Safety Issues at TRACON

NATCA says the number of fully trained and certified air traffic controllers at Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) has plummeted 26 percent in the last six years jeopardizing safety there. In 2004, SoCal TRACON was staffed with 239 fully trained and certified controllers. The total fell to 217 CPCs in 2005 and 199 CPCs in 2006, with 23 trainees. Today, the total stands at 176 CPCs, with 82 trainees, many with no prior FAA or military controller experience which puts them at a severe disadvantage for successful training. "Asking a new trainee with no prior controller experience to make it here is like asking a person with no flight experience to fly Boeing 747s," SoCal TRACON NATCA Facility Representative Mel Davis said.

AWOS & RVR in Nigeria

All Weather, Inc. (AWI) is working with the Nigeria Meteorological Department (NIMET) to enhance air travel safety and meteorological reporting. AWI is providing an undisclosed number of Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) and Runway Visual Range Systems (RVR) to airports throughout Nigeria. The AWOS developed by AWI is an unmanned system that provides up-to-the-minute weather data to airport personnel, pilots, and meteorological offices. The RVR system, developed by AWI provides accurate and reliable RVR values aiding in safer take off and touch down operations. Steve Glander, international sales manager, says "the addition of AWOS and RVR systems to Nigeria will have a direct impact on safety and efficiency for the traveling public." AWOS includes sensors for measuring wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rainfall, barometric pressure and lightning detection. The Nigeria airports will also be outfitted with the Laser Ceilometer and Dual-Technology Visibility/RVR Sensor. Laser ceilometers use laser pulses and sophisticated software algorithms to "see" cloud cover, enabling them to determine the height and depth of up to four layers of clouds above an airport. A series of Dual- Technology Visibility Sensors installed alongside the airport's runway work in concert with AWI's Ambient Light Sensor to determine Runway Visual Range (RVR), a highly accurate measure of visibility from a pilot's perspective.

Pago Pago Int'l Installs AWOS

All Weather, Inc. (AWI) has been selected to supply the Pago Pago International Airport with an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS). The AWOS, developed by AWI, is an unmanned system that provides up-to-the-minute weather data to airport personnel and pilots. The AWOS will play a key role in supplying pilots with critical weather information for safer flight operations. With the September 2009 earthquake and resulting tsunami in American Samoa there is a great need for vital infrastructure repairs and replacement. "The AWI AWOS will help provide safer air transportation to and from the region allowing for a quicker recovery and be a contributor to the essential air transport logistics for the islands," said Barbara Baca, U.S. AWOS Sales Manager for AWI. Included in AWI's AWOS offering are sensors for measuring wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rainfall, and barometric pressure, Pago Pago will also be outfitted with AWI's Laser Ceilometer and Dual-Technology Visibility Sensor.

EASA Int'l Technical Coop Mission

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is the European Community body responsible for promoting the highest standards of safety and environment protection in aviation. As air traffic is growing worldwide, less advanced countries increasingly express the need for advice and technical assistance in aviation safety. Many of them are willing to meet the safety standards as defined by EASA and request its support to adopt these rules because they lack local expertise and resources. Through its International Technical Cooperation unit, the Agency provides the expertise to improve the regulatory framework and oversight capabilities of recipient countries. EASA has selected an ad-hoc consortium of civil aviation experts led by Egis Avia . It will identify of potential improvement in adopting international or European standards and develop a roadmap and action plans.

"Miracle on Hudson" Plane Auction

The U.S. Airways Airbus A320-214 that ditched in New York's Hudson River a year ago is up for sale. The severely damaged Airbus A320 is being sold online by Chartis insurance firm, minus its engines, which separated from the airliner after it flew into a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff from La Guardia airport on Jan. 15. What remains of the plane is in a Kearny, NJ salvage yard and the online auction at http://www.aigaviation.com closes on March 27. No sale price estimates were given for the aircraft. The wings, included in the sale, have been separated from the body of the aircraft and the bid site for the aircraft lists "severe water damage throughout the airframe" and "impact damage to underside of aircraft." The auction ia managed by Dan Akers of Chartis Insurance, a division of the larger American International Group and insures US Airways.