AIR SAFETY WEEK :: MAY 12, 2008

FAA Faces Challenges on NextGen
A recent report to the Congress by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General says the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) "faces challenges" in developing its Next Generation (NextGen) air traffic control system. "FAA is at a crossroads with NAS modernization efforts and will...

Approach to Canadian Air Safety Oversight Needs Improvement
There are several weaknesses in how Transport Canada has managed the transition to a new approach for overseeing air transportation safety, says the Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, in a recently released report. Under the new approach--a requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organization...

Unusual Cessna 510 Accident
The pilot of a Cessna Citation Mustang that suffered severe mechanical problems in April is lucky to have gotten his stricken aircraft back on the ground. He lost his primary flight display (PFD) and autopilot and fought off fatigue to safely land the aircraft (registration: N54PV) without injury to himself...

Court Blames Controllers for 2003 Helicopter Midair Contradicting NTSB
A California judge has ruled that air traffic controllers at Torrance Municipal Airport/Zamperini Field (TOA) made mistakes, were negligent and primarily responsible for the November 6, 2003 midair collision of two helicopters in front of the airport's control tower. The ruling contradicts the National...

Pilot Shares Blame for Fatal Hot Air Balloon Accident
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says the veteran pilot had a hand in the fatal hot air balloon accident last October in New Mexico. The investigation was hampered by the pilot's lack of cooperation with NTSB investigators and the fatal accident has spawned several lawsuits against the pilot...

Pilot Blamed for Injury to Flight Attendant
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) say the pilot of a corporate jet was at fault for the October 2006 leg injury to a flight attendant during a flight from Washington's Dulles International to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. On October 31, a Bombardier CL-600-2B16 (N322FX) doing business as...

Pilot Skills in Upset Recovery Need Overhaul
APS Emergency Maneuver Training recently released research results on the status of pilot skill level in upset recovery, specifically a pilot's ability to deal with Loss of Control In-Flight (LOC-I). The aviation research offers insight into contributing factors to LOC-I being the leading cause of fatalities...

APA Wants 'Realistic' Work Scheduling
The Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents pilots at American Airlines, has called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish "new, realistic scheduling and crew augmentation regulations to combat fatigue and maintain safety-based flight operations." APA President Captain...

T-38C Talon Training Stands Down
Air Education and Training Command (AETC) officials temporarily suspended all flights of T-38C Talon trainer aircraft following a fatal crash at Sheppard AFB, TX on May 1, the second fatal crash in two weeks involving T-38 Talon trainers On April 23, two pilots were...

F-15 Accident: Rudders Failed
Pacific Air Forces officials have released the results of their investigation of the F-15D Eagle fighter crash that occurred approximately 60 miles off of Oahu Feb. 1. The accident investigation board determined that "there was no clear and convincing...

Giving Aircrews Newer 'Paperless' Options
Whether it's referencing U.S. Air Force instructions or a flight manual, Air Force aircrews are required to have documents on hand when completing their mission. The Air Mobility Battlelab, located in the USAF Expeditionary Center at Fort Dix, NJ has developed an initiative to make document reference lighter...

Security Shortlines
TSA Launches Employee Screening Pilot Program The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is conducting 90-day employee screening pilots at seven U.S. airports as required by federal legislation that mandates examination of several types of employee screening in order to determine ways to enhance...

Safety Rules & Regs
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) Airplanes Final rule. SUMMARY: This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an...

Accidents & Incidents
Date Aircraft Type Narrative Death/Injury Remarks April 04, 2008 Anchorage, AK Fairchild Swearingen SA 227-AC, N650PA Maintenance personnel discovered damage to twin-engine turboprop a/c during routine, daily inspection. Review of a/c flight logs showed that a/c damage most likely occurred as result of hard...