Safety Board Probes a Manned/Unmanned NAS
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) as the Pentagon prefers to call them, were developed to be three-dimensional creatures, that is military machines designed to conduct "3-D" dull, dirty and dangerous missions deemed too hazardous for humans. However, with increasing... [read more]
(Hydrogen) Power to the Passenger
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final ruling that will permit passengers and crew to carry methanol fuel cell cartridges and hydrogen fuel cell systems designed for portable electronic devices on board airplanes in carry-on baggage. The effective date of the ruling is October 1...
Boeing 757 In-flight Wing Panel Loss Due to Metal Fatigue
The National Transportation Safety Board continues its probe of US Airways Flight 1250 in which a wing panel, measuring about 4 feet by 5 feet, separated from the B-757 on March 22, 2008 while flying over Maryland. Although the separated wing panel has not been located, investigators have been able to...
Preliminary Findings On Colorado Air Tanker Crash
Using air tankers to fight raging wildfires remains a risky business as a recent fatal accident under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) graphically shows. On April 15, 2008 just outside Fort Carson, Colorado, an Air Tractor AT-602 (N602AA) crashed killing the pilot. The Air...
Fire Fighters: Dangerous Airport Fire/Rescue Standards Jeopardize Safety
The lax safety culture of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extends beyond aircraft maintenance to the outdated 20-year-old FAA standards for fire and rescue operations that jeopardize lives in the event of an aircraft incident at an airport, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)...
Airport Efforts To Enhance Runway Safety
While U.S. airports are working diligently to improve runway safety through a variety of means, including investment in new technology, enhanced training and improved surface markings, adequate funding from FAA is necessary to develop these programs fully and keep other key priorities on track. That was the...
Improved Air Safety Doubtful
A majority of aviation professionals do not expect airline safety to improve during the next five years. According to the results of the survey of over 140 aviation industry professionals, 56% feel that the level of airline safety will stay the same or worsen over the near to medium term. The survey was...
Security Enhancements in Place; New Details on Liquid Explosives Plot
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aims to improve and strengthen aviation security while decreasing the hassle factor for travelers. Among the improvements, DHS is providing airlines more flexibility to allow passengers to check in remotely who have been unable to do so because they have a name...
ATC Equipment Checks Less Detailed
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has intentionally become less detail-oriented in the way it maintains and certifies the safety of its ground based equipment, such as radar and instrument landing systems. The change is aimed at making agency inspectors more efficient, and is made possible by the...
A New Era for Era
SRA International is acquiring Era Corp., a privately held provider of advanced surveillance technologies for the air traffic management, airport operations, military and security markets. Reston, VA-based Era has nearly 300 employees and develops multilateration, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast...
Security Shortlines
It's in the Bag The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has approved the use of 'security tamper-evident' bags for the transport of duty-free liquid items (such as alcoholic beverages and perfume) purchased beyond TSA security checkpoints, but only for flights departing the United States...
Safety Rules and Regulations
Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. Model A109A, A109A II, and A109C Helicopters Final Rule; Request for Comments. SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) model helicopters. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information...
Accidents and Incidents
Date Aircraft Type Narrative Death/Injury Remarks April 06, 2008 Belfast, ME SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 N601RH A/c was substantially damaged when impacted Penobscot Bay while maneuvering near Belfast Municipal Airport (BST), One fatality Witness observed a/c performing "barrel roll," heard...
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