TSA launches expedited security screening for flight deck crews

I received the following press release from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today -- reporoduced here for your information:

WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today launched crewPASS, a test program designed to evaluate expedited access to secure areas of airports for properly credentialed commercial flight deck crew members. The program is a mandate of the 9/11 bill and will be evaluated at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport and Columbia (S.C.) Metropolitan Airport.

Eligible flight deck crew members will enter the secure area of these checkpoints via the exit lane of the security checkpoint after presenting their airline-issued identification and another form of ID to transportation security officers (TSOs). TSOs will check these credentials via a secure, real-time flight deck crew member database that includes a picture and other information to verify the individual's identity. Flight deck crew members who utilize this program will be subject to random screening, observation by behavior detection officers and other layers of security.

"We are very interested in developing ways to increase security through enhanced identity verification," said John Sammon, assistant administrator, TSA. "We are also interested in evaluating this program's ability to increase security by decreasing the number of people being screened, which allows our behavior detection officers to focus on individuals that exhibit suspicious behavior."

This test, which is being conducted in cooperation with the Air Line Pilots Association, will be limited to flight deck crew members in uniform and is scheduled to conclude after 60 days, at which time a full evaluation will be made.

First Flight for the Boeing 777 Freighter

Earlier this week, the first Boeing 777 Freighter made its maiden flight, taking off and landing again at Paine Field in Everett, WA. The flight, which lasted more than three and a half hours, was under the command of 777 Chief Pilot Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, with 777 Deputy Chief Pilot Van Chaney in the right seat. They took the airplane to an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) and an air speed of 270 knots, or about 311 miles (500 kilometers).

A Boeing media release about the B-777 Freighter's first flight said that the aircraft performed well, and quoted Capt. Darcy-Hennemann who said, "The airplane handled perfectly."

"The 777 Freighter completed the scheduled three-hour inaugural flight with no airplane performance-related issues," said Dennis O'Donoghue, vice president of Flight Operations, Test & Validation. "The only issue was a data-communication problem between the airplane and the telemetry room at Boeing Field."

Boeing will identify and fix the problem to resume the flight test program as soon as possible. Following approximately 270 flight hours and more than 450 ground test hours, Boeing hopes to earn certification for the 'Triple-7' Freighter from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Europe's Joint Aviation Authority during the fourth quarter.

According to Boeing, the 777 Freighter, the sixth member of the 777 airplane family, will be capable of flying 4,885 nautical miles (9,047 km) with a full payload, making it the world's longest-range twin-engine freighter. The airplane's range capability will translate into significant savings for cargo operators: fewer stops and associated landing feeds, less congestion at transfer hubs, lower cargo handling costs and shorter cargo delivery times.

So far there are 78 firm orders from 11 customers for the Boeing 777 Freighter. Boeing hopes to deliver the first B777 Freighter to its launch customer, Air France, soon after certification.

[Photo Source]

American Airlines wants to eliminate 200 pilot jobs

Ever since May, when American Airlines announced its capacity reduction plans, the specter of furloughs has been looming on the horizon. Earlier this month, American announced that it would cut 900 flight attendants from its workforce in the fall. Now it's the pilots' turn. According to the Allied Pilots Association (APA), the union representing American Airlines pilots, the airline is seeking to eliminate 200 pilot jobs.

A hotline message on the APA website informed the pilot membership yesterday of the possibility of up to 200 pilot furloughs starting in October 2008. American Airlines management indicated to the pilots' union that they would be sending a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) letter to APA by July 31.

Management has presented the pilots' union with a proposal for what they labeled a “Furlough Mitigation Severance Program,” or FMSP, which the union leadership is now studying. Under the terms of the FMSP, pilots would receive a severance incentive equal to the amount of furlough pay a pilot would receive, to a maximum of four and a half months. Under the proposal, the “target number of furloughs” would be reduced one for one by pilots accepting the program.

The APA hotline message says:

The proposal calls for a total of 200 captains to be offered the severance incentive as follows: 40 B777 captains, 20 B767 captains, 60 A300 captains, 80 MD80 captains and no B737 captains. Management confirmed to our negotiators that those captains who accept the offer would waive the right to set their own retirement date and be terminated with no ability to lock in their B-Plan unit value.

Under the terms of the proposal the pilots' monthly maximum would be increased up to 82 hours. In addition, it would enable management to increase the monthly maximum up to 95 hours "in the event the Company experiences greater than forecast attrition beyond the number of pilots who accept the FMSP."

