Friday, January 31, 2014

Russian Senators Propose Tougher Aircraft Safety Rules




MOSCOW, January 31 (RIA Novosti) – A group of Russian senators has proposed banning using passenger aircraft older than 15 years in a bid to tighten airline safety only weeks after a plane crash that claimed the lives of all 50 people onboard.

The proposal appears to come in defiance of advice from senior aviation experts, who insist the age of aircraft is not a key factor in determining whether it is safe to fly.

The bill submitted to the lower house of parliament Thursday introduces several amendments aimed at toughening controls over aircraft safety and imposing harsher punishments for violations of safety rules.

Russia has for years been blighted by a dismal flight safety record. Most accidents occur on internal flights run by small regional airlines whose safety standards have often been found to be lax.

Andrei Golushko, a Federation Council senator who jointly drafted the bill, say the proposed legislation will clarify procedures for overseeing operations in air transport and raise the responsibility of companies operating aircraft to international standards.

“It is important that the bill introduces the principle of constant monitoring of safety and potential risks, because preventive measures are essential for flight safety,” Golushko said.

The document envisions the use of video-recorders in the cockpits and flight-simulators. Professional education and training for directors of aircraft operators, as well as pilots and technical personnel, is to become mandatory.

The bill also introduces tougher fines for falsification of pilot’s training and health records, as well as for attempts to conceal accidents involving aircraft.

State Duma lawmakers earlier proposed to ban the operation of aircraft older than 20 years.

The legislative initiatives have been promoted despite the insistence of Russian aviation authorities that the age of an aircraft was generally not a key issue in determining safety.

Moscow-based International Aviation Committee says its statistics show that the number of disasters worldwide involving aircraft with 50 or more seats was the same for both planes less than five years old and those built more than 30 years ago.


The latest major deadly air crash in Russia happened in November and involved a 23-year-old Boeing 737 operated by Tatarstan Airlines.

The plane carrying 50 crew and passengers on board had previously been involved in two incidents and underwent major repairs before being bought by the Russian airline.

Preliminary investigations made public so far appear to point to possible pilot error, however.

Source:   http://en.ria


 

US Federal Aviation Administration downgrades Directorate General of Civil Aviation over aviation safety fears

NEW DELHI: Exposing the gross inadequacy of our aviation regulator to ensure safe air travel here, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has downgraded India's aviation safety ranking.
 

India has now been put in category II of safety ranking, from category 1 that directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) was in earlier.
 

The decision was conveyed to DGCA's new chief Prabhat Kumar by an FAA delegation on Friday. The downgrade means that Indian carriers will now not be able to add flights to US. Also aircraft of Indian airlines that fly there — Air India and Jet Airways — can be be held indefinitely for checks there, which will make it difficult for them to adhere to schedule.
 

The first to be hit could be Air India which is supposed to join Star Alliance this summer. A number of US carriers are also part of this alliance but American laws prohibit them from entering into commercial relations like code share — a vital part of an alliance. So now if they will be able to do so with AI or not remains to be seen. Jet already has a code share with United.
 

India had for years been trying to evade a downgrade by US FAA due to the serious implications of such a move on Indian carriers by making tall claims on strengthening DGCA. But all that was mainly on paper and in reality the government has struggled to find someone to even head the regulatory agency.
 

After a recent audit last year, FAA found 33 inadequacies in the DGCA.
 

Like in the past, the government this time also tried to get away by making tall claims but the FAA did not buy the same now.
 

"This is a true reflection of the DGCA. Unlike the past when India and US ties wee very good and hence DGCA avoided a downgrade, the relations are not so strong now and hence the move. This will have very serious implications for Indian airlines," said a source.
 

The current category II ranking of India means that DGCA does not meet the norms of International Civil Aviation Organization standards in areas like technical expertise, trained personnel and record-keeping or inspection procedures.
 

Aviation minister Ajit Singh will brief the media on Friday afternoon on the issue.
 

Story and comment/reaction:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Clay Center Municipal Airport (KCYW), Kansas

Former, present airport managers suing each other

Spicer asks for more than $500K in damages; Heinen Bros. seeks three-months hangar rent, repairs



Heinen Brothers and the Clay Center Municipal Airport have filed a civil lawsuit against former airport manager Mike Spicer, and the company he operated under charging damages related to aircraft left at the airport.

Spicer has counter-sued Heinen Brothers and is asking for more than half a million dollars in damages.

The civil case in the Clay County District Court started when Heinen Brothers filed a complaint last fall seeking rent for two T-hangars from May through July 31, 2013 the removal of two Beech aircraft parked at the airport and “the cost of repairs to physical damages” at the airport.

Spicer filed an answer Sept. 10 stating he had a long-term agreement for lease of the hangars, that he was not in default of payments, and sought three-fold damages for a third aircraft and other property destroyed or removed from the hangars he was renting.

Spicer claimed he is not responsible for any repairs and sought an additional $75,000 in damages. He amended his answer early this week asking for $500,000 and adding “abuse of process” among the claims against Heinen Brothers.

Spicer also alleged in the first answer that the awarding of the airport manager and fixed-based operator contracts to Heinen had been done through fraudulent means because the company did not intend to fulfill those contracts or lacked the capacity to do so. He claimed the new owners are in breach of obligations required by those contracts, including properly staffing the airport, providing services to the public including fuel, flight training, mechanical services and other aviation services.

Spicer also claimed Heinen Brothers are in violation of the Kansas Anti-Trust Act and other statutes pertaining to airports because they are “attempting to destroy competition at the airport by granting exclusive rights to itself.”

Airport violations Spicer alleged in his response including allowing Heinen pilots to fly approach entries in a careless and reckless manner in violation of Federal Aviation Administration regulations, allowing aircraft to run unattended with small children in the area, causing chemicals and contaminated water from spraying operations to spill at the airport, nearly colliding with a student in training under Spicer, providing false information to the public, and violating a grant agreement with the FAA.

Heinen Brothers filed answers denying all those claims and have amended their answer. There have been several court appearances and conferences on the case since September.

A request to send the case to trial has been submitted, but is not on the docket because the latest amendment is waiting review by a district judge.

Source:    http://www.ccenterdispatch.com

Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL), Pennsylvania

Snowy owl killed by cargo plane at Phila. airport

PHILADELPHIA - A snowy owl that decided to make his home at Philadelphia International Airport, likely because the flat land was similar to his treeless Arctic home, was killed early Wednesday when he was struck by a cargo plane.

The owl, nicknamed Philly, had been caught at the airport Jan. 9 and relocated to Lancaster County, but within a few days had found his way back to the airport, where he hunted rodents until his death, said Scott Weidensaul, an author and naturalist who was tracking the bird.

