Flight Safety Information December 24, 2013 - No. 262 In This Issue Southwest Airlines flight from Phoenix diverted to Las Vegas Jet with 180 passengers slides off Detroit taxiway Alaska Airlines cancels 24 flights after pilots, attendants call in sick Storm Delays Hit Gatwick Airport, Much of Britain An Indonesian politician couldn't get on a full flight, so he closed the airport Delhi: Dense fog at airport, flight operations hit (India) Under cloud DGCA appoints 'ineligible' flight inspector (India) American flight crew overcome by fish fumes EXCLUSIVE: Shocking truth about lack of black boxes in police helicopters (UK) Think ARGUS PROS Asiana Airlines Names New CEO 5 Months After Crash Harbin aircraft manufacturer makes export debut in Latin America Cabinet to take up Air India aircraft sale to Etihad on Thursday (India) Aviation insurance renewal rates drop lower Ohana by Hawaiian has resumed FAA flight certification process Capabilities of FAA Safety Data Analysis System Limited Southwest Airlines flight from Phoenix diverted to Las Vegas The captain of a Southwest Airlines flight from Phoenix to Sacramento made an emergency landing in Las Vegas when a bathroom smoke alarm activated without an apparent cause, officials said. Airline officials said a smoke alarm sounded in the back lavatory of Southwest Flight 3061 about an hour into the flight Monday evening. The captain decided to divert the flight to McCarran International Airport as a "precautionary measure" after a Check Airman - someone who trains pilots and happened to be a passenger on the plane - determined the alarm had been tripped, according to Dan Lendson, a Southwest Airlines spokesman. The Check Airman found no trace of smoke, Lendson said. Passengers were deplaned in Las Vegas and boarded another plane to Sacramento. That flight was scheduled to leave by 8:30 p.m. http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/20131223southwest-airlines-phoenix-las-vegas.html Back to Top Jet with 180 passengers slides off Detroit taxiway ROMULUS, Mich. - A Delta jet headed to Atlanta with 180 passengers aboard has slid off a taxiway at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. No one was hurt. Delta Air Lines spokesman Morgan Durrant (duh-RANT') says the plane "may have hit some black ice" before sliding from the taxiway onto a grassy area around 6:40 a.m. Monday. Durrant says the passengers safely got off the plane and were rebooked on a flight scheduled to take off later in the day. Airport spokesman Brian Lassaline (las-uh-LEEN') says the plane was towed to a Delta hangar and didn't appear damaged. He says conditions were wet, and the surface temperature dropped overnight. The cause of the incident remains under investigation. Lassaline says there were no other disruptions to flights at the Romulus airfield Monday. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/plane-slides-off-taxiway-at-detroit-metro- airport/2013/12/23/52c4e916-6bde-11e3-a5d0-6f31cd74f760_story.html Back to Top Alaska Airlines cancels 24 flights after pilots, attendants call in sick Several Alaska Airlines flights were grounded after some pilots and flight attendants called in sick with flu-like symptoms. (Alaska Airlines) Alaska Airlines cancelled 24 flights on Sunday and Monday after flu-stricken pilots and flight attendants called in sick. Alaska spokeswoman Bobbie Egan says about 270 passengers were affected by cancelled flights. Another 14 flights were cancelled Sunday due to bad weather. Egan says a "very unusual" cold and flu season hit the airline's Pacific Northwest hub, and the entire region was affected. Egan says pilots and flight attendants who were off-duty have volunteered to work while their colleagues are out sick. The airline forecasts a less-busy Tuesday, and says it probably won't have to cancel any more flights because of illness. http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/12/alaska_cancels_24_flights_afte.html Back to Top Storm Delays Hit Gatwick Airport, Much of Britain LONDON December 24, 2013 (AP) - A severe winter storm has caused major travel problems in Britain, leading to substantial delays Tuesday at London Gatwick Airport and on roads and rail lines at the height of the Christmas travel period. The storm caused four deaths, and the Environment Agency issued hundreds of flood warnings across all of England and Wales, with a severe flood warning - the highest level, warning of danger to life - in south west England, where properties were expected to flood. Gatwick Airport said its North Terminal is having "significant power outages" and advised passengers to check flight status before traveling to the airport. It said it is investigating the cause of the outage but that it is "definitely weather related." In addition, Gatwick's website said that no trains are running to or from the airport. Rail officials said many trees fell during the night, leading to a reduction in services Tuesday morning, the start of one of the busiest travel days of the year. Some roads have also been closed due to flooding and two dozen motorists were rescued from their vehicles overnight after becoming stranded. The Energy Networks Association, which represents power companies across the U.K., said 150,000 homes were without power, mainly in the south of England. