AIR SAFETY WEEK :: OCTOBER 5, 2009

Life Saver or Life Taker?
A New Era for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) An Aviation Today Webinar Thursday, October 29, 2009 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (ET) Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operations provide an important service to the public by transporting seriously ill patients and donor organs to emergency...

Enhanced Safety Features for S-92
Sikorsky Aircraft has introduced new functionality on the S-92 helicopter to provide offshore oil operators with an automated approach that reduces cockpit workload and allows safer operations under challenging weather and operating conditions. The new platform-finding system provides a fully coupled and...

NTSB Releases Report on S-61 Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has made public the factual report and supporting material involving the Aug. 5, 2008 fatal crash of a Sikorsky S-61N (N612AZ) in Weaverville, CA. The crash resulted in the deaths of seven firefighters and two crewmembers. The copilot and three firefighters...

Call-to-Action Dodgers to be IDed
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will shortly publish the names of those who have failed to respond to Administrator Randy Babbitt's June 24 call for voluntary measures to improve safety. Regional Airline Association President Roger Cohen says RAA member air carriers won't be on the list...

FAA Gets Smart
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared Honeywell's Smartpath Precision Landing System, for use at U.S. airports, providing precise navigation service based on the global positioning system (GPS). The first U.S.-approved system is located in Memphis, TN and will become operational early next...

Avoiding Runway Jail Time
As the airline industry remains opposed to setting a time limit on how long passengers can be held hostage in airliners on the tarmac, an influential industry pioneer backs such a deadline---with strings attached---and industry experts suggest common sense solutions that could nip the controvery in the bud...

'Pilotless' Plane Crashes in Indiana Cornfield
Authorities are investigating the Sept. 30 crash of a Mooney private aircraft in an Indiana cornfield. The single-engine plane with an unresponsive pilot at the controls had been intercepted by USAF fighters who were alerted by concerned controllers. Indiana State Police believes there was only one person...

Air Force Releases Predator Accident Report
A USAF GA-ASI MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial system (UAS) flying a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom lost contact with its ground control station and presumably crashed in a forward operating area May 13, according to an Air Combat Command...

Safety is No Secret
In the quest to continually advance aviation safety, The Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA), the Canadian Society of Air Safety Investigators and the Flight Safety Foundation are conducting an International Winter Operations Conference in Toronto this week. The conference is designed to promote aviation...

Safety & Technology Trends
Sully Flies Again for US Airways Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who piloted US Airways Flight 1549 during its emergency water landing on the Hudson River in January, has returned to work as a management pilot. In addition to his flying duties, Sullenberger joins the US Airways flight...

Security Shortlines
Body Bomber? It is reported that a 23-year-old Al Qaeda suicide bomber was able to smuggle up to a pound of explosives hidden within his rectum past layers of Saudi security and detonate his body bomb near the Saudi deputy interior minister in charge of counterterrorism operations. The government official...

Safety Rules & Regs
Notice of RTCA Government/Industry Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee. SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Government/Industry Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee. DATES: The meeting will be held October 29, 2009, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ADDRESSES: The...

Accidents & Incidents
Date Aircraft Type Narrative Death/Injury Remarks Sept 01, 2009 Jackson, MS ROBINSON R44 N33PX A/c substantially damaged when struck trees and house near Jackson/Hawkins Field (HKS). Attention drawn to a/c by its noise, which witness described as repeated "clup" sounds. One fatality, one serious...