He was not the only snowy owl to take up residence at a Pennsylvania airport. One at Pittsburgh International Airport was caught and relocated this week. Another, spotted at the Hazleton airport, is on the loose.

"Where they come from, there are no trees. It's flat and treeless," Weidensaul said. "They're looking for places that look like home."

There has been a massive migration south of snowy owls from northern Quebec, where the birds had an especially fruitful breeding season last year with an overabundance of lemmings, their favorite food.

Since late November, snowy owls have been reported as far south as Florida and Bermuda, Weidensaul said. A large number have taken up residence at the Jersey Shore, drawing bird watchers from around the region.

"This was completely unexpected. Suddenly, there were owls everywhere," he said.

He and other researchers put together a tracking project called Project SNOWstorm, which has raised more than $27,000 on the crowdfunding site Indiegogo.com.

When Philly was caught, he was fitted with a GPS unit. Maps of all his movements can be viewed at www.projectsnowstorm.org/maps/philly.


Story and comments/reaction:   http://www.philly.com

Ogden-Hinckley Airport (KOGD), Ogden, Utah

Ex-Police Chief Greiner named Ogden airport manager 

OGDEN -- After four months of interim work, former Ogden Police Chief Jon Greiner has been named full-time manager of the Ogden-Hinckley Airport.

The city announced the appointment Wednesday afternoon, saying Greiner had been selected for the job after the review of more than 80 applications and in-depth interviews of a national base of candidates.

Director of Community and Economic Development Tom Christopulos said the selection process included participation by various stakeholders including the Ogden Regional Airport Association and the Ogden Airport Advisory Board as well as input from federal agencies.

"He is, by consensus, the strongest candidate to help construct a multi-faceted business plan and move the airport forward," Christopulos said. "Jon served as interim manager for the past four months, and in that time he has identified airport needs, presented creative ideas and successfully communicated how to move the airport forward in the next decade."

Greiner said one of his major initiatives will be to expand its commercial air service.

In September 2012, the airport began commercial airline service between Ogden and Mesa, Ariz.

The service is provided by Allegiant Air, a subsidiary of the Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., and offers flights twice weekly.

The city has said that the service has continued to do extremely well, with the flights averaging higher than 90 percent of their maximum passenger capacity of 166.

"We need to move the airport closer to self-sufficiency," Greiner said. "And one of the best ways to do that is to attract more commercial service."

Greiner said he will also look to expand facilities at Ogden-Hinckley and that the airport needs to better conform with Transportation Security Administration requirements.

Greiner was pinned as interim airport manager in October, replacing former manager Royal Eccles.

Hired as airport manager in August 2011 by then-Mayor Matthew Godfrey, Eccles' dismissal was abrupt and unceremonious, but he received letters of support from several members of the aviation community. 

Ogden City has declined to comment on the dismissal, other than to say it was justified and city policy calls for all personnel matters to stay in-house.

The Standard-Examiner reached Eccles for this story, but he declined comment.

Greiner served as Ogden police chief for 16 years, but was dismissed in December 2012 because of a federal Hatch Act violation involving federal grants and his candidacy and service as a state senator.

The city did not disclose Greiner's salary Wednesday, but a Utah Government Records Access and Management Act request by the Standard-Examiner in November showed that Greiner was paid $3,000 every two weeks while fulfilling his duties as interim airport manager.

Eccles made $80,000 annually as airport manager.

Story and comments/reaction:   http://www.standard.net

Carlson Sparrow II, N5955Y: Accident occurred December 04, 2013 in Jeromesville, Ohio

NTSB Identification: CEN14LA079 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, December 04, 2013 in Jeromesville, OH
Aircraft: THOMPSON WILLIAM A SPARROW II, registration: N5955Y
Injuries: 1 Serious.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On December 4, 2013, about 1240 eastern standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Thompson Sparrow II, N5955Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Jeromesville, Ohio. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from a private airstrip about 1230.

The pilot informed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that he was in the process of testing a new carburetor that he recently installed. After conducting some taxi testing with the newly installed carburetor, he flew the airplane around his farm without incident. He did not recall the events after that point in time. The pilot believed that he took off again and that the engine lost power, but he was unsure at what point during the flight that might have occurred. He recalled that he might have been attempting to return to the runway at the time of the accident.

The airplane came to rest upright. The propeller assembly and engine cowling had separated and were located in the debris path. The propeller blades remained attached to the hub and appeared undeformed. The nose landing gear had collapsed. The nose and center fuselage structure was deformed. Both wings were twisted and exhibited leading edge crush damage. The flight controls remained attached to the wing. The empennage appeared intact with the exception of the lower portion of the rudder, which was deformed. The fuel tanks appeared intact and contained fuel. A postaccident on-scene examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies attributable to a preimpact failure or malfunction.

FAA records indicate that the pilot was issued a student pilot certificate on July 25, 2012; however, there was no record of the pilot having been issued an airman medical certificate. He could not provide any record of an endorsement for solo flight as required by the regulations. The pilot informed FAA inspectors that he did not maintain a flight time logbook. However, he reported accumulating about 300 hours total flight time, with about 30 hours in Sparrow II airplanes. The pilot also informed inspectors that he had been involved in previous accidents that had not been reported to the FAA or NTSB.

The accident airplane was issued an experimental airworthiness certificate in October 1998. The pilot bought the airplane in April 2012. However, FAA records indicated that the pilot did not submit the required documentation to transfer the registration. The airplane registration was subsequently cancelled on September 3, 2014. The pilot informed FAA inspectors that he did not maintain any maintenance logbooks for the aircraft. Although the pilot reported maintaining the airplane himself, there was no record of the pilot holding a mechanic or repairman certificate.


http://registry.faa.gov/N5955Y

NTSB Identification: CEN14LA079
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, December 04, 2013 in Jeromesville, OH
Aircraft: THOMPSON WILLIAM A SPARROW II, registration: N5955Y
Injuries: 1 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On December 4, 2013, about 1240 eastern standard time, a Thompson Sparrow II, N5955Y, impacted terrain near Jeromesville, Ohio. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from a private airstrip about 1230.



 

JEROMESVILLE — The Federal Aviation Administration says the pilot injured in an experimental aircraft that crashed Dec. 4 near Jeromesville had been involved in previous accidents never reported to authorities.

The preliminary report issued Jan. 13 said William E. Moore, 65, of 295 Township Road 1600, told an investigator who interviewed him at Kingston Nursing Home in Ashland that he does not plan to fly again.

“I’m done flying,” Moore confirmed this week.