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/storm-problems-hit-gatwick-aiport-britain-21320808 Back to Top An Indonesian politician couldn't get on a full flight, so he closed the airport Marianus Sae, a district chief from the Indonesian island of Flores, found himself in a tight spot last weekend. He was visiting another city but couldn't get a seat on a fully booked flight home for a budget meeting. His solution: call his hometown airport and order security officers to block the runway with their cars, preventing the Merpati Nusantara Airlines plane from landing, and forcing its return. "It is outrageous," an unrepentant Sae told the Jakarta Globe. "I begged for a ticket for five hours to fly to Ngada and their answer was: 'The flight is full.'" In another interview, he said, "The airline has hampered my state duty as the government official, it should be a lesson for its management." After a public outcry, the country's transport ministry said Sae's move was unlawful, and that the matter had been resolved-but that the it had no plans to take legal action. That will come as little surprise to most Indonesians, where corruption and abuse of power are common complaints. The country sits at 114th out of 175 countries in Transparency International's 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index. Last year 88% of Indonesians polled said government corruption was widespread; in October, the chief judge of the country's Constitutional Court was arrested for allegedly taking a bribe in return for a favorable verdict. Moreover, Sae's act is just another worry for those who travel on Indonesian airlines, which are struggling to deal with a surge in passengers and several recent fatal crashes. http://qz.com/161284/an-indonesian-politician-couldnt-get-on-a-full-flight-so-he-closed-the-airport/ Back to Top Delhi: Dense fog at airport, flight operations hit (India) New Delhi: Dense fog once again returned to affect the operations at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport where over a dozen flights were delayed on Tuesday morning. Three flights -- one freighter aircraft, a Jet Airways flight from Abu Dhabi and a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul, had to be diverted as the pilots were not trained to land aircraft when the visibility is less than 200 metres, airport sources said. Fog started to descend at the airport early in the morning and the runway visibility kept fluctuating, causing problems for airport authorities to maintain the schedule of the flights. According to airport Met officials, the runway visibility was around 100 metres at the third runway (29/11) and around 125 to 200 metres on the main runway (28/10), while the general visibility was less than 50 metres. This led to delay in departures of some flights as the minimum runway visibility for low visibility take off is 125 to 150 metres. This also brought take-offs from third runway to a halt but landings were taking place. There was no suspension of flight operations at the airport due to fog, an airport official said. Last week, dense fog had badly affected the flight operations at the airport. Yesterday, Delhi witnessed a clear morning and operations at the IGI were normal after eight days of foggy conditions. http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/delhi-dense-fog-at-airport-flight-operations-hit-462409 Back to Top Under cloud DGCA appoints 'ineligible' flight inspector (India) CHENNAI: Hardly a month after the US flight safety regulator warned of downgrading the Indian aviation sector for safety lapses and conflict of interest, it was found that a flight operations inspector (FOI) was appointed in violation of norms. Even after failing the pilot-in-command line test in his first attempt, M Khaleel Anwar was elevated to the post of examiner and subsequently as FOI, flouting civil aviation requirements (CAR) laid down by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The norms prevent pilots who fail the first command training from becoming an examiner or FOI. Moreover, a note sent by the Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC) to the DGCA said Anwar is holding a US passport (FOI posts are only for Indian citizens as the job involves handling classified aviation documents). It also said Anwar owns a Houston-based company that supplied software for DGCA's automation project. Anwar is also holding the post of chief pilot ATR with Jet Airways. Director general of civil aviation Arun Mishra said he has ordered an inquiry. FOI is one of the critical posts under the DGCA that ensures flight safety procedures and standards of airworthiness are followed. A senior Jet Airways official said Anwar's elevation as FOI was recommended by the DGCA, and not by the airline. DGCA sources said Anwar, after failing his command training, was referred for a medical evaluation at the Institute of Aerospace Management in Bangalore. "The DGCA was aware of this as there was an inquiry by Jet Airways' flight safety department after he was referred for a medical evaluation," said an official. India has four fulltime FOIs, and 26 secondant FOIs from airlines. These secondant FOIs are now under the scanner after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US