03 DEC 2008 _______________________________________ *Report: Pilots' holsters make guns vulnerable to accidental discharge *French locate third body after Airbus crash *GM Terminating Corporate Aircraft Operations *Flight Safety Foundation CEO Addresses FAA Conference *Alaska considers shedding 737-700s *Continental to take ex ATA Boeing 757s *Lufthansa parks four A300s to rein in capacity *************************************** Report: Pilots' holsters make guns vulnerable to accidental discharge WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Government-issued holsters used by thousands of armed airline pilots increase the chance that guns will be accidentally discharged in the cockpit, according to federal investigators. Investigators say the design of a government-issued holster makes guns vulnerable to accidental discharges. The holsters' design renders guns vulnerable to accidental firing if they are improperly handled, and should be replaced, said investigators who studied an incident in March in which a pilot discharged his weapon. They said the Transportation Security Administration -- which trains and equips the armed pilots -- should provide a safer way to secure firearms in the distracting, sometimes dark environment of a cockpit. In March, a US Airways pilot accidentally fired his gun while he was stowing it during an approach to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. The bullet pierced the cockpit wall and fuselage, but no one was injured. No crucial wiring was struck and the plane landed safely. The incident is the only known gun discharge since the federal government began handing out the holsters in its armed program, known as Federal Flight Deck Officer. While the exact number of armed pilots is confidential, the TSA has said there are more armed pilots than Federal Air Marshals, a number it says is in the thousands. After the incident, the TSA removed Capt. James Langenhahn from the program. US Airways fired Langenhahn, ending his 24-year career with the carrier. Langenhahn is fighting his dismissal. The TSA has defended the locking holsters, saying pilots have handled the holsters "millions of times" without incident since the holsters were put into service two years ago. But the Office of Inspector General -- an independent arm of the Department of Homeland Security -- concluded the design of the locking holsters "increases the likelihood of an accidental discharge of a weapon in an aircraft cockpit." "In a darkened cockpit, under the stress of meeting the operational needs of the aircraft, a pilot could inadvertently discharge the weapon by failing to ensure it is properly seated in the holster, securing the trigger lock and then pushing the weapon inward to secure the holster snap." The weapon also can be discharged if the pilot inserts the padlock hasp into the holster incorrectly, the report says. "This is encouraging. This will probably have a favorable impact in increasing the effectiveness of the [armed pilot] program and in my personal situation," Langenhahn, 56, said when informed of the OIG report on Tuesday. Langenhahn said he expects an arbitration hearing in late January. He declined further comment, citing his attorney's advice. The TSA on Tuesday reiterated its statements that the holsters are safe. "When handled in accordance with FFDO program policies and procedures, the locking holster system meets program safety, security and tactical accessibility requirements," the TSA said in a written statement. "TSA works with independent subject matter experts to regularly review new holster systems that meet program safety, security and tactical accessibility requirements." Pilots say TSA protocols, which require pilots to lock their weapons every time they leave the cockpit, greatly increase the chance of a mishap. Mike Karn, vice president of the Federal Flight Deck Officer Association, said pilots should be trusted to unlock their guns when they leave their homes or hotels and lock them at the end of the business day. "Common sense practices need to be put in place," Karn said. The inspector general's recommendations on holsters were included in a semiannual report to Congress released this week. *************** French locate third body after Airbus crash PERPIGNAN, France - Search teams found a third body Monday following the crash of an Airbus A320 passenger jet off France's southern coast, bringing the official death toll to three with four others missing and feared dead, a French official said. Divers pulled the remains from the Mediterranean about midday Monday while searching for wreckage from the jet, state prosecutor Jean-Pierre Dreno said in the southern city of Perpignan near the border with Spain. The plane was on a maintenance flight when it plunged into the sea Thursday. French authorities on Monday opened a preliminary probe into manslaughter. The plane had been leased to charter airline XL Airways Germany and was on the maintenance flight before being returned to Air New Zealand. The crew included two German pilots, and a pilot and three engineers from Air New Zealand, plus an aircraft inspector from the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority. Air New Zealand said in a statement the two flight recorders recovered from the crash site over the weekend were so badly damaged they must be sent to the manufacturer, Honeywell, in the United States to see if any data can be extracted. http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Dec01/0,4670,EUFranceAirbusCrash,00.html ************** GM Terminating Corporate Aircraft Operations (WXYZ) - GM has decided to ditch its corporate aviation service saying it can no longer justify the aircraft operation. The move comes after mounting criticism from lawmakers who