American Air Urges Pilots to Restart ASAP

American Airlines is urging its pilots' union to restart the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) that expired last October when the carrier and union couldn't agree on changes. However, an Allied Pilots Association spokesman said the union won't go back to the old program. "Fifteen years ago, American Airlines and its pilots helped create ASAP, which now stands as a model for our industry, providing increased protection to our pilots and dramatically enhancing aviation safety," the carrier said. APA spokesman Sam Mayer said the union won't revive the safety program under the old language.

NTSB Praises Delta on ASAP

The National Transportation Safety Board has joined the FAA and the Flight Safety Foundation in lauding the decision of Delta Air Lines to reactivate its Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). Under ASAP, pilots, mechanics, and dispatchers receive immunity from disciplinary action when they voluntarily report any safety-related incidents. "ASAP is a major component to aviation safety," said NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. "We are hopeful that other carriers, who have recently suspended their ASAP will also see the importance and value of these programs and quickly reinstate them," he added. The Safety Board believes that proactive safety programs, which encourage voluntary disclosure of safety issues, are critical to ensuring aviation safety and identifying problems before they lead to accidents. The memorandum of understanding for the ASAP was signed by the carrier, the Air Line Pilots Association and the Federal Aviation Administration.

ATR 72-500 at LCY

The London City Airport (LCY) now allows the ATR 72-500 to operate at the downtown airport. The regional aircraft successfully completed steep approach trials and noise tests, demonstrating its ability to approach the airport at 5.5o, while complying also with the strict limitations of the airport in terms of noise. The ATR 72-500 joins the ATR 42-300 and the ATR 42-500, which are already approved to operate at LCY. The Irish carrier Aer Arann is the first operator of the ATR 72-500 aircraft at LCY, with inaugural flights from and to the Isle of Man. Richard Gooding Obe, chief executive of London City Airport, said: "We welcome the introduction of the ATR 72-500 at London City Airport. This new addition completes the ATR family at the airport and provides a wider choice of aircraft types for our customer airlines to operate. We are committed to working with aircraft manufacturers to bring future aircraft into London City Airport, a popular choice for business-focused airlines due to our location on the doorstep of London's financial district."

EASA Oks B-777F Certification

The newest member of the Boeing 777 family, the 777 Freighter, has received its formal stamp of approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). EASA validated the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Feb. 3 type certification of the 777 Freighter. The certification formally recognizes that the 777 Freighter has passed the stringent design and testing requirements mandated by FAA and EASA, clearing the airplane for cargo service. The first 777 Freighter will deliver to launch customer Air France later in the quarter.

ADS-B for Fiji

A team led by Era Systems has been selected by Airports Fiji Ltd. (AFL) to provide a comprehensive, advanced nationwide air traffic management (ATM) replacement system for the Fiji flight information region (FIR). The core program consists of a national deployment of Era's MSS surveillance system to provide ADS-B and multilateration surveillance and a new Adacel Aurora air traffic management (ATM) system. The new system will replace the existing ATM system in the area control center (ACC) and in the control towers at Nadi and Nausori International airports. The extensive package of technology and services provided to AFL also will include assistance in the re-design of the airspace to suit the new capabilities, development of safety case materials to support operational deployment, extensive technical and operational training and the implementation of a FlightYield aviation charging system, which will help AFL accurately assess end-user charges for airspace use. The U.S. firm says "this will be the most comprehensive deployment of ADS-B surveillance in the world to date because the program fully integrates next-generation technology; not as a supplement for radar coverage, but as an alternative mechanism to transition from procedural airspace to reduced separation based on surveillance."

Flight Safety Systems for IAF C-130Js

Honeywell will provide the military version of its Traffic Collision Alerting System (TCAS) and other key safety systems for the Indian Air Force's C-130J program. "Honeywell expects to deliver the key aircraft systems that enhance flight safety, including our Military Aircraft Collision Avoidance System," said Vicki Panhuise, Honeywell Vice President, Military Aircraft. "The Indian Air Force C-130J will also operate with other Honeywell avionics, mechanical and lighting systems and components." Other Honeywell equipment will include the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, Flight Management System, Digital Autopilot, Control Display, Embedded Global Positioning and Inertial Navigation System and Radar Altimeter.

Pilots Oppose Flight Attendant Apron Ads

Spirit Airlines pilots support company flight attendants in their demand that management junk "offensive' marketing strategies. At issue is whether cabin crew should wear aprons advertising alcoholic beverages. "To ask safety professionals to advertise alcohol on a plane is not only offensive but degrading," said Capt. Sean Creed, chair of the Spirit Airlines pilots union. "The company's latest marketing campaign would turn flight attendants into walking billboards by requiring them to wear alcohol ads on their aprons," he added. "The recent US Airways accident in New York proved that flight attendants are definitely not 'waitresses in the sky,' no matter what Spirit management may think," continued Creed. "They are responsible for the safety of millions of passengers each day, and they are the first responders should any incident occur. Management should stop these campaigns and run Spirit more like an airline and less like a frat house."

Guardsman Inducted into AF Safety Hall of Fame

The Air National Guard's former deputy director of safety has been inducted into the Air Force Safety Hall of Fame for his safety program management. Lt. Col. Edward Vaughan was recognized for his "unique contribution to safety and the U.S. Air Force mishap prevention program ... resulting in enduring and significant advances to safety." An F-16 fighter pilot, Vaughan created the joint-service, see-and-avoid, civil/military mid-air collision avoidance web portal used at more than 100 Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps bases. He also created the online segment of Air Force and joint service Maintenance Resource Management, which is credited with a 75 percent reduction in Class A mishaps due to maintenance. Vaughan also leveraged the Air Force's existing bird aircraft strike hazard (BASH) capabilities into an inter-agency avian flu tracking and predicting model, building an unprecedented inter-departmental team. The result is the dBird.us portal, scheduled for integration into existing pandemic prediction programs. All combined, Vaughan's ANG programs are credited with saving millions of taxpayer dollars, and at least several lives. The Defense Safety Oversight Council (DSOC) has approved funding for DoD-wide application of an ANG fatigue mitigation program, called FlyAwake, another spin-off of Vaughan's DSP process.