The Jeromesville man told the News Journal he felt comfortable tinkering with an experimental, amateur-built aircraft because of his background as a mechanical/electrical engineer, but he had become increasingly concerned about problems he’d had flying the plane when the crash occurred.

Moore said he’d taken about half of the training he needed to fly solo, and was hoping to perfect his skills with touch-and-goes on a sod strip at his farm. His goal was to take his wife, who loves to fly, up in the Sparrow 11 he purchased April 9, 2012, he said.

Instead, after two short flights without incident, the aircraft apparently fell while Moore was turning it an estimated 150 feet to 200 feet in the air. Moore suffered two broken legs and a broken arm, and he was unconscious for five days after the accident. Medical staff told him he had bruised his brain, and it took two to three weeks before he could think normally, he said.

Moore still is recovering at Kingston. Doctors have told him it could be six more weeks before he can safely put weight on his right leg.

The FAA said Moore had about 300 hours of flying time in ultralights and about 30 hours in the Sparrow II when the crash occurred.

FAA investigator Arnold Wolfe wrote that Moore, laid up at the nursing home, told him about “many of the accidents he had in the Sparrow 11” before the crash.

In one incident, Moore hit power lines by his house, which stopped the aircraft and caused it to fall to the ground tail first. The Jeromesville man wasn’t injured, but the plane’s tail was destroyed. Moore, who did all of the maintenance on his plane, rebuilt that, the report said.

“During the investigation at the accident site, I noticed numerous cold welds on the fuselage structure,” Arnold wrote. “One tube became disconnected and was laying on the floor of the fuselage. It looked as if it just fell off.”

The FAA investigator wrote that Moore told him it became apparent after he rebuilt the tail section that the ailerons were rigged incorrectly, causing the Sparrow to go left when he initiated a right turn.

Moore’s flight instructor for ultralights, Gene Berger, told the FAA he saw the Sparrow 11 at the Shelby Airport, where Moore took it for a test flight, and noticed the aileron cables were held together with zip ties instead of a turnbuckle.

According to the preliminary report, none of Moore’s previous accidents were reported to the FAA or the National Transportation Safety Board.

On Dec. 4, the 65-year-old was testing new carburetors he had just installed. He told the FAA he taxied the aircraft up and down his sod runway a few times with the cowling off to check the engine operation, then flew around the farm and landed with no apparent issues.

Moore said his wife was watching when he reached an altitude of 150 to 200 feet, then turned the plane. Then, it crashed.

The FAA report said Moore didn’t remember the crash. “He stated ‘I think I took off again and the engine quit at some point. I think I was returning to the runway, but I am not sure,’” Arnold said.

Moore said he believes he may not have brought the engine up to full speed, which meant he couldn’t pull enough airlift. “I think I’m very lucky. If my wife hadn’t been home, I probably would have been dead. I would have bled to death,” he said.

Both wings and the nosecone of the Sparrow 11 were damaged by the impact.

Moore had a student pilot certificate, but no repairman or mechanic certificate, according to the FAA. The report said the Jeromesville man kept no pilot flight or maintenance logbooks. Arnold wrote that Moore pointed to his head, telling him he kept that information “up here.”

The aircraft was not registered, and the airworthiness certificate and operation limitations did not appear to be on the Sparrow when it crashed, according to the agency.

Moore said he took up ultralight flying eight years ago, after hearing a radio advertisement for a flying club. He never had any major incidents while flying ultralights, but he occasionally had to make minor repairs, he said.

The Sparrow 11 was “a lot different,” he said.

“I had a major crash a year and a half ago. It was my fault. I just put it in a power stall. I hit a tree limb and it spun me around. It put me tail down first, into a field.” Though he wasn’t hurt — “it was like landing on a shock absorber” — the experience was scary, he said.

“I found that the engine I had in the plane wasn’t strong enough to do what I wanted to do,” he said.

He said he feels badly that his wife is having to spend time with him at Kingston, rather than somewhere a lot further south, as Ohio remains in the grip of record low winter temperatures.

The two had been planning to take off in an RV to spend the colder months “somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico,” Moore said.
 

Story and comments/reaction:  http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com


Ashland County Chief Deputy Sheriff Carl Richert inspects the experimental aircraft that crashed in a bean field off Township Road 1600 on Dec. 4. 



Ashland County Chief Deputy Sheriff Carl Richert inspects the hand built experimental aircraft that crashed in a bean field of Twp. Rd. 1600 Wednesday afternoon sending one man to the hospital with serious injuries.

Viperjet MK II, N999VJ: Incident occurred January 29, 2014 in Chino, California



AIRCRAFT, EXPERIMENTAL VIPERJET MK II, ON LANDING, GEAR COLLAPSED, CHINO, CA  

http://registry.faa.gov/N999VJ

CHINO >> An experimental aircraft had a rough landing Wednesday at Chino Airport, prompting a response from the city’s fire personnel.

The nose gear of the aircraft, a home-built Viperjet MK II with tail number N999VJ, collapsed when the plane landed on the runway, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Chino Valley Fire District responded to the airport at 11:39 a.m., expecting a plane crash, fire officials stated in a press release.

Instead, they found a two-seater experimental jet that had lost its nose gear when it landed with a flat tire, according to airport officials.

The two people on board were not injured, and there was no fuel leak, the FAA reported.

An FAA online registry revealed the Viperjet had a valid certificate and is registered to Russell W. Skinner of Dana Point.

The FAA is conducting an investigation of the incident.

Moline school district asks judge to reconsider Elliott Aviation ruling

The Moline-Coal Valley School District wants a Rock Island County judge to reconsider his decision to uphold a state law that grants a property tax break to Elliott Aviation.

Further, the district wants Circuit Judge Frank Fuhr to enter an order that permanently stops local and state governments from enforcing the property tax break to the company, which leases land at the Quad-City International Airport.

The motion will be heard April 1.

On Feb. 1, Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill that grants Elliott Aviation tax-exempt status on the property it leases at the airport and on any future improvements it makes to the property.

Later that month, the district filed a lawsuit against Quinn; the Illinois Department of Revenue and its director, Brian Hamer; the Rock Island County Board of Review and members Dan DePorter, Joan Russell and Dick Shroeder; Rock Island County chief assessor Larry Wilson; Blackhawk Township Assessor Winna Pannell; and Coal Valley Township Assessor Rose Booker.

The district argued that the law is unconstitutional and that enforcing it will result in a loss of $150,000 in property taxes annually.

Elliott Aviation was not named as a party in the lawsuit but was granted a request to intervene. Elliott last year announced plans for a $1.8 million expansion of Elliott Aviation's Moline headquarters, adding 50 jobs over the next two years.