warned about the conflict of interest and safety compromises as they hold key managerial posts with their parent airlines. A FAA downgrade will lead to a situation where Indian flights will need addition clearances to land in the US. CASAC member Captain Mohan Ranganathan said some secondant FOIs are not even eligible to become examiners. "There is a blatant violation in the appointment of FOIs," he said. When contacted, Anwar refused to reply to many charges. "My family owns a company in the US, but it never had a business dealing with the DGCA," he said, claiming that some professional rivals were targeting him. DGCA has now launched an investigation into appointments of FOIs and examiners in the last 10 years. It has also taken measures to recruit 20 full-time FOIs prior to FAA's next audit on December 11. Admitting that FAA has pointed out 'major and minor errors' in Indian aviation and its regulatory norms, Mishra said corrective measures are being taken. "If an Indian FOI is holding a US passport, he will be sacked," he said. "The alleged violation in the tender norms in DGCA software purchase will also be investigated," Mishra said. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-11/chennai/45077756_1_dgca-jet-airways-casac Back to Top American flight crew overcome by fish fumes Several American Airlines flight attendants were taken to a hospital in Miami Monday afternoon when they were overcome by a strong odor. They were aboard Flight 281 as it was preparing to take off on a scheduled flight to Los Angeles when the pungent smell entered the cabin. American spokeswoman Andrea Hughley explained that the odor emanated from a leaking cargo bin filled with fish. Passengers were not directly impacted by the fumes, but were forced to return to the terminal. The airline delayed the flight for five hours to replace the crew, unload the aromatic cargo and clean things up. The flight resumed its California journey on Monday night. http://www.wfaa.com/news/national/American-flight-crew-overcome-by-fish-237106711.html Back to Top EXCLUSIVE: Shocking truth about lack of black boxes in police helicopters (UK) ONLY 11 helicopters out of the 180 which have crashed in the UK in the past 10 years were fitted with a black box flight data recorder, Express Online can disclose. Eurocopter EC135 helicopter, the same model which crashed into a Glasgow pub, and a 'black box' We can also reveal that not one of the 22 helicopters run by the National Police Air Service (NPAS), which provides the aircraft for most of Britain's forces, is fitted with the devices. Black boxes, officially know as Flight Data Recorders, can provide essential information for air crash investigators trying to establish what went wrong in the moments leading up to a crash. Legally, only commercial aircraft above a certain weight are required to be fitted with a black box, meaning police helicopters are among those exempt. There are now growing calls for the law to be looked into, after a Scotland Police helicopter crashed into a pub in Glasgow killing 10 people last month did not have a black box. The Government says it has no plans to discuss reforms with the Civil Aviation Authority. Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary Mary Creagh admitted people will be "surprised" to learn of the high number of helicopters without black boxes. She said: "A black box could potentially speed up investigations and provide answers more quickly for grieving families and accident investigators. We will be looking at all aspects of flight safety as part of our policy review." Parliament's Transport Select Committee will launch an investigation into helicopter safety in the New Year, and one of its members, MP Sarah Champion, said: "I will be particularly interested to see the evidence for and against black boxes in aircrafts as it does seem surprising that it's not compulsory at the moment." I suspect after this accident there will be pressure for police helicopters to have them. Leading aviation safety expert David Learmount believes the crash in Glasgow will lead to more pressure being put on governments at both a national and European level to make it mandatory for police helicopters to carry black boxes. Mr Learmount said the main reason why they are currently not fitted is the expense. Adding one to a helicopter can cost many thousands of pounds. Mr Learmount said: "They are an expense. The police could fund one but that would put up the council tax if it had to come out of the police budget. "I suspect after this accident there will be pressure for police helicopters to have them." Chief Superintendent Ian Whitehouse, Chief Operating Officer of the NPAS which runs 22 of the 29 police helicopters operating in England and Wales, said: "The aircraft within the NPAS fleet do not currently have black box technology, however; we would carefully consider the findings of the Glasgow incident and work upon any advice offered by the Civil Aviation Authority." The European Aviation Safety Agency is currently pulling together recommendations for its 'Rulemaking Programme' for the next three years. A spokesman confirmed the agency is keen to make sure flight data recorders are fitted in aircraft and helicopters which are