In the hotline message to the American Airlines pilots, APA Communications Committee member Captain Kevin Cornwell wrote, "In light of the ongoing reliability problems our airline is experiencing, it’s clear that we continue to suffer from insufficient staffing. Although the prospect of pilot furloughs is not a complete surprise given the previously announced flight attendant furloughs, it’s difficult to understand the logic behind any pilot furloughs from an operational standpoint. It would also be hard to make sense of the decision to recall pilots in June if management proceeds to furlough those same pilots again four months later."

APA negotiators are considering the details of the proposal in order to prepare their response.

Separately, AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, announced its second quarter results today, reporting a net loss of $1.4 billion. In the press release accompanying the quarterly earnings report, AMR gave details of its plans to reduce its fleet:

... AMR has decided to retire all 34 of its A300 aircraft by the end of 2009, compared to the previous retirement schedule that extended through 2012. In 2008, AMR will retire 30 MD-80s, 10 A300s and 26 Saab turbo-prop aircraft, and will retire or remove from service 37 regional jets. The remaining A300s will be retired in 2009, which is expected to result in capacity reductions next year. As it begins to replace its MD-80 fleet, the Company continues to expect to take delivery of 70 more-fuel-efficient Boeing 737-800 aircraft in 2009 and 2010.

The company also said that it had "decided to place on hold its planned divestiture of American Eagle."

NTSB investigating two runway incursions at Teterboro Airport

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into two recent runway incursion incidents at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport (TEB). The first of the two incidents occurred on June 25, 2008, when a Learjet 45 flew over two airport workers at a height of 150 ft. and landed on a closed runway. The second incident occurred on July 9, 2008, when a Cessna 172 taxied across the hold line for a runway on which a Falcon 200 had just been cleared for take-off. No one was injured in either incident.

Here are details of the Learjet incident, from the NTSB Preliminary Incident Report (re-paragraphed for easier reading):

On June 25, 2008, at 5:34 am eastern daylight time, a runway incursion occurred at Teterboro Airport (TEB), Teterboro, New Jersey involving Windrider (WDR) flight 988, a Learjet 45, occurred during the midnight shift when there was one controller scheduled to be in the tower.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that runway 1/19 had been closed by Airport Operations and confirmed by the controller. The controller placed two runway incursion devices (RID) at the local control position but did not inform approach control of the closure.

A lighted X had been placed on the runway at the departure end of runway 19.

The approach controller called the tower controller 27 minutes later to request a visual approach to runway 19 for WDR988. The tower controller approved the request. On the initial transmission, the tower controller cleared WDR988 to land on runway 19.

The airplane flew over two employees who were working north of the displaced threshold of runway 19, between taxiways L/A and B and landed on the runway. The displaced threshold is 770 feet from the approach end of runway 19. Closest estimated proximity was 150 feet vertical.

The controller was working the local control position for 7 hours and 21 minutes when the incident occurred. At the time of the incident it was daylight, the wind was calm, sky clear, with 10 statute miles visibility.

The initial review of data indicated that the controller sounded engaged and alert in his communications with aircraft and vehicles operating on the airfield. The controller was scheduled to work the midnight shifts each night from June 23 through June 26. The week before this event, the controller worked evening shifts (3:00 pm to 11:00 pm). The controller's statement reads in its entirety, "While performing required non-control duties WDR 988 landed on runway 19".

The automatic terminal information service (ATIS) information H did not mention the closed runway. [NTSB ID: OPS08IA009]

Here is what the NTSB had to say in a news release about the Cessna/Falcon incident:

On July 9, 2008, at 10:10 a.m. (EDT), a Cessna 172 (N316AS) and, a Dassault Falcon 200 (N277QS) were also involved in a runway incursion at Teterboro Airport.

The Cessna landed on runway 19 and requested a back taxi to the approach end of runway 19 for departure. The ground controller instructed the pilot to taxi to runway 19 via taxiway L and to hold short of runway 19. However, the pilot was not instructed to hold short of runway 24, which intersected runway 19.

The airplane had crossed the hold line for runway 24 but not over the runway edge when the tower controller cleared the Falcon for takeoff on runway 24. The tower cancelled the Falcon's clearance once it was determined that the Cessna was across the runway hold line. The FAA reported the two airplanes were 1,200 feet apart.

The incident occurred during the day shift with a front line manager and two air traffic control specialists on position.

Here are the NTSB Preliminary Incident reports about the second incident: NTSB ID: OPS08IA010A; NTSB ID: OPS08IA010B

NTSB Air Traffic Control Investigator Daniel Bartlett has been designated Investigator-in-charge for both incidents.

FAA will install new Runway Status Lights at major airports across the U.S.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that Runway Status Lights soon will be installed at major airports across the country. The lights, which warn pilots when it is unsafe to cross or enter a runway, are currently being tested at Dallas Ft. Worth and San Diego International Airports.