Elliott Aviation is a fixed-base operator, which means it has been granted permission to operate at the airport to provide aeronautical services, such as fueling and hangars.

Fuhr wrote in his Dec. 11 order that the law is not arbitrary but is "reasonably related to a legitimate state interest: job creation and economic development" and thus does not violate due process and equal protection clauses.

Fuhr also ruled that the district failed to prove that the law violates a special clause that prohibits legislators from "conferring" a special benefit or privilege upon a person or group and excluding others who are similarly situated.

Fuhr wrote that the evidence shows that Elliott Aviation is "uniquely situated" and the Legislature acted within its power to enact the law.

In its motion filed Jan. 9, the district argued that the law specifically benefits Elliott Aviation but not other similarly situated companies and fixed-based operators in Illinois.

"If lowering taxes creates jobs and that is the purpose of an act then a general law should be required, not Public Act 97-1161, which selects special beneficiaries," according to the motion.

Story and related documents:   http://qctimes.com

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Barnstorming Seaplane Offers Rides From Coronado

Photo by Joe Ditler
 Captain Michael Steel and two passengers enjoy the afternoon sun, just off the Coronado Golf Course beach, and minutes before take off and an exciting whale watching tour from the air.


Seaplanes lifting off from San Diego bay were once a common sight. Many remember car-carrying ferryboats slowing to a crawl to allow a bulky, gravity-defying PBY to pass - groaning under full power to obtain lift off as it drove into the wind.

Now, more than 30 years later, the seaplanes are back. Well, at least one seaplane. San Diego Seaplanes is operating out of Coronado, offering a variety of packages to their customers.

The little plane can be frequently seen along the Coronado Golf Course beach, just south of the bridge. Here customers eager to experience a seaplane flight step off the beach and climb aboard one of the pontoons in preparation for aerial, barnstorming adventure.

The business is owned and operated by Michael Steel. His seaplane tours of the San Diego coast are packaged in between a thrilling takeoff and landing from the water. Flight options are available in 20, 30, and 60-minute packages. Guests are treated to a bird’s eye view of the Hotel del Coronado, the Coronado Bridge, or spectacular coastal overviews of La Jolla, Sunset Cliffs and Point Loma.

“No runway, no problem,” says Steel, who has been flying seaplanes for more than 30 years and obtained his solo Pilot’s Certificate at the age of 16. He can maneuver his aircraft up to the beach, to your dock (such as at the Coronado Cays), to your yacht club, or even alongside an anchored boat in the bay.

“Currently we are the only seaplane operation in Southern California,” said Steel. “I figure we’ve conducted more than 800 water takeoffs and landings in the last six months alone.” His plane can carry six passengers at a time. Charter prices are extremely affordable and the seaplane is available seven days a week by appointment.

Steel has provided pilots and seaplanes for numerous Hollywood movies and TV productions. He has personally worked for Universal Studios, Fox Studios, HBO, Disney TV and the BBC, among others. He designed, built and flew the seaplane for “Waterworld,” a film starring Kevin Costner, and more recently flew a replica of the 100-year-old A-1 Triad seaplane for the 2012 US Navy celebration of a Century of Naval Aviation.

In fact, the actual birthplace of naval aviation took place in the Spanish Bight, a waterway that once separated North and South Coronado Island – an area Steel flies his passengers over every day. The history of his profession is not lost on him, nor on his passengers.

Currently whale watching along our coastline is the most popular option, but other choices include a kayak/flight experience, sunset flights, romantic beach picnics, birthday flights and corporate events, and even honeymoon or full moon flights.

The entrepreneurial Steel is already building sponsorship packages to expand his seaplane business to Los Angeles (Catalina) and Hawaii.

For Steel it’s a family affair. His wife Andrea runs the office, and frequently one or all of their five children are involved in one project or another concerning the business, even if it’s just keeping the windshield clean on the seaplane. On Coronado itself, Steel’s mother, Sue Steel, can be seen standing on the lawn near her condo at Centennial Park waving at him as he flies over.

For more information call 800-732-7526, or visit SanDiegoSeaplanes.com.

Source:   http://www.coronadonewsca.com

Diamond DA 20-C1 Eclipse, Doss Aviation Inc, N959DA: Accident occurred January 29, 2014 in Fort Carson, Colorado

NTSB Identification: CEN14TA126
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, January 29, 2014 in Fort Carson, CO
Probable Cause Approval Date: 09/24/2014
Aircraft: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA20-C1, registration: N959DA
Injuries: 2 Minor.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this public aircraft accident report.

**This report was modified on 1/22/2015. Please see the public docket for this accident to view the original report.**

According to air traffic control (ATC) audio recordings, a tower controller cleared an airplane for takeoff about 23 seconds after a UH-60 helicopter was cleared for takeoff from a midfield location. The tower controller ensured that a runway separation standard of 3,000 feet was present and did not give a wake turbulence advisory. The flight instructor reported that she was aware of the helicopter's takeoff and that she perceived adequate separation from the helicopter. The flight instructor incorrectly identified the helicopter as a Bell UH-1, which weighs less than the UH-60. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane encountered the wake vortex of the helicopter and entered a steep left bank. The flight instructor attempted to counteract the left roll with full right aileron inputs, but she was unable to maintain control. The airplane impacted terrain near midfield and came to rest inverted. A review of ATC audio recordings and airplane performance data revealed that the airplane trailed the helicopter by about 48 to 63 seconds at the midfield location and was about 150 to 200 feet above ground level when it encountered the helicopter's wake vortex.

Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ATC guidance does not require specific wake turbulence separation criteria for a small airplane following a helicopter nor does it require a controller to give a wake turbulence advisory for a small airplane following a helicopter. Current FAA pilot guidance, including the Airman's Information Manual and an advisory circular on aircraft wake turbulence, also do not recommend separation criteria for a small airplane following a helicopter.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The flight instructor's loss of control after takeoff following a wake turbulence encounter from a preceding helicopter. Contributing to the accident were the flight instructor's misidentification of the helicopter type and a lack of Federal Aviation Administration wake turbulence separation criteria for a small airplane following a helicopter.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 29, 2014, at 1432 mountain standard time, a single engine Diamond DA20-C1 airplane, N959DA, was substantially damaged after impact with terrain at Butts Army Airfield (KFCS), Fort Carson, Colorado. The flight instructor (CFI) and student suffered minor injuries. The airplane was owned by Doss Aviation Incorporated and operated under contract for the United States Air Force (USAF). The airplane was departing on a training flight for Pueblo Memorial Airport (KPUB), Pueblo, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 public use flight.

