News
03 APR - FAA safety audit turns up issues at four airlines 05 APR - Fatal Papua New Guinea aircraft accidents 'not investigated'
11 APR - FAA to install runway safety warning system at Boston-Logan
11 APR - China: Lighters and matches forbidden from carry-on luggage
11 APR - EU updates blacklist: adds Ukraine Cargo Airways and Hewa Bora
20 APR - FAA sets up high-level alerts for missed airline inspections
24 APR - FAA takes steps to ensure proper reporting of operational errors
24 APR - Netherlands: study on runway incursions
29 APR - AAIB releases final report of Boeing 737 accident at East Midlands
03 APR 2008 FAA safety audit turns up issues at four airlines [to table of contents]
Four U.S. airlines are under investigation for maintenance violations uncovered in an industrywide audit triggered by safety problems uncovered at Southwest Airlines, the FAA announced. Out of 2,392 audits at 117 airlines, the FAA found seven possible violations at four carriers. Federal Aviation Administration officials said they could not identify the airlines. (USA Today)
The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported that Papua New Guinea authorities have failed to properly investigate 19 aircraft accidents which have killed 16 people. Lack of funds and facilities are blamed for the failure of PNG's Civil Aviation Authority and Department of Transport to fully investigate these plane and helicopter crashes since 2000, despite legislation in 2004 establishing an Air Accident Commission. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Fatal PNG air crashes 'not investigated'
11 APR 2008 FAA to install runway safety warning system at Boston-Logan [to table of contents] Technology that warns pilots about potential runway safety hazards will be installed and tested at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) under a partnership between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). The test system will be installed in November 2009 and testing will begin the following month, a full two years ahead of the planned national program deployment. The system, called Runway Status Lights, uses a series of red lights embedded in the pavement to warn pilots if it is unsafe to cross over or enter a runway. Under the agreement between the FAA and Massport, pilots will begin testing Runway Status Lights at Logan next year. The FAA and Massport are sharing the cost of the system, estimated at $5 million. Boston will be the first location in the country to test Runway Status Lights for intersecting runways. (FAA)
press release
11 APR 2008 China: Lighters and matches forbidden from carry-on luggage [to table of contents] China has banned lighters and matches from carry-on luggage on aircraft, the latest move to better protect flight safety. Previously, all baby food, cosmetics and medicine in quantities above 100 ml have been banned from carry-on luggage on domestic flights. (Xinhua) 11 APR 2008 EU updates blacklist: adds Ukraine Cargo Airways and Hewa Bora [to table of contents]
The European Commission adopted the seventh update of the "blacklist". The Commission is imposing a ban on all operations of Ukraine Cargo Airways as well as on all operations of the Congolese carrier Hewa Bora Airways. At the same time, the Commission is closely monitoring the progress of corrective actions by carriers such as Mahan Air from Iran, TAAG Angola Airlines and all Indonesian carriers, all of which at this stage, remain on the list. With this update, Ukraine Cargo Airways is the third Ukrainian airline added to the list after Volare and Ukrainian Mediterranean Airlines. The Commission is sending a strong signal to the authorities of Ukraine inviting them to strengthen enforcement of the safety standards. The Congolese carrier Hewa Bora, which was previously allowed to operate a single aircraft under a special arrangement, which has ended, has seen all its operations subject to a ban in the Community as has been the case for all other carriers licensed in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the establishment of the firt Community list of banned carriers in March 2006. In the case of TAAG Angola Airlines, the decision acknowledges the efforts made by the airline and its authorities but notes that there are still significant safety deficiencies which must be addressed by both before TAAG can be withdrawn from the list. In the case of Mahan Air, the Commission will examine carefully the documentation presented by the carrier and will carry out a visit to Iran to verify the results of the implementation of corrective actions before it can withdraw it from the list. In the case of Garuda Indonesia, the airline was heard by the Commission and the Air Safety Committee composed of Member States experts. The airline has made progress in the implementation of corrective measures, yet this is not sufficient. Furthermore the authorities of Indonesia have still to demonstrate that they have completed the corrective actions. Pending both this demonstration and the completion of remedial action by Garuda and the other airlines it was decided that none of the Indonesian carriers can be withdrawn at this stage from the Community list. Cubana de Aviacion from Cuba and Islands Development Company from Seychelles, which reacted quickly and efficiently together with their authorities to resolve their safety problems have avoided their inclusion in the list, but remain under monitoring. (EU)
press release
20 APR 2008 FAA sets up high-level alerts for missed airline inspections [to table of contents] The U.S. FAA is going to begin alerting its top headquarters officials when field inspectors miss airline safety inspections, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced. Peters also demanded that the FAA and American Airlines explain to her within 14 days why 250,000 U.S. air travelers endured canceled flights last week. American grounded its MD-80 jetliners and canceled 3,100 flights in order to inspect or redo wiring that was supposed to have been completed between Sept. 5, 2006, and March 5, 2008. (AP) 24 APR 2008 FAA takes steps to ensure proper reporting of operational errors [to table of contents]
The U.S. FAA announced steps to strengthen the reporting system designed to classify airspace errors, in response to a report by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Inspector General (IG) that revealed the intentional misclassification of operational errors at the Dallas-Fort Worth Terminal Approach Control (TRACON). In direct response to IG recommendations, the FAA removed both the facility manager and assistant manager at the Dallas-Fort Worth TRACON from their positions pending a final determination on possible further personnel actions; additional personnel actions may be taken. The Air Traffic Safety Oversight organization has implemented unannounced on-site audits at the TRACON, requiring monthly reports to the FAA’s acting administrator. Additionally, the FAA will accelerate deployment of the Traffic Analysis Review Program (TARP) — software that automatically detects losses of aircraft separation at terminal facilities — at Dallas-Fort Worth TRACON. The program will be implemented by the end of fiscal year 2008. (FAA)
press release
24 APR 2008 Netherlands: study on runway incursions [to table of contents] The Transport and Water Management Inspectorate Netherlands released a study on runway incursions for three regional airports (Maastricht Aachen Airport, Rotterdam Airport and Groningen Airport Eelde). The Inspectorate noted in the report that there is a lack of objective criteria, standards and information available to record and analyze runway incursions in a uniform way. According to the inspection, the risk of runway incursions is recognized by Dutch airports. The inspection is working together with the aviation sector in order to achieve a uniform interpretation of the definition and a reliable record of runway incursions. (IVW)
press release
29 APR 2008 AAIB releases final report of Boeing 737 accident at East Midlands [to table of contents] The U.K. AAIB completed their investigation into the landing accident of a TNT Boeing 737 cargo plane at East Midlands. On a scheduled cargo flight from Liège Airport to London Stansted Airport the crew diverted to Nottingham East Midlands Airport due to unexpectedly poor weather conditions at Stansted. The weather conditions at EMA required a CAT IIIA approach and landing. On approach, at approximately 500 feet agl, the crew were passed a message by ATC advising them of a company request to divert to Liverpool Airport. The commander inadvertently disconnected both autopilots whilst attempting to reply to ATC. He then attempted to re-engage the autopilot in order to continue the approach. The aircraft diverged to the left of the runway centreline and developed a high rate of descent. The commander commenced a go-around but was too late to prevent the aircraft contacting the grass some 90 m to the left of the runway centreline. The aircraft became airborne again but, during contact with the ground, the right main landing gear had broken off. The crew subsequently made an emergency landing at Birmingham Airport (BHX). (AAIB)
AAIB Report No: 5/2008