confronted the Big 3 CEOs last month on their travel to D.C. in corporate jets. GM will cease operations at General Motors Air Transportation Services (GMATS) at Detroit Metro Airport effective January 1, 2009. GM is looking into options that include transferring its aircraft to another operator. The company also plans to sell four of the aircraft so it can terminate the leases altogether. http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=85371d69-3bf3-4bda-a402 -d1486b29fa76 ************** Flight Safety Foundation CEO Addresses FAA Conference WASHINGTON - William R. Voss, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, delivered the key note address at today's opening session of the 5th Annual FAA International Aviation Safety Forum. Voss's speech examined the important role that regulators play in maintaining the exceptional safety standard in aviation and called on the attendees to honor this commitment as a service to all citizens. "I can think of few problems I have seen in aviation safety where the solutions were not already known. Aviation safety is limited not by our ability to understand, but our ability to act," said Voss. "Our ability to act is limited in turn by our ability to speak clearly to each other and to those that govern us about what we can do and what needs to be done. "There is little question that safety management is the way of the future. There is also little question that safety management requires collaboration between labor and regulators. There is not a clear consensus about the proper balance between enforcement and cooperation. "We don't have a lot of technical problems anymore. We have systemic problems that are sensitive and difficult to address. Perhaps today we could start by talking with each other about those difficult issues that lie below the surface." The FAA Forum is expected to attract more than 400 regulators from around the world. Voss' speech is available on the FSF website at www.flightsafety.org. http://www.amtonline.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=6894 ************* Alaska considers shedding 737-700s Alaska Air Group may consider selling newer Boeing 737-700s as capacity for Alaska Air for 2009 is scheduled to fall by 8% versus flat available seat mile (ASM) growth in 2008. The company's consideration to sell those aircraft follows the retirement of the last Boeing MD-80 from the fleet of Alaska Airlines in August. Seattle-based Alaska would consider selling between two and four -700s, depending on market conditions, vice president-finance Brandon Pedersen said during the Credit Suisse Global Airline Conference today. The company has been aiming for a 7.5% capacity reduction for Alaska Airlines during the final quarter of the year, followed by a 10% to 12% reduction in the first quarter of 2009. Capacity at Alaska Air Group subsidiary Horizon Air will drop by 20% during the fourth quarter, followed by a 14% drop in the first quarter. Full-year capacity at Horizon in 2009 is expected to mirror the full-year 8% reduction for 2008. Recently Bombardier tabled a new schedule for Horizon's Q400 turboprops. The carrier is seeking to retime deliveries of 14 remaining 76-seat turboprops is has on order with the Canadian airframer. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ************* Continental to take ex ATA Boeing 757s Houston-based Continental Airlines has reached a deal with Boeing to take delivery of four Boeing 757-300s formally operated by now defunct ATA Airlines. Carrier SVP finance and treasurer Gerry Laderman said today during the Credit Suisse Global Airlines Conference one aircraft is scheduled to arrive in 2009 followed by the remaining three in 2010. Those aircraft were part of 12 planes leased to ATA by Boeing. Currently Continental operates 58 757s, with the majority of the carrier's -200s flown on international routes. Continental's fleet plan for 2009 entails delivery of 18 Boeing 737s, and Laderman says the carrier has committed or backstop financing for all the aircraft. Laderman highlights the favourable economics of the 737-900ER compared to the 757-200s. Flight's ACAS database shows Continental operates 15 -900ERs and has 19 on order. With the -900ER being similarly sized to the 757-200 Laderman explains that on domestic routes Continental flies the newer model against -200s flown by competitors, Continental saves roughly 15% in operating costs. Two 787s are scheduled for delivery in 2010, but Laderman admits those deliveries are questionable. Still, Continental continues to endorse the aircraft, he says, noting it will be terrific once it is up and running. Noting that the EETC market is "not so attractive" Laderman quips that it is "not easy to finance aircraft", adding that is one reason why Continental arranged some backstop financing for 2009 deliveries with Boeing. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news ************** Lufthansa parks four A300s to rein in capacity German flag-carrier Lufthansa is to park four Airbus A300-600s and considering doing the same with additional long-haul types as part of its plans to keep capacity under control. The carrier is already planning to curb capacity growth next year, forecasting a capacity hike of just 0.8% for 2009. Lufthansa says that will park four A300-600s "as of now" and a spokeswoman for the carrier says it is "thinking of different scenarios" for potential further measures. It indicates that it considers the A340-300 is a likely candidate, and suggests three of the type could be temporarily withdrawn, depending on market demand. But the spokeswoman stresses that the carrier is "flexible" and will return the jets to service if the market picks up. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news **************