According to air traffic control (ATC) audio recordings, the KFCS tower controller cleared the DA20 for takeoff from the approach end of Runway 13 about 23 seconds after a Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter was cleared for takeoff from a midfield location. The tower controller ensured a runway separation standard of 3,000 feet was present, as required by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ATC guidance. The controller did not give a wake turbulence advisory, which was not specifically required by FAA ATC guidance.

According to the CFI and student, the airplane entered into a steep left bank soon after liftoff. The flight instructor attempted to counteract the left roll with full right aileron inputs, but was unable to maintain control. The airplane impacted terrain near midfield and came to rest inverted.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

Flight Instructor

The CFI, age 59, held an airline transport pilot certificate with airplane single and multiengine land, airplane instrument ratings. The CFI's flight instructor certificate included airplane single and multiengine land ratings. She had flown 17,047 hours, including 823 hours as a flight instructor in the DA20 and 22 hours of rotary wing hours early in her career.

The CFI stated with certainty that she perceived the preceding helicopter to be a Bell UH-1, which weighs less than a UH-60. Interviews with tower controllers and other helicopter pilots operating in the KFCS pattern at the time of the accident confirmed the departing helicopter was a UH-60.

Student

The student was a USAF officer with limited flying experience. His previous flight time included about 15 hours in the T-53A (a Cirrus SR-20 variant) at the USAF Academy's Powered Flight Program. The student progressed normally through the initial flight screening (IFS) syllabus-directed program and had flown about 14 hours in the DA20 previous to the mishap sortie.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The accident airplane was manufactured by Diamond Aircraft Industries, Inc. in 2007 and equipped with a Continental IO-240-B engine. The last annual and 100-hour inspections were completed on December 18, 2013. During the postaccident examination, no anomalies were noted with the engine, flight controls, or other airplane systems. The CFI and student did not observe any anomalies with the airplane.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The weather observation station at KFCS reported the following conditions at 1458: wind 170 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 17,000 feet above ground level (AGL), temperature 5 degrees Celsius (C), dew point negative 8 degrees C, and altimeter setting 29.76.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The left wingtip of the aircraft struck the terrain 118 feet left of the runway centerline. The airplane cartwheeled and the main cockpit/fuselage came to rest inverted 2,511 feet from the approach end and 285 feet left of runway centerline, with the aft fuselage fractured.

SURVIVAL ASPECTS

When cockpit structure came to rest inverted, the CFI and student found they were unable to egress from the airplane, as only a few inches of space existed between them and the terrain. Because of this, the CFI and student had difficulty accomplishing post-accident actions to minimize the risk of fire. On-scene witnesses and rescue personnel considered 'flipping' the airplane, but re-considered after confirming the airplane's electrical system was de-energized, the fuel system was not compromised, and a lack of injuries of the crewmembers. On-scene personnel waited for airfield crash/fire/rescue, who utilized pneumatic pillows to effectively extract the CFI and student.

TESTS AND RESEARCH INFORMATION

Utilizing DA20-C1 performance data, the accident airplane would have reached the midfield location about 25-40 seconds after the ATC takeoff clearance, having climbed to about 150-200 feet AGL. Based on this estimate and ATC audio tapes, the DA-20 trailed the UH-60 about 48-63 seconds at the midfield location.

ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

Doss Aviation Inc., owner of the accident airplane and employer of the CFI, has operated the IFS program under contract with the USAF since 2006. In September 2008, a Doss Aviation DA20 encountered the wake turbulence of a C-130 during final approach to Doss Aviation's home airfield. Flying 56 to 62 seconds behind the C-130's flight path, the crew was unable to recover from the effects of the wake turbulence vortices. Following that accident, Doss Aviation had placed additional emphasis on the inherent risks of the DA20's very lightweight design and the avoidance of wake turbulence.

In the months leading up to this accident, an Army Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) had started to arrive at KFCS. About three weeks prior to the accident, increased exposure to helicopters was briefed as a safety topic during a Doss Aviation continuation training (CT) meeting. The briefing focused on risks associated with rotorwash/wake turbulence and the different types of helicopters expected to be located at KFCS as part of the CAB. The briefing provided 'rules-of-thumb, to include a 2 minute wake turbulence spacing in trail from helicopters, although Doss did not make this mandatory. The accident CFI attended the CT briefing on helicopter hazards.

At the time of the accident, a warning in the IFS In-Flight Guide for operations at KFCS read as follows: "WARNING: Use extreme caution operating in the vicinity of helicopters. Do not takeoff or land with helicopters hovering or taxiing within 500 feet of the runway. Consider wind direction to predict wake vortex movement, and use greater than 500 feet separation if required. Make an early go-around decision when required to avoid wake turbulence."

Following the accident, Doss Aviation released guidance requiring their pilots to maintain a wake turbulence separation of 2 minutes behind 'small plus' aircraft, which included UH-60 and AH-64 helicopters, two of the primary aircraft assigned to the CAB. Also since the accident, the USAF operations group overseeing the IFS program regenerated the Southern Colorado (SOCO) Front Range Airspace Working Group (FRAWG), which had been more active when IFS was initially stood up, but had waned recently. The charter of the FRAWG, comprised of SOCO military/civilian flying and ATC organizations, is to reduce congestion risks and optimize efficient use of the available airspace.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAA Flight Test Report

In February 1996, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Center released a flight test report (DOT/FAA/CT-94/117) on the hazards of rotorcraft wake vortices in forward flight. The flight test utilized a laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) to measure helicopter wake vortices. Four helicopters, with weights ranging from 7,600 to 70,000 pounds, were utilized as the wake vortex generating aircraft. The maximum duration for vortex life, as measured by the LDV, was 75 seconds for the UH-60. The FAA flight test report made the following conclusions:

--Medium weight helicopters, such as the S-76A and UH-1….can leave active, potentially hazardous vortices for up to 90 seconds. Separations for small aircraft behind these rotorcraft should therefore be in the 90-second range.

--Larger helicopters, such as the CH-47D and CH-53E ….were observed to have longer hazard times. A 120-second separation should be adequate for operations behind these rotorcraft.

--Information on the wake vortex hazard behind these rotorcraft, including delineation by class, should be included in the Airman's Information Manual and the Wake Vortex Advisory Circular.

FAA ATC guidance

Current FAA ATC guidance published in FAA order 7110.65M places all helicopters in the same wake turbulence category as small aircraft. Based on this, FAA ATC wake turbulence guidance does not require an in-trail distance or timing separation for a small airplane following a helicopter, nor is a controller specifically required to give a wake turbulence advisory for a small airplane following a helicopter. Current FAA ATC guidance states: "issue cautionary information to any aircraft if in your opinion, wake turbulence may have an adverse effect on it".