The FAA expects to award a contract this fall to install the Runway Status Lights at: Atlanta, Baltimore Washington International, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Dulles, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston Intercontinental, John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Newark, O’Hare, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, and Seattle airports. The installation will be accomplished over the next three years.

In a statement about the new system, acting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Robert Sturgell said, "Severe runway incursions are down, and, we’re putting technology and procedures in place to keep it that way. We’re making changes on the runway and in the cockpit that are going to make a significant difference."

And there's more:

Sturgell also announced that the FAA will provide up to $5 million to test in-cockpit displays that increase runway safety. The funding will cover technology that includes either an aural runway alerting system that lets pilots know where they are on the runways they are entering, crossing, or departing; or an electronic flight bag, which is an electronic display system that gives pilots information about a variety of aviation data. Most electronic flight bags incorporate a feature called airport moving map that shows aircraft positions on the airfield.

In return for the funding, aircraft owners are expected to equip their aircraft to participate in a test bed program that will evaluate operational and safety data. The in-cockpit displays have the potential to help reduce pilot errors, which are now the cause of most runway incursions.

The FAA is also soliciting industry proposals to acquire and install low-cost ground surveillance systems at airports that are not scheduled to receive Airport Surface Detection Equipment (either ASDE-3 or ASDE-X) under current FAA programs. The goal is to increase surface situational awareness and safety margins at selected airports by making basic ground surveillance technology available. The FAA has evaluated two such systems at an airport in Spokane, Washington. This new procurement will support a pilot project deployment to six additional airports during 2009. More airports will be added after a final investment decision is approved. The FAA expects to make initial awards for the pilot project by the end of August 2008.

Sturgell said that improving runway safety and reducing the risk of runway incursions are two of the FAA’s top priorities.

US Airways pilots' union in dispute with management over fuel issue

The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), the union representing US Airways pilots, claims that the airline's management is taking action against senior captains "for exercising their judgment on determining fuel loads for their flights." At issue is the fact that certain senior US Airways captains, after "adding what equates to approximately 10 to 15 minutes additional arrival fuel on transoceanic flights," were assigned to undergo what the union refers to as unapproved training as a form of discipline.

In a news release issued by USAPA on July 10, 2008, the union notes that the "training" includes simulator instruction which, if not successfully completed, could subject the pilot to a loss of his/her license. USAPA contends that "Under the applicable standards of the Federal Aviation Administration, the adequacy of fuel loads is considered a critical safety determination that should be left to the Captain’s discretion." In other words, the pilot in command should always be free to make the final decision on how much fuel to take on, based on safety considerations, not economics.

"Making decisions on whether or not to hand out peanuts is one thing; mandating fuel loads that our Captains are uncomfortable with is another," said USAPA President Stephen Bradford. President Bradford went on to say, "US Airways pilots are committed to exercising their ‘Captain's Authority,’ granted by the Federal Aviation Administration, and will always ensure a fuel load that will safely fly our passengers to their destination, with all the reserves necessary to handle the contingencies of the flight."

FAA issues Airworthiness Directive for Falcon 2000 aircraft

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) concerning the Falcon 2000 model aircraft, manufactured by Dassault Falcon Aircraft. It has been determined that a risk exists for engine cowling separation from the aircraft, which may cause potential damage to the engine itself and to the horizontal stabilizer. According to the FAA, "it is suspected that on-ground improper latching may lead to a radial deformation of engine cowlings in flight and to their eventual escape out of their locking devices."

The AD requires that certain modifications to the existing engine cowls locking system and engine cowling attachments be implemented. The modifications must be accomplished within 12 months of the effective date of the AD, August 12, 2008.

The AD applies to all Falcon 2000 aircraft (all serial numbers), certificated in any category. The FAA estimates that the AD will affect about 229 aircraft of U.S. registry.

Here is the link to the complete text of the AD: FAA AD 2008-13-31 (7 page 'pdf' file)

[Photo Source]

Near midair collision at JFK airport

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation regarding a near midair collision at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). According to an advisory issued this morning by the NTSB, the incident occurred on the evening of July 5, 2008, when two passenger aircraft nearly collided. The two aircraft involved in the incident were a Cayman Airways Boeing 737-300, operating as Flight CAY792, and a Linea Aerea Nacional de Chile (LAN Chile) Boeing 767-300, operating as Flight LAN533.

According to preliminary information released by the NTSB:

The Cayman Airways flight, on approach to runway 22L, was executing a missed approach and conflicted with the Linea Aeroea Navional de Chile flight that was departing runway 13R. Tower controllers intervened to attempt to resolve the conflict, assigning both aircraft diverging headings. The closest proximity of the two aircraft has not yet been determined. At the time of the incident, the weather was VFR with 6 miles visibility and haze.

