News
01 JAN - ENAC Italy ground AlpiEagles 02 JAN - U.K. CAA introduces online birdstrike reporting system
05 JAN - BAE Systems gets U.S. contract for missile defense system evaluation on civil ai
07 JAN - Qantas Boeing 747 lost electrical power over Bangkok
10 JAN - Upset injures about eleven on Air Canada flight
11 JAN - Runway incursion incident at Atlanta
16 JAN - AAIB: final report on A319 electrical failure incident
17 JAN - TSB: final report on Cessna 208 engine failure accident
18 JAN - ANSV releases final report on Tuninter ATR-72 ditching
18 JAN - Aircraft compasses affected by metal under London City Airport
18 JAN - AAIB: both engines did not respond in B777 accident
20 JAN - Airprox over New Jersey: crew given wrong frequency
21 JAN - EU says Indonesia has further to go on air safety
24 JAN - SAS finds problems during technical examination of grounded DHC-8-Q400 planes
24 JAN - UK AAIB issues update on Boeing 777 accident at London-Heathrow
28 JAN - Airplane hits cow on runway in Merauke, Indonesia
29 JAN - Israel adopts findings of air safety report
01 JAN 2008 ENAC Italy ground AlpiEagles [to table of contents]
The Italian ENAC, Ente Nazionale per l`Aviation Civile, suspended the Air Operator Certificate of Alpi Eagles.
In a press release on December 21 the ENAC said the AOC would be suspended as of January 1, 2008. The reason according to ENAC is `the persistence of the state of a financial economic crisis within the company with consequent impact on the conduct and regularity of services , and according to the European legislation in force, in particular the Community Regulation 2407/92, there are the minimum requirements for maintaining air operator licence`.
(ENAC)
The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) introduced a new online reporting system for the aviation community. The preferred method of reporting an event of a bird striking a plane is now by completing a form on the CAA`s website. Birdstrike reporting became mandatory in 2004. This new online reporting procedure will provide a more efficient way of managing the data received. The maintenance of an accurate and comprehensive birdstrike database enables the CAA to provide information and advice to aerodrome licensees that can assist them in their habitat management and bird dispersal techniques. (CAA)
CAA Birdstrike Occurrence Form
05 JAN 2008 BAE Systems gets U.S. contract for missile defense system evaluation on civil ai [to table of contents] BAE Systems has received a $29 million award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to test an infrared aircraft missile defense system on passenger aircraft. The tests will evaluate the system's compatibility with daily passenger airline operations and maintenance. As part of the Department of Homeland Security`s (DHS) counter-man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) program, BAE Systems will install its JETEYE aircraft missile defense system on up to three American Airlines aircraft. The JETEYE system is based on BAE Systems` existing directable infrared countermeasures technology, used to protect military aircraft. (The Centre Daily Times) 07 JAN 2008 Qantas Boeing 747 lost electrical power over Bangkok [to table of contents]
A Qantas Boeing 747-400 lost its main electrical power as it prepared to land in Bangkok. The aircraft, which was en route from London, automatically reverted to standby power. The aircraft landed safely 15 minutes later. Qantas said the incident was triggered by water entering the generator control unit, which caused loss of power. (Bangkok Post, AAP) 10 JAN 2008 Upset injures about eleven on Air Canada flight [to table of contents]
Air Canada Flight AC190, en route to Toronto (YYZ) from Victoria (YYJ), made an emergency landing at Calgary (YYC). The Airbus A319 (C-GBHZ) had suffered an in-flight upset at about FL350, inuring about eleven. The cause is not yet known. The pilot reported to the passengers that they had experienced control problems. The aircraft, with 83 passengers and five crew members on board, landed without incident at approximately 08:30 MT. (Air Canada) 11 JAN 2008 Runway incursion incident at Atlanta [to table of contents]
The FAA is investigating a near-collision of two airplanes on the runway at Atlanta-Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL). Investigators believe an Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight bound for Greensboro, N.C., failed to stop its taxi across the runway, coming within seconds of running into a Mexico-bound Delta Air Lines Inc. jet. The ASA pilot acknowledged the orders and repeated them back to controllers in the tower but did not stop. Air traffic controllers estimated the planes came within 1,250 feet. The flights involved were DL523, a Boeing 757 and flight ASQ876, a Canair RJ200. (USA Today) 16 JAN 2008 AAIB: final report on A319 electrical failure incident [to table of contents]
