Lawmakers Order Safety Probe of Regional Carriers
Four senior U.S. senators, including the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee's aviation subcommittee, have petitioned the Department of Transportation's Inspector General to investigate safety enforcement of the nation's regional airlines. The lawmakers told Transportation Department Inspector General... [read more]
DOT IG Criticizes ASAP
The Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General believes the Federal Aviation Administration has mishandled the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), which allows pilots, flight attendants and mechanics to report safety violations in exchange for immunity from punishment. The OIG says the...
More Inspections of Foreign Aircraft Repair Stations?
The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require more inspections of aircraft repair stations outside the U.S. The language contained in the FAA reauthorization bill is opposed by the European Union. The U.S. Senate must still consider the provision. The provision requires for the first time...
For the Birds
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) will introduce legislation requiring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to make reporting bird strikes mandatory. Schumer takes his cue from the Bird Strike Committee USA, an independent organization comprised of representatives from the Pentagon, FAA, USDA, the...
Can the Number of Bird Strikes be Reduced?
On January 15, 2009, a US Airways Airbus A320 went down into the Hudson River after a mid-air collision with Canada Geese. Luckily all of the passengers and crew were able to evacuate safely. Both engines conked out. Could this have been avoided? Birds are the scourge of airports all across the country. Most...
Probe of Fatal Skydiver Accident Continues
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators say the Cessna Caravan 208B (N430A) that crashed in Washington's Cascades killing nine skydivers and the pilot on Oct. 7, 2007 likely didn't experience significant ice buildup. Icing had been consider a possible factor in the fatal crash, but...
Pax with Lung Disease Can Safely Travel by Air
Oxygen levels while flying are substantially less than at ground level, but current guidelines for in-flight oxygen levels are sufficient to support the needs of passengers with non-obstructed lung disease. According to two new research papers, commercial air travel appears to be safe for patients with lung...
Pandemic Passenger Screening at Airports
Four U.S. national laboratories have worked together to develop a computer model to help airport authorities screen passengers for pandemic influenza. The tool can help estimate false negatives, people with influenza who slip through the screening process, and so assess the risk of infected passengers...
CAST Takes Collier Trophy
The Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) is the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy. The unique industry and government partnership was established in 1997 with the goal of reducing the U.S. commercial aviation fatal accident rate by 80 percent in 10 years. The CAST was created by...
NTSB Criticizes American Air for 2007 Incident
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is urging American Airlines to correct numerous deficiencies revealed in the probe of a 2007 emergency landing by a crippled and fire-damaged jetliner in St. Louis. The Safety Board also urges the Federal Aviation Administration to reassess pilot training for...
Safety and Technology Trends
Digital Map System Earns FAA Certification Avalex Technologies recently earned FAA certification of its Digital Map System. The Supplemental Type Certificate, or STC, awarded to Avalex by the Federal Aviation Administration is for work done for the Eurocopter EC-145 (MMB-BK 117 C-2) helicopter. Avalex's...
Security Shortlines
Suspects in NY jihad Plot Jailed New York law enforcement said they have foiled a plot to blow up two synagogues and simultaneously shoot down military planes. Four men with criminal backgrounds but not tied to terrorist organizations were arrested. The FBI and New York police arrested the four Muslim men on...
Safety Rules and Regs
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce AE 3007A Series Turbofan Engines. Final rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting emergency airworthiness directive (AD) 2009-08-51 that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of RRC AE...
Accidents & Incidents
Date Aircraft Type Narrative Death/Injury Remarks April 01, 2009 Hungry Horse, MT MAULE M4 220C N2007U A/c impacted frozen surface of reservoir Flight departed Glacier Park International Airport (KGPI), Kalispell, MT. One fatality Radar data revealed that a/c departed airport using discreet transponder code...
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