FAA Pilot guidance

Similarly for FAA pilot guidance, the current FAA airman information manual (AIM) and advisory circular (AC) 90-23G on aircraft wake turbulence do not recommend an in-trail distance or timing separation for an airplane following a helicopter. The AC contains a general wake turbulence statement: "pilots should avoid helicopter vortices since helicopter forward flight airspeeds are often very low, which generate strong wake turbulence."

http://registry.faa.govN959DA

NTSB Identification: CEN14TA126
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, January 29, 2014 in Fort Carson, CO
Aircraft: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 20 C1, registration: N959DA
Injuries: 2 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this public aircraft accident report.

On January 29, 2014, at 1432 mountain standard time, a single engine Diamond DA-20-C1 airplane, N959DA, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain at Butts Army Airfield (KFCS), Fort Carson, Colorado. The flight instructor and student pilot suffered minor injuries. The airplane was owned by Doss Aviation Incorporated and operated under contract for the United States Air Force (USAF). The airplane was departing on a training flight for Pueblo Memorial Airport (KPUB), Pueblo, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 public use flight.

According to the flight instructor and student pilot, while departing from Runway 13, the airplane entered into a steep left bank. The flight instructor was unable to maintain control and the airplane impacted terrain near midfield, coming to rest inverted. Less than a minute prior to commencing their takeoff roll, the flight instructor and student observed a helicopter depart from Runway 13.

The weather observation station at KFCS reported the following conditions at 1458: wind 170 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 17,000 feet above ground level (AGL), temperature 5 degrees Celsius, dew point negative 8 degrees Celsius, and altimeter setting 29.76.



A member of the Doss Aviation flight program pilots a plane at Pueblo Memorial Airport.


FORT CARSON, CO --  A Doss Aviation training aircraft crashed at Fort Carson’s Butts Army Airfield about 2:30 p.m. today, officials announced.

The two crew members were taken to Memorial Hospital, according to Army officials. At 5:55 p.m., the men were reported to be in good condition. The Diamond DA20  was part of the Air Force flight screening program based at Pueblo Memorial Airport.

Fort Carson officials said the crash occurred during a routine training flight from Pueblo. The crash is under investigation.

On private planes happiness isn't an amenity

Written by  Sally Quinn

I keep thinking that if only I had a private plane, I would be really happy. Seriously. I can’t think of any greater luxury. You decide when you want to go. Your chauffeur pulls up to the plane on the tarmac, the stewards and pilots welcome you and carry your bags in. You settle into deep wide leather seats. You are served anything you want when you want it. If the weather is really bad, you can tell the pilot not to take off or to land. If you’re traveling to a foreign country, customs officials get on the plane to check your passport.

Story and comments/reaction:    http://www.delawareonline.com



RV rally not returning to Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport next year

BROOKSVILLE - When the last RV rolls out of the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport rally Sunday, it will mark the end of a 16-year partnership that pumped millions into the local economy.

The board of directors of the Southeast Area Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) voted 46-0 Tuesday morning not to sign a new lease with the airport. Instead, the board announced it has signed a tentative agreement with Sarasota to hold the annual rally at an inside venue.

In the end, it came down to money.

"We just cannot afford to keep putting money in these tents," said Jim Duncan, president of the Southeast Area Family Motor Coach Association. "We need to have permanent structures to put this rally on."

FMCA paid about $70,000 to erect tents for the event this year.

Duncan said he blames the Aviation Authority for not providing a building and for failing to negotiate.

"We kept asking them that's what we needed," Duncan said. "You need to step up to the plate and they never did that."

Duncan said his board wanted to stay in Brooksville and this is no slam against the area merchants who he called hospitable and friendly.

But putting on a rally this size is a business and Sarasota is offering the use of a 500-seat indoor arena for $20,000, Duncan said.

Gary Schraut, chairman of the Aviation Authority, said he did reach out to the FMCA about a long-term solution but was met with resistance.

"It's a two-way street," Schraut said. "No one reached out to us. We reached out to them."

Schraut said the FMCA's request for a permanent structure was untenable because of Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

"It's very difficult for the airport to build permanent facilities on the airport side that are not aviation-related," Schraut said.

Schraut said he will be sorry to see the RVers leave but there's nothing he or his advisory board could do because of the lack of communication from the FMCA board.

Conrad Kleinpeter, an FMCA regional vice president, said it was hoped the county could provide the RVers with a permanent indoor building to hold the annual vendor booths, trade shows and other amenities for the rally.

Instead, participants - who gather from throughout the nation - had to meet in tents, he said.

"We're going to lose $40,000 this year and we have $100,000 in the bank," Kleinpeter said.

The FMCA had already reduced costs as much as possible, he said, by cutting the number of on-site tents and reducing the cost from $120,000 to $70,000.

But it's not enough to salvage the rally, he said.

Kleinpeter said the declining number of RV participants doesn't help.

"We had 3,000 coaches a few years ago," Kleinpeter said. "This year, we had 600. It's just a dollars and cents thing."

Kleinpeter said he got the impression the RVers were no longer welcome here because nobody tried to address their concerns.

"I think these airport people want us out of here," he said.

The annual RV rally is one of the largest tourism events in Hernando County which, during its height, injected up to $10 million into the economy, according to earlier reports from the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce.

But rally organizers have been losing money due to a fall-off in members, the bad economy and the escalating costs of putting on the event.

Sarasota and other counties had been making overtures to FMCA officials about moving the rally to their area.

The county came close to losing the RV rally last year but the FMCA agreed to a one-year lease to see if conditions could be improved at the airport.

The agreement contained several money-saving options, the biggest of which was a reduction in the license fee from an annual flat rate of $6,500 to $4 per motor coach.

There would be no charge for additional coaches should attendance exceed 700, which would provide an annual savings of $3,700 or more over the current agreement. The airport also assumed responsibility for the mowing and maintenance of the rally area, reducing FMCA costs by some $8,000.

But efforts to secure an indoor, permanent facility didn't occur and that proved to be a deal breaker for the FMCA.

Duncan said the board plans to sign a one-year lease with Sarasota. After that, it's up to the board where it will hold the rally. If Hernando County wants to continue to negotiate for future RV rallies, then it will listen, he said.

"We can always come back," Duncan said.


Source:   http://hernandotoday.com

Clutha helicopter tragedy: Lawyers representing victims of crash call for public inquiry into safety of commercial flights

Lawyers representing some of the victims of the Clutha helicopter crash have called for a public inquiry into the safety of all commercial flights in the UK.

Ten people died and more than 30 were taken to hospital after a police helicopter crashed through the roof of the packed Clutha pub in Glasgow on November 29.

Legal firm Irwin Mitchell has written to transport ministers at Westminster and Holyrood calling for a public inquiry into helicopter safety.

