AIR SAFETY WEEK :: FEBRUARY 4, 2008

JetBlue Woos Pilot Candidates
JetBlue Airways has implemented a program to help overcome the predicted future pilot shortage, recently announcing creation of the Aviation University Gateway, a career- planning and mentoring program designed to identify and recruit promising candidates into the professional pilot ranks. Through rigorous...

Alaska Unveils Aviation Safety Plan
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has announced details of a comprehensive aviation safety initiative that would establish a new low interest loan program for the purchase and installation of advanced satellite based avionics in general aviation aircraft. Alaska has seven times more licensed pilots than the...

New Safety Rules for Mitsubishi MU-2B
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has finalized a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) that creates new pilot training and operating requirements to increase the safety of the widely used Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft. The final rule mandates a new comprehensive standardized pilot training program...

Airports Develop Plan to Care for Stranded Passengers
U.S. airports and other aviation industry stakeholders have developed recommendations to care for passengers who are stranded on airplanes or at airports because of bad weather, security alerts, air space congestion or flight delays due to maintenance problems. The plan will be presented to the U.S...

Airline Economic Outlook is Positive
The Air Transport Association (ATA) predicts an industry-wide profit of $3.5 billion to $4.5 billion in 2008, the first time that the major U.S. airlines will report three consecutive years of profit since 1998-2000. The 'black ink' will come despite rising fuel costs and a softening economy. ATA Chief...

ERA Dives into CDAs
Board members of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) have agreed to call for the use of continuous descent approaches (CDAs) at as many European airports as possible because of the system's beneficial effects on both the environment and flight safety. ERA says it has long accepted the assertion...

DHS Increases Funding For REAL ID Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is increasing the total amount of funding available for REAL ID implementation and is extending the deadline for Fiscal Year 2008 REAL ID Demonstration Grant Program applications. REAL ID sets uniform standards that enhance the integrity and reliability of...

Cell Phones Could Thwart Nuclear Terrorism
Researchers at Purdue University are working with the state of Indiana to develop a system that could use a network of cell phones to detect and track radiation to help prevent terrorist attacks with radiological "dirty bombs" and nuclear weapons. Such a system could blanket the nation with...

Accidents & Incidents
Date Aircraft Type Narrative Death/Injury Remarks 05 Jan ~1100Z Madrid, Spain A321 of Iberian Flight IB3836 Flight IB3836 safely returned to land at Madrid after the pilots experienced an engine problem soon after take off. nil Madrid to Warsaw 07 Jan ~2000Z Santa Cruz de La Sierra A/P, Bolivia 737-200 of...

Significant Regulatory Activity
The FAA has now finalized a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) that creates new pilot training, experience and operating requirements to increase the safety of the widely used Mitsubishi MU-2B airplane. The MU-2B turboprop is a complex aircraft that has unique flight characteristics. Fully...

Safety News in Brief
The Aviation Industry EXPO will be held at the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas Texas on March 18th through 20th. It will be a 70 country affair with a number of participants amongst the 450 odd exhibitors flaunting their safety-related wares. The show will also host NATA's (National Air Transport Assn's)...

Security Roundup
Date Incident 29 Jan An undercover agent wearing part of a fake bomb passed through security at Tampa International Airport. The agent told the screener he had a metal knee after he set off a metal detector. "It becomes a learning experience and it's part of our program to raise the bar on...