The AAIB released their investigation report into the October 2005 incident to an Airbus A319-131. As the aircraft climbed to FL200 in night VMC with autopilot and autothrust engaged, there was a major electrical failure. This resulted in the loss or degradation of a number of important aircraft systems. The crew reported that both the commander’s and co-pilot’s Primary Flight Displays (PFD) and Navigation Displays (ND) went blank, as did the upper ECAM display. The autopilot and autothrust systems disconnected, the VHF radio and intercom were inoperative and most of the cockpit lighting went off. There were several other more minor concurrent failures. The commander maintained control of the aircraft, flying by reference to the visible night horizon and the standby instruments, which were difficult to see in the poor light. The co-pilot carried out the abnormal checklist actions which appeared on the lower ECAM display; the only available electronic flight display. Most of the affected systems were restored after approximately 90 seconds, when the co-pilot selected the AC Essential Feed switch to Alternate (‘ALTN’). There were no injuries to any of the 76 passengers or 6 crew. After the event, and following discussions between the crew and the operator’s Maintenance Control, the aircraft continued to Budapest. It was not possible to determine the cause of the incident due to a lack of available evidence, however, nine additional Safety Recommendations are made in this report. (AAIB)
AAIB Report No: 2/2008
17 JAN 2008 TSB: final report on Cessna 208 engine failure accident [to table of contents] The Canadian TSB issued the final report of their investigation into the January 2006 accident of a Cessna 208B aircraft near Port lberni. It was en route at 9000 feet above sea level, from Tofino, British Columbia, to Vancouver International Airport, British Columbia, when the engine failed. The pilot began a glide in the direction of the Port Alberni Regional Airport before attempting an emergency landing on a logging road. The aircraft struck trees during a steep right-hand turn and crashed. Five passengers survived with serious injuries; the pilot and the other two passengers were fatally injured. It was concluded that the engine lost power when a compressor turbine blade failed as a result of the overstress extension of a fatigue-generated crack. The fracture initiated at a metallurgical anomaly in the parent blade material and progressed, eventually resulting in blade failure due to overstress rupture. The combination of aircraft position at the time of the engine failure, the lack of equipment enabling the pilot to locate and identify high terrain, and the resultant manoeuvring required to avoid entering instrument flight conditions likely prevented the pilot from attempting to glide to the nearest airfield. (TSB)
TSB Report Number A06P0010
18 JAN 2008 ANSV releases final report on Tuninter ATR-72 ditching [to table of contents] The Italian ANSV released their final report of their investigation into the August 2005 ditching of a Tuninter ATR-72 due fuel exhaustion. The cause of the accident was, in the first place, thw wrong procedure used for the replacement of the Fuel Quantity Indicator, FQI by the maintenance staff of the airline, who installed the FQI of an ATR-42 on an ATR-72. The amount of fuel indicated by an FQI for ATR-42 installed on ATR-72 aircraft is higher than that actually present in the tanks. In particular, on ATR-72, compared with an amount of fuel equal to zero, the FQI of an ATR-42 indicates a total amount of fuel equal to or greater than 1800 kg, which corresponds to the amount communicated by the crew of TS-LBB to the air traffic controller. The incorrect procedure represents the triggering factor, which led to the ditching of the aircraft due to lack of fuel. (ANSV)
ANSV final report
18 JAN 2008 Aircraft compasses affected by metal under London City Airport [to table of contents] An AAIB (UK) investigation revealed strong magnetic anomalies in the holding area for Runway 28 at London-City Airport. In October 2006 a Raytheon Hawker 800XP experienced significant navigation problems after taking off from London City Airport (LCY) and was unable to comply with the Standard Instrument Departure (SID). The crew were able to recover heading information after approximately 10 minutes and landed back at LCY without incident. It transpired that several similar incidents had previously occurred with other aircraft and there have been similar incidents subsequent to this one. The magnetic anomalies were caused by the 68 piled beam structures situated under Runway 28 Holding Area, remains of flame cut bollards spaced a regular intervals under Runway 28 Holding Area, reinforced concrete in Runway 28 Holding Area, and the railway lines below Runway 28 Holding Area. LCY was built on the site of a disused ship’s loading and unloading dock. Six safety recommendations have been made. (AAIB)
AAIB Bulletin: 1/2008
18 JAN 2008 AAIB: both engines did not respond in B777 accident [to table of contents] The AAIB released an inital report on the Boeing 777 accident at London-Heathrow. Initial indications from the interviews and Flight Recorder analyses show the flight and approach to have progressed normally until the aircraft was established on late finals for Runway 27L. At approximately 600 ft and 2 miles from touch down, the Autothrottle demanded an increase in thrust from the two engines but the engines did not respond. Following further demands for increased thrust from the Autothrottle, and subsequently the flight crew moving the throttle levers, the engines similarly failed to respond. The aircraft speed reduced and the aircraft descended onto the grass short of the paved runway surface. (AAIB)
AAIB Ref: EW/C2008/01/01
