Travel Safety Update - Europe

Airguide Online, Nov 10, 2008

Nov 10, 2008

Safety regulators are preparing to finalize an update to the 'blacklist' of airlines banned from European Union operations, as early indications suggest EU carriers might be included for the first time. Ukrainian operators feature on the current blacklist and other states on the continent - notably Bulgaria - have worked to avoid a carrier ban. Nov 9, 2008

Managing pilots for maximum efficiency - while complying with a mass of safety-related regulations - is not easy, especially when the goalposts keep moving. Regulations change and develop, as is happening in the process of converting European joint aviation requirements (JAR) to European Aviation Safety Agency regulations, or like the International Civil Aviation Organisation's new required grades for aviation English standards, without which pilots will soon risk being banned from international routes. Meanwhile, EASA is preparing to require carriers to submit a mandatory fatigue risk management system (FRMS) tailored for their specific operation, as a back-up to Europe's flight-time limitations rules. Most airlines have not even heard of FRMS, but many will soon have to cope with it. Nov 3, 2008

Airbus

Airbus claims unprecedented tests of conditions experienced by aircraft following the Airbus A380 in flight demonstrate that the wake turbulence it creates is no worse than that produced by any other heavy aircraft. Official standards, however, require that the A380 have its own 'super-heavy' category, extending separation for aircraft trailing the A380 by 2nm (3.7km) compared with in-trail separation for 'heavy' category jets. Nov 7, 2008

SAS Group, Bombardier

SAS Group has disposed of 12 of its 27 Bombardier DHC-8-Q400 turboprops, and expects to phase out another 10 in the fourth quarter. In October last year the carrier chose to eliminate the type from its fleet following three landing accidents in quick succession - although it has since opted to acquire an upgraded version for Norwegian regional arm Wideroe. Among the 12 aircraft already delivered are the three damaged examples. SAS Group expects all 27 aircraft to have left the company by the end of June next year. The company has yet to identify fully the recipients of the aircraft. Austrian Airlines Group had originally been planning to acquire four but switched instead to new examples from the manufacturer. This month SAS Group expects to take delivery of its first Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, part of a batch ordered to replace the Q400s. Nov 7, 2008

ZZ AirGuide 081110

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