currently exempt. The scene at the Clutha pub in Glasgow after the fatal crash last month [PA] Recommendations were put to European agency in 2010 that all Eurocopter EC 135 helicopters - the same model which crashed in Glasgow - be installed with flight data recorders. The call was made after a fatal air ambulance crash in Hungary in July 2008 involving one of the aircraft which was carrying a two-year-old burns victim to hospital in Budapest. Peter Norton, chief executive of the British Helicopter Association, believes air crash investigators would "benefit from the additional data provided" by a black box system. He said: "I believe that most pilots would wish for accident data to be available to investigators to find cause and so prevent future occurrences.' The Glasgow incident is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, an offshoot of the Department for Transport. A spokesman for the DfT said: "We await the outcome of the various enquiries that are going on, including the AAIB's investigation." http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/450064/EXCLUSIVE-No-black-boxes-in-169-out-of-180-helicopter-crashes- since-2003 Back to Top Back to Top Asiana Airlines Names New CEO 5 Months After Crash New leadership at Asiana and enhanced pilot training were both called for given what's come out about the crash in San Francisco in July. Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea's second-biggest carrier, named a new chief executive officer to replace Yoon Young Doo, who headed the company when one of its planes crashed while landing in San Francisco in July. Kim Soo Cheon, 57, will take over from Yoon starting Jan. 1 as part of annual personnel changes, the airline's parent Kumho Asiana Group said in an e-mailed statement today. Kim is currently chief executive officer of Air Busan Co., a budget carrier 46 percent owned by Seoul-based Asiana Airlines. "Yoon has served as CEO for five years and has fulfilled his duties," Lee Hyo Min, a spokeswoman at Asiana, said by phone from Seoul. "This personnel change has nothing to do with the accident." Asiana strengthened its pilot training and hired Akiyoshi Yamamura from All Nippon Airways Co. as head of safety after Asiana flight 214 struck a seawall short of the San Francisco airport on July 6, killing three people. The chief pilot of the Boeing Co. 777-200 ER wide-body plane inadvertently disabled a speed-control system before the crash, according to information released at a U.S. National Transportation Safety Board hearing this month. Yoon will remain with the company as an adviser, the group said in the statement. Asiana rose 0.2 percent to 4,820 won as of 10:49 a.m. in Seoul trading. The stock has dropped 22 percent this year, while Korea's Kospi index is little changed. The safety board hasn't concluded what caused the crash, the first accident in the U.S. with passenger deaths since 2009. The accident was Asiana's worst since 1993, when a Boeing 737 crashed in Mokpo, south of Seoul, killing 66 people, according to the National Archives of Korea. The airline's last disaster was the crash of a cargo freighter in the sea south of Jeju island in July 2011. http://skift.com/2013/12/24/asiana-airlines-names-new-ceo-5-months-after-crash/ Back to Top Harbin aircraft manufacturer makes export debut in Latin America A Chinese aircraft manufacturer said on Monday it has delivered two Y12E aircraft to Colombian airline Satena. The delivery means the Y12 series aircraft has entered the civil aviation market in Latin America, according to the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG), a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The company, based in Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang province, said it has exported 13 Y12 series aircraft with the latest delivery in early December to Satena. HAIG is a component supplier for world famous aviation enterprises such as Boeing and Airbus, and has independently developed a variety of aircraft, including helicopters and light regional aircraft. The Y12 series aircraft designed and developed by AVIC is a light and general purpose aircraft. The high wing two-engine aircraft can be used for both passenger and cargo transportation, as well as parachute jumping and touring. HAIG has sold 130 units of its Y12 series aircraft to more than 20 countries and regions worldwide. http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1206&MainCatID=12&id=20131224000129 Back to Top Cabinet to take up Air India aircraft sale to Etihad on Thursday (India) NEW DELHI, DEC 24: The Cabinet at its next meeting scheduled for Thursday is expected to decide on the sale of Air India's five Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft to Etihad Airways. The deal was first announced in October with Etihad Airways indicating that it is looking at these aircraft as part of its strategy to continue international route expansion. The aircraft are expected to be used by Etihad to launch services between Abu Dhabi and West Coast of the United States. Though both sides were tight lipped about the deal size, analysts said that Air India could get anywhere between $300 million and $350 million through the sale. Etihad recently completed the deal for the acquisition of a 24 per cent stake in Jet Airways. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/cabinet-to-take-up-air-india-aircraft-sale- to-etihad-on-thursday/article5496882.ece Back to Top Aviation insurance renewal rates drop lower Most airlines saw rate reductions during recent aviation insurance renewals, according to a report published Monday by London-based brokerage Willis Group Holdings P.L.C. "Market conditions are being described by some as the 'softest for a generation,'" said Phil Smaje, CEO of Willis Aerospace in London in a statement accompanying the report. For 2013, overall premium volume for insurance for airlines is likely to be less than $1.5 billion, a more than $150 million drop from 2012 and the lowest level since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, according to the report. In the report, "Airline Insight," Willis said increased competition, growth in exposures and low loss levels are among factors that led to rate reductions in the fourth quarter of 2013, when most airlines renew their coverage. The inclusion of the majority of this increased exposure by underwriters for the same premium demonstrates the benefit of current market conditions for buyers, said Mr. Smaje. "The continued appetite for, and in some cases increased, participation by insurers has fueled significant reductions," Mr. Smaje said. http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20131223/NEWS07/131229973?tags=%7C59%7C312%7C76%7C303 Back to Top Ohana by Hawaiian has resumed FAA flight certification process Hawaiian Airlines' turboprop subsidiary Ohana by Hawaiian has resumed the certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration to begin flying between Honolulu International Airport and Molokai and Lanai. Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Mark Dunkerley had planned for Ohana by Hawaiian to begin flying in the summer of 2013, but the airline's certification was delayed due to the 2013 sequestration and a lack of Federal Aviation Administration resources. Ohana by Hawaiian Managing Director Hadden Watt told PBN the certification process has resumed, and that the airline has just about completed the preliminary stages. It has begun the practical exercises, which will conclude with the airline's crews operating flights under FAA observation, without passengers. "We need to demonstrate to the FAA that we can operate a safe and reliable service and that will culminate in proving flights here in Hawaii," Watt said. "Proving flights will involve our crews operating flights between Honolulu and Lanai and Molokai without passengers, just with FAA observers, making sure we do everything to their satisfaction." Watt said he is working with the FAA on scheduling the test flights. The airline's 48-seat ATR42 turboprop aircraft are currently on the Mainland and are in the process of being painted with designs by Hilo artist Sig Zane and his son, Kuhao. Two of the aircraft will be in operation, with a third on reserve. Watt said he can't put a date on when the FAA certification process will conclude, but did say that the airline will begin flying within one month of successfully completing the certification process. The airline will fly between Honolulu International Airport on Oahu and Lanai Airport on Lanai, and between Honolulu International Airport and Molokai Airport on Molokai. http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/morning_call/2013/12/ohana-by-hawaiian-has-resumed-faa.html Back to Top Capabilities of FAA Safety Data Analysis System Limited In 2007 the FAA implemented the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing - ASIAS, system help identify and address safety risks but the system's predictive capabilities are years away and the program lacks data from non-commercial aviation sectors, the Transportation inspector general has found. It said the agency has made significant progress with implementing and encouraging participation in ASIAS since 2007, and the program now captures key confidential voluntary safety data from 95 percent of all Part 121 operations. However, the FAA does not allow its inspectors and analysts to use ASIAS's confidential data for air carrier oversight due to complex data protection agreements. Further, more work remains before the program becomes the predictive tool that FAA has envisioned, and the FAA continues to face data quality and standardization challenges with voluntarily reported safety data in ASIAS, according to the IG. Finally, it said safety reporting for other important segments of the aviation industry, such as general aviation operations, is still evolving, and those segments have not yet realized the benefits of ASIAS participation. Although many inspectors feel access to national-level trends from voluntary safety programs would improve air carrier oversight, the FAA has not yet disseminated these data and safety trends to the field, according to the IG. The FAA agreed to develop and issue guidance on how inspectors are to use aggregated, de- identified ASIAS trends to enhance air carrier safety risk identification and mitigation, including how ASIAS will interact with a safety assurance system - SAS, that is currently under development. http://www.fedweek.com/item-view.php?tbl=15&ID=87&a=b Curt Lewis