaged one of the engines of the airline`s Boeing 727 operating on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route. It is against Nigerian aviation rules for an airline to operate with only one aircraft. (Nigerian Tribune) 15 OCT 2007 AMI Jet appeals emergency suspension to NTSB [to table of contents]
AMI Jet Charter submitted a petition for review to the NTSB`s law judges, asking for a stay of the FAA`s emergency suspension of AMI`s charter certificate. The FAA issued the emergency suspension on October 4, effectively shutting down the operation of the 79 airplanes on AMI`s charter certificate. This includes 48 airplanes managed by TAG Aviation USA, which owns 49 percent of AMI. In its suspension notice, the FAA accused AMI of failing to demonstrate that six airplanes and their flight crews were in compliance with FAA Part 135 regulations for flights conducted on October 1 and 2. The compliance issues were that `AMI failed to produce or timely produce records related to pilot training, flight and duty and rest records, and weight and balance records,` according to the FAA. The FAA also accused AMI of having no knowledge that one of its aircraft was being flown on a charter flight on October 2. The FAA`s allegations in the suspension notice are `baseless, exaggerated or misleading,` according to AMI. And ultimately, the issue of suspending AMI`s charter certificate on an emergency basis by claiming that there is a safety risk to the public is not supported by the facts, according to the company. AMI said that it has tried to work closely with the FAA on operational control issues and has made many changes to ensure that it is fully compliant with the latest A008 OpSpec. (AIN Online) 18 OCT 2007 Excel-Jet sues FAA over Sport-Jet VLJ crash [to table of contents]
Excel-Jet filed a suit against the FAA in an effort to prove that its very light jet airplane and pilot were not at fault in an accident in 2006. On June 22, 2006, the Sport-Jet rolled aggressively to the left immediately after liftoff and crashed. The company has long contended that wake turbulence was the cause, but the NTSB report, completed in April, found `it is most likely that the wake vortices were neither strong enough nor close enough to the Sport-Jet to cause the violent roll to the left.` The NTSB cited `a loss of control for an undetermined reason` as the probable cause of the accident. Excel-Jet claims the crash happened because air traffic controllers cleared the jet to take off behind a de Havilland DHC-8 in violation of mandatory separation requirements. (AVweb) 18 OCT 2007 India issues regulations to improve runway safety [to table of contents]
With growing instances of incursion of aircraft or vehicles on the runways when other planes are landing or taking off, the Indian DGCC has come up with broad, mandatory guidelines for Indian airports to enhance safety procedures on runways. The latest Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation mandates the establishment of Runway Safety Teams and a detailed programme to prevent such incidents. (DGCA India)
CAR Section 4 Series 'X' Part IV - Runway Safety Programme and formation of Runway Safety Teams.
21 OCT 2007 CRJ-700 takes off with open cargo door: loses bags after takeoff from MDW [to table of contents] A Delta Connection flight (ASQ718 to Atlanta) returned to Chicago-Midway because the cabin failed to pressurize. It appeared that a cargo door had not been closed properly. Two bags fell from the cargo hold. An employee of the Belt Railway Company found one bag in a rail yard nearly a mile from the airport. The aircraft involved was a Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-700. (AP) 22 OCT 2007 Final report issued on Garuda B737-400 accident at Yogyakarta [to table of contents]
The Indonesian investigators released their final report regarding the fatal accident involving a Garuda Boeing 737-400 at Yogyakarta (JOG) in March 2007. The aircraft was flown at an excessive airspeed and steep flight path angle during the approach and landing, resulting in an unstabilized approach. The captain did not follow company procedures that required him to fly a stabilized approach, and he did not abort the landing and go around when the approach was not stabilized. His attention was fixated or channelized on landing the aircraft on the runway and he either did not hear, or disregarded the GPWS alerts and warnings and calls from the copilot to go around. As the aircraft was being flown at speeds that were in excess of the wing flaps operation speed, the copilot elected not to extend the flaps as instructed by the PIC. The flaps remained at 5 degrees. (KNKT)
Accident Description
28 OCT 2007 SAS removes Dash 8 Q400 from service permanently [to table of contents] Following recent accidents involving aircraft involving the Dash 8 Q400 type, SAS`s management, following an unscheduled meeting of the Board of Directors, has decided to immediately discontinue the use of this type of aircraft. `Confidence in the Q400 has diminished considerably and our customers are becoming increasingly doubtful about flying in this type of aircraft. Accordingly, with the Board of Directors' approval, I have decided to immediately remove Dash 8 Q400 aircraft from service,' said Mats Jansson, President and Chief Executive Officer of SAS. (SAS)
press release
31 OCT 2007 FAA exceeds annual goal for reducing the most serious runway incursions [to table of contents] The U.S. FAA reported that it exceeded its goal for reducing the most serious runway incursions by 25 percent in fiscal year 2007. There were 24 serious runway incursions this past year out of more than 61 million operations, or one incursion for every 2,545,000 operations, improving on the agency`s goal of no more than one incursion for every two million surface movements. The FAA and industry leaders recently identified short-term steps that could be implemented within 60 days. The initiatives center on improved procedures, increased training for airport and airline personnel, and enhanced airports signs and markings. The FAA just completed a runway safety review of 20 airports — a list based on runway incursion data and wrong-runway issues. Based on the findings, airports have taken action to improve signage and paint markings, as well put training programs in place for airport personnel. Another short-term initiative is an agreement with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to put in place a voluntary reporting system. (FAA)
press release