20 JAN 2008 Airprox over New Jersey: crew given wrong frequency [to table of contents] A Continental Airlines Boeing 737 and a Continental Express Embraer 145 where involved in an airprox near Newark, NJ on January 16. An air traffic controller at the New York TRACON gave the Continental Express crew the frequency for nearby Teterboro Airport instead of the Newark Airport. As a result, Newark was temporarily unable to contact the crew as both planes approached Newark. The planes were 600 feet apart in altitude, much closer than the minimum required vertical separation of 1,000 feet. The FAA is investigating the near miss, which occurred at 14:10 between Continental Flight 536 arriving from Phoenix and the Embraer (ContinentalExpress Flight 2614) arriving from Halifax, Nova Scotia. (USA Today) 21 JAN 2008 EU says Indonesia has further to go on air safety [to table of contents]
Indonesia has not yet made enough progress improving air safety for the European Union to lift a ban nation's airlines, the EU's air safety chief said. "Indeed we were glad to note that progress has taken place, but unfortunately it was not sufficient yet," Roberto Salvarani told a conference in Bandung on aviation safety organised by the European Commission and the Indonesian transport ministry. (Reuters) 24 JAN 2008 SAS finds problems during technical examination of grounded DHC-8-Q400 planes [to table of contents]
SAS has made a thorough technical examination of the landing gear on the Dash 8 Q400 aircraft that were taken out of service after the third accident involving this aircraft type in autumn 2007. The technical department has found problems in 63 per cent of the solenoid sequence valves (SSV) on the inspected aircraft that were permanently grounded after the accidents last autumn. The Danish Accident Investigation Board has previously concluded that a construction error in the actuators was the cause of the first two accidents involving a Dash 8 Q400. The Accident Investigation Board has not presented any conclusion on the reason behind the third accident, but has in a provisional report stated that the most likely reason is that an O ring came loose from the SSV valve in the hydraulics system in combination with the following fault-tracing. The SSV valve also has a construction error and is currently being modified by the supplier. According to SAS, they "had no possibility of [...] discovering these problems, or the undetected error that caused the first two accidents, in the course of its maintenance work". (SAS) 24 JAN 2008 UK AAIB issues update on Boeing 777 accident at London-Heathrow [to table of contents]
Since the issue of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) 1st Preliminary Report on Friday 18 January 2008 at 1700 hrs, work has continued on all fronts to identify why neither engine responded to throttle lever inputs during the final approach. The 150 tonne aircraft was moved from the threshold of Runway 27L to an airport apron on Sunday evening, allowing the airport to return to normal operations. The AAIB, sensitive to the needs of the industry including Boeing, Rolls Royce, British Airways and other Boeing 777 operators and crews, is issuing this update to provide such further factual information as is now available. As previously reported, whilst the aircraft was stabilised on an ILS approach with the autopilot engaged, the autothrust system commanded an increase in thrust from both engines. The engines both initially responded but after about 3 seconds the thrust of the right engine reduced. Some eight seconds later the thrust reduced on the left engine to a similar level. The engines did not shut down and both engines continued to produce thrust at an engine speed above flight idle, but less than the commanded thrust. Recorded data indicates that an adequate fuel quantity was on board the aircraft and that the autothrottle and engine control commands were performing as expected prior to, and after, the reduction in thrust. All possible scenarios that could explain the thrust reduction and continued lack of response of the engines to throttle lever inputs are being examined, in close cooperation with Boeing, Rolls Royce and British Airways. This work includes a detailed analysis and examination of the complete fuel flow path from the aircraft tanks to the engine fuel nozzles. Further factual information will be released as and when available. (AAIB) 28 JAN 2008 Airplane hits cow on runway in Merauke, Indonesia [to table of contents]
A Boeing 737-300 of Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MNA) sustained a damaged engine after hitting a stray cow while landing at Merauke-Mopah Airport (MKQ). The impact of the collision damaged the plane`s left engine but all of the jet liner`s 141 passengers were safe and unharmed. "The calf was running fast from Jati kampong which is located east of the airport, so the plane could not avoid hitting the animal," a spokesman said. The airport was not yet fully fencAirplane hits cow on runway in Merauked due to financial constraints. (Antara) 29 JAN 2008 Israel adopts findings of air safety report [to table of contents]
Israeli Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz has adopted the conclusions of the Lapidot Report about serious safety oversight deficiencies in Israel. Mofaz instructed Civil Aviation Authority chief Udi Zohar and the newly appointed director of the Airports Authority "to move ahead as quickly as possible" in putting the report's recommendations into practice. Mofaz said that the references in the report to restructuring the administrative structure of the CAA were especially important. The Lapidot panel recommended implementing a new organizational structure and to enlist eight experts in various aviation fields. Mofaz also stressed the clauses pertaining to the need to install new navigational aids. (Haaretz)
