FAA Issues New Safety Goals - NTSB Says Existing Risks Not Being Reduced

Air Safety Week, Nov 15, 2004

AMASS Causes Accident

From the NTSB preliminary report (extracts, edited for brevity):

On Aug. 7, 2004 United Airlines Flight 1223, a B727, aborted takeoff at Denver International Airport. According to the FAA, takeoff clearance was cancelled due to a target detected by the Airport Movement Area Surveillance System (AMASS) radar. The AMASS had been experiencing problems the day of the accident and the target that was detected did not exist. Damage to the airplane included several blown tired and melted brake fuse plugs.

Source: NTSB. Case No. DEN04IA124

Serious Turbulence Related Injuries

A sampling from the past 40 weeks of ASW accident & incident tables. Our definition of serious: the word "serious" is contained in the original report, or references to broken bones, stitches, medical diversions and/or visits to medical facilities

Date/Operator: Nov. 7 ATA Airlines B737
Summary: Encountered turbulence in cruise. Numerous neck, back and leg
problems. Five injured flight attendants taken to hospital.

Date/Operator: Nov. 5 American Airlines A300-600
Summary: Encountered severe turbulence at approx. 21,000-23,000 ft.; five
flight attendants injured, one seriously.

Date/Operator: Nov. 4 Atlantic Southeast ATR-72
Summary: Encountered moderate to severe turbulence at 11,000-12,000 ft.,
injured flight attendant taken to hospital.

Date/Operator: Oct. 23 United A320
Summary: Three flight attendants and one pilot hospitalized after hitting
clear air turbulence.

Date/Operator: Sept. 29 Delta B767
Summary: Encountered turbulence on descent, flight attendant standing in
aft galley sustained serious injury.

Date/Operator: Sept. 13 Southwest B737
Summary: Wake turbulence on approach, flight attendant suffered broken ribs.

Date/Operator: July 17 America West A319
Summary: Flight attendant suffered broken pelvis in severe turbulence
encounter during descent.

Date/Operator: May 26 American MD-82
Summary: Encountered turbulence at FL170 and flight attendant suffered broken
pelvis, ribs, wrist.

Date/Operator: May 25 Delta B757
Summary: Flight attendant struck by beverage cart in moderate turbulence,
medical diversion.

Date/Operator: May 10 Southwest B737
Summary: Flight attendant seriously injured when thrown against a bulkhead in
turbulence.

Date/Operator: April 20 Pacific Wings C208
Summary: Belted passenger sustained severe scalp lacerations.

Date/Operator: March 1 United B757
Summary: Moderate turbulence on descent, one flight attendant sustained
broken leg.

Date/Operator: Feb. 23 United B777
Summary: Hawaii-Japan flight hit severe turbulence about 20 minutes from
landing, three crew members hospitalized.

Date/Operator: Feb. 18 Continental B737
Summary: Experienced sever turbulence, a number of flight attendants were
taken to the hospital.

For additional details of these cases and the complete compilation of
turbulence-related injuries, see www.iasa.com.au/turb.htm

An Alternative Taxonomy

(Note: this is not a one-to-one match up)

FAA Safety Performance Targets