It comes after helicopter operators Bond started making interim payments to the victims of the crash.

It has not yet been established why the helicopter fell from the sky, although investigators said initial evidence rules out engine or gearbox failure.

The House of Commons Transport Select Committee set up an inquiry into the safety of offshore flights in the wake of last year's fatal Super Puma crash off Shetland which claimed the lives of four people.

MPs on the committee questioned representatives from helicopter operators, manufacturers, trade unions and industry bodies in Aberdeen earlier this week.

Irwin Mitchell said the investigation should be extended as there have been 20 helicopter accidents in UK airspace, with at least 40 fatalities, since 2009.

Clive Garner, head of Irwin Mitchell's aviation law team, said: "The tragedy in Glasgow has put a spotlight on the issue of helicopter safety, but the unfortunate truth is that it is just the latest in a string of tragedies and urgent action is now needed to ensure that helicopter safety standards are reviewed and improvements made where necessary.

"Our clients rightly want answers and reassurances that no-one else will have to go through the ordeals that they have been through.

"Because of our concerns, we have written to transport ministers in both the UK and Scottish parliaments demanding that they do what is right in these circumstances and launch a full public inquiry into the safety of helicopters operating within UK airspace with the aim of improving helicopter safety.

"While the review into the safety of offshore helicopter operations is certainly necessary, there are wider and more fundamental issues which need to be investigated."

The firm is asking for an investigation into the UK's helicopter safety record compared to other countries, the effectiveness of current regulation and what legislation could be used to address concerns.

Irwin Mitchell is also calling for all commercial helicopters in the UK to be installed with a black box. Helicopters weighing less than 3,175kg are currently exempt from carrying recording equipment.

Mr Garner said: "In the Clutha Vaults tragedy, we have a sophisticated twin engine helicopter that crashed in a city but there is no black box evidence to assist the investigators and quickly identify the cause of this astonishing accident.

"In our letter to the transport ministers, we have suggested that the exemption weight limits be significantly reduced to ensure more aircraft are fitted with this equipment, which would provide vital information at the early stages of an air accident investigation."

The three crew on the police helicopter who were killed were pilot David Traill, 51, Pc Tony Collins, 43, and Pc Kirsty Nelis, 36.

Those killed in the pub were John McGarrigle, 57, Mark O'Prey, 44, Gary Arthur, 48, Colin Gibson, 33, Robert Jenkins, 61, and Samuel McGhee, 56.

Customer Joe Cusker, 59, was pulled from the wreckage alive but died in hospital from his injuries almost two weeks later.

Story and comments/reaction:  http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk


Eurocopter EC135 T2+,  G-SPAO,  Bond Air Services Ltd. for Police Scotland

Kuwait International Airport, Farwaniyah, Kuwait

A Saudi airplane carrying 103 passengers became bogged in sand at Kuwait International Airport after the pilot accidentally attempted to use a taxiway under construction, Kuwait state media has said.

The airport’s operations director, Essam Al Zamel, said the pilot ignored numerous warning signs and visibility was clear when the National Air Services (NAS) plane entered the taxiway.

None of the passengers on board were hurt but they were forced to disembark from the plane and return to the airport while the aircraft was removed from the sand.

Another plane was sent from Saudi Arabia to fly the passengers to their destination, Jeddah.


A Saudi aircraft with 103 passengers on board was stuck in sand at Kuwait International Airport after it entered the wrong lane while heading for the airport terminal.

Airport officials said the Nas Air plane has just landed and taxied towards the terminal when it mistakenly entered a construction area despite warning boards installed there.

“It entered an area where we are carrying out maintenance and construction work despite the many warning boards installed there,” Isam Al Zamil, director of the Kuwait airport operations, told the official news agency Kuna.

“I don’t know how the pilot got into that area as the boards were clearly visible and weather conditions were good…the plane got stuck in sand there and we have to wait for another Nas aircraft to come and take the transit passengers to Saudi Arabia.”

Mesa Airlines Canadair CRJ-700, United Express, N506MJ, Flight YV-3759/UA-3759: Incident occurred January 29, 2014 in Wilmington, Delaware

United Express jet makes emergency landing at New Castle Airport 


A United Express passenger jet en route to Boston had to made an emergency landing this morning at New Castle Airport after the plane experienced problems with an on-board oxygen generator, officials said. 

 The regional jet, operated by Mesa Airlines, was transporting 61 passengers and a crew of four from Washington-Dulles Airport to Boston-Logan when the problems began, said Jim Salmon, spokesman for the Delaware River and Bay Authority, which owns the airport.

The jet was a Bombardier CRJ 700, which can carry up to 70 passengers.

About 9:46 a.m., the jet landed safely on Runway 1 and turned off onto Taxiway K, where it was met by firefighters from the Delaware Air National Guard base as well as volunteers from Wilmington Manor, Newport and Good Will of New Castle fire companies.

The air base also supplied two buses to evacuate the passengers and transfer them and crew members to the airport terminal building, according to Salmon and the 166th Airlift Wing Base Operations.

United and Mesa Airlines are making alternative arrangements for the passengers to complete their trip to Boston, Salmon said.


Story and comments/reaction:  http://www.delawareonline.com

 
A Mesa Airlines -United Express - Canadair CRJ-700 sits on the runway at New Castle Airport this morning after an emergency landing.
Photo Ourtesy/Credit:  WILLIAM H. MCMICHAEL/THE NEWS JOURNAL




Oxygen masks deployed inside the jet during the emergency landing. 
(Photo courtesy: SaraBTweets)




Passengers walked off the jet in Delaware.
 (Photo courtesy: SaraBTweets) 


Passengers stood near the jet after the emergency landing in Delaware.
 (Photo courtesy: SaraBTweets) 






Boston-Bound Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Delaware

BOSTON (CBS) — A flight from Washington’s Dulles Airport to Boston made an emergency landing at a county airport in Delaware, Wednesday morning.

According to a passenger on the flight, the plane began losing altitude rapidly, the oxygen masks came down and the cabin filled with smoke.

That passenger described the experience as “terrifying.”

The flight was a United Express CRJ 700, operated by Mesa Airlines.

According to Delaware River and Bay Authority, the problems were caused by the onboard oxygen generator.

Sixty-one passengers and four crew members were onboard.

“At approximately 9:50 a.m. EST, Mesa Airlines, flight 3759, a Canadian Regional Jet, diverted to the New Castle Airport, Wilmington, DE after the pilot reported smoke in the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely. The flight originated at Washington-Dulles International Airport and was enroute to Boston Logan International Airport,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

A new plane is expected to arrive at the county airport later this afternoon to complete the trip to Boston.