The Cayman Airways flight was arriving at JFK from Grand Cayman. The LAN Chile flight was departing JFK for Santiago Chile. There were no reported injuries or damage to the aircraft.

UPDATE: The National Association of Air Traffic Controllers (NATCA) issued a news release about the JFK near collision, calling the incident "very scary." More from the NATCA news release:

When a JFK Tower air traffic controller saw that Cayman 792 was executing the missed approach, he gave instructions for the jet to make a left turn to avoid the departing LAN Chile 533, which was told to turn right, over the water. But it was too late. The paths of both jets crossed. Air traffic controllers at New York Terminal Radar Approach Control in Westbury, N.Y., which handles airborne flights into and out of JFK, say the radar targets of both jets merged on top of each other and estimated their closest proximity at 100 feet.

Controllers at both JFK Tower and New York TRACON all used the word “ugly” to describe the incident. One TRACON controllers said it was the ugliest go-around they have seen in 24 years on the job. Other TRACON controllers said the radar targets of both jets merged into one on their scopes.

Here is the link to the ATC audio of the near collision incident, posted on the NATCA website.

USA Jet Airlines DC-9 freighter crash in Mexico

Early today, a DC-9-15 freighter (registration number N199US) operated by Michigan-based on-demand carrier USA Jet Airlines has crashed at Saltillo, Mexico. Information about the accident is still sketchy at this time, however the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an advisory minutes ago stating that an NTSB team is being dispatched to assist the Mexican authorities with the accident investigation.

In that advisory, the NTSB said that the aircraft crashed on approach to the Saltillo Airport, Saltillo, Mexico, at about 2:15 a.m. EDT, on July 6, 2008. According to the NTSB, there were two crew members aboard the cargo plane. The captain was killed and the first officer was critically injured. There are no reported injuries on the ground.

A Spanish language website, Vanguardia, has posted an article about the DC-9 crash in Saltillo, along with a photo of the accident aircraft. The freighter appears to have been completely destroyed, with its fuselage broken apart and burned. The Vanguardia article says that the aircraft crashed to the north of the airfield.

I will post updates about this accident here on Professional Pilot News when more information becomes available.

Condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of the captain, and best wishes to the first officer for a full and speedy recovery from his injuries.

UPDATE July 7, 2008: The identity of the captain who was killed in the USA Jet Airlines DC9 accident in Mexico has been confirmed by his brother. Captain Lon McIntosh, 46, of Middletown, Ohio, was fatally injured in the crash. His brother, Chris McIntosh, who was quoted today in a news report posted to WNWO NBC24, said that Captain McIntosh had worked for the carrier for abut 10 years.

Although some Mexican media reports named the first officer, he has not yet been officially identified by the company or his family. He is said to be critically injured with serious burns but a company spokesman said, "We hear the prognosis is good."

UPDATE July 8, 2008: For those who wish to express condolences to the family of the pilot who died in the accident in Mexico, here is a link to an online condolences book for Capt. Lon McIntosh.

Update: ABX Air B767 freighter fire at SFO

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a press advisory concerning the investigation of a fire aboard an ABX Air Boeing 767 freighter that occurred on June 28, 2008. The fire broke out while the aircraft was parked at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and burned a hole through the top of the plane's fuselage.

The NTSB press advisory reports the following factual information:

The primary location of the fire was outside the cargo hold in an area just aft of the cockpit. The fire was extinguished by San Francisco Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting, but not before causing substantial damage to the aircraft. The flight crew of two, who were preparing to start the engines when the fire broke out, escaped from the aircraft without injury.

The NTSB dispatched a team of five investigators to the accident scene. Joining them were representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Transportation Security Administration; the Federal Aviation Administration; the San Francisco Fire Department; and Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting. NTSB investigators have worked closely with all of these groups throughout the process of examining and documenting the fire damage to the aircraft.

After the NTSB was notified of the fire, it was reported that within a week prior to the accident, the cargo carrier had received a threat against an unspecified aircraft. Preliminary examinations have not revealed any indication of an explosive or incendiary device.

The 21-year-old aircraft was originally configured for passenger operations and modified in 2004 to a cargo configuration by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The Israel Ministry of Transport has designated an accredited representative to the investigation under the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13. IAI will serve as a technical adviser to the accredited representative.

NTSB investigators interviewed both members of the flight crew yesterday. The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder are at NTSB headquarters in Washington where data from each is being analyzed.

The NTSB accident investigation team expects to complete the on-scene phase of the investigation by Sunday, July 6.

Parties to the investigation are the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, ABX Air, the San Francisco Fire Department, the San Francisco Airport Authority, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

[Photo Source]