AIR SAFETY WEEK :: OCTOBER 19, 2009

House Toughens Requirements for Airline Pilots
The House of Representatives voted Oct. 14 to strengthen regulations on air carrier pilot training, qualifications and work schedules. In late July, both the House and U.S. Senate introduced independent legislation on airline safety. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced the...

U.S. Transportation Fatalities Fall in 2008
Transportation fatalities in the U.S, decreased by almost 10 percent in 2008 from 2007, according to preliminary figures released by the National Transportation Safety Board. This marks the third consecutive year of decreasing transportation fatalities. "While the statistics reveal an...

Selected Remarks of NTSB Chairman Debbie Hersman/Safety Standdown
I'd like to take the opportunity to recognize Bombardier's leadership because this seminar has grown as one of the premier events for disseminating safety information to pilots, mechanics, and managers of business jets and turboprops. It has been over a dozen years since Bombardier held the first standdown...

More Flight Delays on the Horizon
Lengthy airline delays have doubled since1990 and will get worse as the U.S. economy recovers, according to a recently released Brookings Institution report. On-time performance has improved lately because airlines have cut capacity during the recession. But as the economy recovers, so will air travel...

Overloading Likely Cause Of West Virginia Accident
The NTSB has released its preliminary findings in an aborted takeoff in Fairmont, WV that injured four people, two of the seriously. Investigators found that the Beech Q36 (N57S) was 192 pounds over maximum gross weight at the time of the attempted departure on Sept. 19 at Fairmont Municipal Airport (4G7)...

Course for Emergency Responders
The National Transportation Safety Board is offering a three-day course, "Transportation Disaster Response - A Course for Emergency Responders," at the NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, VA (near Washington Dulles International) on November 17-19, 2009. The course is being facilitated with the full...

EAC Aviation Event to Address Air Safety
The East African Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency will host an aviation symposium as part of the ongoing activities to mark the bloc's 10th anniversary. The symposium, under the theme " Aviation - Linking EAC and the world safely and efficiently,"...

F-16 Accident Blamed on Pilot
A pilot's failure to keep tabs on his altitude during night, low altitude high-angle strafing training caused the crash of an F-16 Fighting Falcon at the Utah Test and Training Range June 22, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released Sept. 28. The pilot was killed upon...

T-38 Crash Due to Rudder Problem
A USAF accident investigation board has determined that a failure in the rudder operating mechanism caused the crash of a T-38 aircraft on a training mission 12 miles north of Edwards AFB, CA, on May 21, 2009. The report states the failure was most likely due to maintenance issues. USAF Maj. Mark Paul...

Pentagon Target Preventable Accidents
Accidents on and off duty pose a greater threat than combat to U.S. service members. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has challenged the department to step up its investment in safety technologies while incorporating best safety practices. Since 2003, the Defense Safety Oversight Council has worked to...

Prelim on Fatal HEMS Crash in SC
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues to probe the fatal accident of an emergency medical service (EMS) helicopter near Georgetown, SC on Sept. 25, 2009, issuing a preliminary report on the crash that killed the pilot, the flight nurse and a paramedic onboard the chopper. It marked the...

Terrain System Helps Prevent Chopper Ground Strikes
Honeywell says its latest Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) for helicopters has received technical design and production approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). "Honeywell's technology ensures that all helicopter pilots can have EGPWS in their cockpits today to help avoid...

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...

Safety & Technology Trends
PRM at Detroit Metropolitan Sensis Corporation's Precision Runway Monitoring - Alternative (PRM-A) solution is now operational at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). Multilateration surveillance from the Sensis Multistatic Dependent Surveillance (MDS) system is providing controllers at DTW with...

Security Shortlines
Estefan Bullet Jewelry Barred Airport security personnel in London recently confiscated Gloria Estefan's "Bullets 4 Peace" pendant because the exclusive piece actually has real bullets in it. The pendant was designed for people who want to show their support for peacekeeping efforts around the...

Safety Rules & Regulations
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing 747. Final rule. SUMMARY: This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the fuselage frames in section 41, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of cracking in fuselage frames made of 2024 aluminum alloy that were installed during...

Accidents & Incidents
Date Aircraft Type Narrative Death/Injury Remarks Sept 07, 2009 Quincy, FL PIPER PA-11 N4778M A/c substantially damaged after collision with terrain after takeoff from Quincy Municipal Airport. One fatality, one serious According to Sheriff's Office, a/c crashed into cotton field 500 feet N of departure end...