No injuries were reported.


Sources:    

http://www.boston.com

http://boston.cbslocal.com

Boeing Profit Improves on Higher Deliveries: Aerospace Giant Offers Tepid Outlook for 2014

The Wall Street Journal

By Jon Ostrower


Updated Jan. 29, 2014 10:11 a.m. ET

Boeing Co. easily beat forecasted earnings growth in the fourth quarter on continued strong demand for its jetliners, but tempered its outlook for 2014, despite another planned record year for commercial aircraft production.

The aerospace and defense giant delivered a record 648 commercial aircraft in 2013 and expects to best that in 2014, planning for 715 to 725 deliveries, driven by increasing production of single-aisle 737s and long-range 787 Dreamliners.

But Boeing's guidance for 2014 was lighter than analysts' expectations, and while its commercial backlog reached a record $374 billion for 5,080 jets at the end of 2013, year-end defense orders were down to $70 billion from $71 billion a year earlier, with a dip expected in profit margins in 2014.

Boeing's forecast for earnings per share of $7 to $7.20 in 2014 also missed analysts' expectations, according to those polled by Thomson Reuters, who expected per-share profit of $7.57. Revenue is forecast to climb again from the record $86.6 billion in 2013—to $87.5 billion to $90.5 billion in 2014—but that too missed expectations of $92.72 billion.

Analysts cautioned Boeing's initial forecasts tend to be more conservative at the beginning of the year.

Revenue at its commercial division edged up 3.7%, while operating earnings rose 19% in the quarter, having delivered 172 jets.

"Our commercial airplanes business accelerated delivery of its record backlog by successfully increasing production rates while also achieving important development milestones on the 737 MAX and 787-9 and launching the new 787-10 and 777X models with an unprecedented customer response," Chairman and Chief Executive Jim McNerney said.

Boeing's defense, space and security division also turned stronger results despite tight defense budgets. Revenue improved 6.1%, and operating earnings rose 27%. Mr. McNerney said the unit continues to persist through "a tough operating environment."

Overall, Boeing reported a quarterly profit of $1.23 billion, or $1.61 a share, up from $978 million, or $1.28 a share, a year earlier on increasing jetliner deliveries driving revenue up 7% to $23.8 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected per-share profit of $1.57 and revenue of $22.74 billion.

—Tess Stynes and Doug Cameron contributed to this article.


Source:   http://online.wsj.com


Toronto's waterfront is for people, not planes

Paul Bedford, David Crombie, Jack Diamond, Anne Golden and Ken Greenberg 

Contributed to The Globe and Mail

Published Wednesday, Jan. 29 2014, 7:48 AM EST

Last updated Wednesday, Jan. 29 2014, 7:52 AM EST


Toronto City Council is about to decide the future of Toronto’s waterfront. What is being proposed is nothing less than the transformation of a small, inner city airport to a major international one. This decision is not about Porter Airlines, whose service and convenience are widely appreciated by many. It is not about a little airport. It is not about a limited expansion.

Porter is seeking approval to grow the annual passenger volume from the current 2.3-million travellers to 4.8-million. That is about the same passenger volume as the Ottawa International Airport – Canada’s sixth-largest. If council chooses to permit the expansion of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to allow jet service, a series of negative consequences will be unleashed that will change the waterfront forever. Here’s why:

First, jet service to the airport requires an extension of the runway by up to 200 metres in each direction into the harbour and into Lake Ontario. The existing marine buoys at either end of the runway may need to be extended to accommodate safety requirements. We will be left with a smaller, more congested harbour. To minimize the jet blast on small boats, a high and obtrusive jet blast deflector wall would be constructed across the entire width of the runway at both ends. On the west side, the new Ontario Place water’s edge park would be a mere 300 metres from the end of the runway.

Second, traffic congestion will intensify. Adding more cars and taxis – the predominant travel option – to Lower Bathurst St., Queen’s Quay and Lakeshore Blvd. will only add more chaos to an area that is already on the edge of failure during peak periods.

Traffic consultants retained by the city have concluded that there is no way the current road network could handle the proposed expansion of passenger volume. It is not clear how the $100-million sought from the federal and provincial governments for ground infrastructure improvements would address this problem.

The expansion would cater to the vacation traveller, instead of the commuter business community. This will result in totally different and escalating demands for longer-term parking, luggage and ground support operations. Conflicts between vehicular traffic and the safety of elementary school children have already resulted in suggestions to consider relocating the existing Waterfront School and Harbourfront Community Centre.

Third, Torontonians currently enjoy a range of waterfront activities, including recreation and culture. This is a core issue. If the airport doubles in passenger volume with the planned runway expansions, it could mean, over time, a gradual increase of up to 30-36 aircraft movements per peak hour. This means a jet could land or take off every two minutes. Air Canada and WestJet have already indicated their desire to operate jet service out of an expanded Island Airport, and Continental Airlines has expressed interest. Such continued growth would choke the neighbourhood and its services. Offering jet service to such distant destinations as Vancouver, California, Florida and the Caribbean would tip the balance. The airport would dominate the waterfront rather than being part of a range of human-scale activities for citizens and tourists.

The effects of airport growth to this point on the Bathurst Quay community are already considerable, and would worsen under an expansion. In warmer months, residents have experienced a residue from aircraft fuel on their windows, balconies and furniture.

The Toronto Medical Officer of Health has documented the health impact of the airport and its expansion. This led to the unanimous rejection of the proposed airport expansion by the Board of Health.

In 1999, the people of Toronto celebrated when the federal, provincial and municipal governments came together to establish Waterfront Toronto. This corporation has invested more than $1.5-billion of public money in the visible revitalization of our entire waterfront, 47 kilometres spanning the amalgamated City of Toronto from Scarborough to Etobicoke. This civic renewal has improved the quality of life for a public who now have access to their waterfront. Toronto’s Official Plan also requires that airport operations comply with the 1983 Tripartite Agreement and that improvements to the airport’s facilities have no adverse impacts on the surrounding community.

The scale and scope of the airport expansion and introduction of jets are simply not compatible with this vision – and council policies. There is no such thing as a “little big airline” or a “little big airport.” Those are clever words masking private gain and public loss. We cannot allow it to replace a highly valued public vision for our waterfront. We only have one waterfront and it belongs to everyone.

Paul Bedford was the chief planner of Toronto from 1996-2004; David Crombie is a former mayor of Toronto; Jack Diamond is Toronto-based international architect; Anne Golden is the chair of the Transit Investment Advisory Panel; Ken Greenberg is the former head of urban design in the Toronto planning department.

Story and comments/reaction:   http://www.theglobeandmail.com