19 NOV 2008 _______________________________________ *Pilot alerted officials jet had run out of runway *Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation Names New Director of Maintenance *First A380-related airworthiness directive orders Trent check *************************************** Pilot alerted officials jet had run out of runway COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Cockpit recordings have been released from the September crash of a Learjet that killed four people, including the pilots, and critically burned a musician and celebrity disc jockey. The jet's co-pilot is heard telling the control tower at Columbia, South Carolina's main airport: "Roll the equipment, we're going off the end." The plane shot off the end of the runway, ripped through a fence and crossed a highway before coming to rest in flames. Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and celebrity disc jockey DJ AM were severely burned in the crash. Both men are expected to fully recover. Aviation authorities have said cockpit recordings showed the jet's crew thought a tire had blown before takeoff. ************** Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation Names New Director of Maintenance APPLETON, Wis., Nov 18, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation today announced that Kevin Gordon has been promoted to the position of director of maintenance, reporting directly to managing director of maintenance Ed Baranowski. In his new position, Kevin will be responsible for maintenance control, planning; heavy maintenance; technical stores; powerplant operations, and production control at our Philadelphia, Norfolk and Milwaukee maintenance facilities. Kevin's qualifications for this position include extensive experience in maintenance operations as well as excellent program management, continuous improvement, and implementation skills. "Air Wisconsin's engine reliability statistics rank among the best in the industry due in large part to Kevin's exceptional competence and leadership skills," noted Baranowski. "I look forward to the leadership and innovative business and process development skills Kevin will bring to this position." Gordon brings extensive knowledge and experience to his new role. After joining Air Wisconsin in 1983 as an airframe and powerplant mechanic, Gordon was promoted to a maintenance supervisor. Additionally, some of the positions Gordon has held while at Air Wisconsin include: member of the startup team creating maintenance control (1985); manager of powerplant operations (1998) and director of powerplant operations (2001 to present). Gordon received his Airframe and Powerplant License from Colorado Aerotech in Broomfield, Colorado in 1981. Air Wisconsin, the largest privately held regional airline in the United States, operates as US Airways Express, scheduling nearly 500 departures per day to 69 cities in 26 states and two Canadian provinces. The fleet includes 70 Canadair Regional Jets. Additionally, Air Wisconsin performs ground-handling services for United Express and Northwest Airlines at over 30 locations throughout the country. SOURCE Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation ************** First A380-related airworthiness directive orders Trent check European safety regulators have drawn up the first airworthiness directive relating to the Airbus A380, mandating checks for cracking of vanes in Rolls-Royce Trent 900 high-pressure turbines. The directive, issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, states that development testing and flight tests of the Trent 900 have revealed evidence of cracking on some nozzle guide vane surfaces. EASA says that not all nozzle guide vane assemblies are affected and that the problem would become apparent on affected engines within 1,000 cycles. "Analysis of test data and review of the manufacturing process has revealed compounding effects that may contribute to a shortfall in component life and an increased likelihood of premature cracking in this region," it states. Excessive cracking on the vanes' convex surface could, it says, lead to possible fracture of high-pressure turbine blades - and subsequent engine damage - if vane material is released. Turbine gas flow could also be blocked, it adds. EASA is instructing operators of Trent 900 engines to inspect the nozzle guide vane surfaces before 400 cycles, and to repeat these inspections at least every 100 cycles. If no damage is detected by 1,000 cycles, it adds, normal inspection maintenance can be resumed. The directive takes effect from 2 December. Rolls-Royce states that the Trent 900 last month clocked up a year's airline service, accumulating 8,000 cycles across seven aircraft. Singapore Airlines and Qantas both operate Trent 900-powered A380 aircraft, while Emirates' A380s are fitted with Engine Alliance GP7200 powerplants. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news **************