News Briefs

Air Safety Week, Sept 6, 1999

* Six times and hopefully not counting. With the fatal Aug. 31 crash of a Lineas Aereas Privadas Argentinas (LAPA) 737-200, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that it has dispatched abroad its sixth "go" team of investigators this year. By comparison, from Jan. 1 to Sept. 1 last year the Board had dispatched two "go" teams to help investigate overseas accidents.

* Warnings of regulatory non-compliance:

April 24, 1998: At completion of the emergency lighting modification FAA inspectors noted the discrepancies and advised the carrier.

April 29, 1998: FAA ramp inspection finds same discrepancies and advises carrier.

May 4, 1998: Ramp inspection cites continued deficiencies. American issues company-wide electronic mail message advising flight attendants to make additional announcement, after the passenger safety video, concerning the emergency escape path lighting.

May 6, 1998: FAA inspection of the airplane at O'Hare found 53 seats with incorrect briefing cards and the cockpit and cabin crew were unaware of the changes to the emergency lighting system.

Source: FAA Southwest Region ltr. to American Airlines of July 20, 1999

* Heavy hit. The FAA has issued a proposed fine of nearly $400,000 on American Airlines [AMR] for operating a 757 with seat back emergency cards and a safety video that did not correctly match the floor lighting in the airplane. The emergency lighting had been modified from its original installation in the floor to a position higher on the seats. The FAA alleges that some 36 flights were made in which the pre-flight safety briefings, the seat-back emergency information cards, the passenger safety briefing video and the cabin attendant safety manuals did not reflect the change. At $11,000 per flight violation, times 36 revenue flights, the FAA says it will "accept an offer of $396,000 to settle this matter."

A carrier official said, "We think the amount of the fine is inconsistent with the nature of the violation." Of interest, he said, this was the first of American's 757 to undergo the floor lighting modification, and correct seat-back cards were in the airplane when it left the modification facility. The heavy fine may stem from prior warnings from FAA inspectors that went uncorrected.

* Special certification review. As part of its comprehensive investigation into the fatal 1994 crash of USAir Flight 427 at Pittsburgh, the NTSB recommended a complete review of how the rudder power control unit (RPCU) came to be certified (see ASW, March 29). To follow up on this recommendation, the FAA formed a "737 Flight Control Engineering Test and Evaluation Board" to conduct a review of the 737 RPCU and potential failure modes that could produce an uncommanded deflection.

The team has been meeting full-time since May 4 and is slated to produce a report by March, 2000. Of the 19 team members, 6 are from Boeing [BA], 3 are from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), 3 are from the FAA, and one is from Southwest Airlines [LUV], the nation's largest 737 operator. As a requirement for appointment to this review, members must not have been heavily involved in the 737 rudder issue before. Component, system tests and, if necessary, flight tests are on the agenda of activity.

* Clean record recognized. Herb Kelleher, CEO of Southwest Airlines, has been awarded a lifetime membership in the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) for the record achieved by his airline. ASSE President Frank Perry declared, "Accident free since its inception 28 years ago, this award recognizes Herb Kelleher's leadership of Southwest Airlines in the promotion of public safety in the United States." Last year's winner was General Motors [GM] CEO Jack Smith, in recognition of his company's commitment to workplace safety. >> ASSE, tel. 847/699-2929 <<

* Probing the pilot shortage. The Senate Commerce Aviation Subcommittee plans a field hearing in Montana Sept. 10 at 9:00 a.m. on the pilot shortage. Witness list and location of the Friday hearing to be announced this week. Check the committee website: www.senate.gov/~commerce, or contact Pia Pialorsi, tel. 202/224-2670

* Hot maintenance issues. Phillips' Aviation Group hosts a oneday forum Oct. 7 on critical issues in maintenance. Panel topics include: protection from retribution when reporting safety problems in the shop, turn time and safety, and putting an end to pencil whipping (falsifying maintenance records to show that work was accomplished which in fact was not). Location: Washington Marriott Metro Center Hotel, 775 12th St., NW, Washington, DC. Special room reservations rates available, tel. 800/228-9290. Registration fee: $395/person by Sept. 20 (early bird special), $445/person after that date. To register, tel. 888/707-5811, via the Internet, www.phillips.com, or in person at the conference.