Aviation Safety
Hosed
Engine began running rough in cruise, the pilot diverted and the aircraft was landed without damage. Investigation found the fuel line between the fuel flow transducer and fuel flow divider was loose at the flow divider. Although it seems unlikely, the aircraft operator has to consider the possibility that this fuel line came loose by itself in the five days and 23 hours of flying since the last scheduled inspection....
Clouds In Your CAVU
For a supposedly CAVU day, I was now pointed at a solid cloud bank. I transitioned to instruments while still VFR and entered the clouds continuing toward VOR #3. It was still smooth as I crossed it and adjusted course toward VOR #4. Shortly after crossing VOR #3, there suddenly were a lot of pilots on the frequency asking for course and/or altitude changes to get out of this weather. I was still enjoying a smooth ride.
NTSB Reports
The crew reportedly was en route to pick up a neonatal infant. Radar data show the airplane climbed until reaching 14,000 feet msl. Ground speed was at 240 knots. The airplane then entered a steep right bank and radar contact was lost. No distress calls were received. A 600-foot-wide swath of wreckage was scattered over snow-covered terrain for about a mile. The cockpit area, cabin area, empennage, both engines and propellers, and both wings were identified and recovered.
Twin Training
When I first started training to fly multi-engine airplanes, it was solemnly explained to me that there were a few things the CFI and werent going to do. Yes, we were going to do stalls, but only from 5000 feet agl or more. They all would be straight-ahead and power-off to the pre-stall buffet, followed by the published stall recovery procedure. Generally, that involved pitching the nose down to regain airspeed and control. Only as we accelerated above the red line (VMCA) with the nose down did we bring up power to both engines. The CFI would arrange his knees and hands so that the yoke couldnt rotate past 20 or so degrees, limiting possible bank angles but poised to take over if needed.
New FAA Guidance On Turbine Climb Gradients
The agency offered a two-part rationale for the new policy statement. First, according to the InFO, It has come to the attention of the FAA that some confusion exists regarding compliance with climb gradients on IFR departure procedures and/or missed approach procedures. In some instances, this confusion has led to...excessive weight penalties to the departure performance capabilities of the aircraft. More important, according to the InFO, some operators may not be accounting for all obstacles in the planned departure path when flying departure procedures and/or missed approach procedures.
FAA
FAA Air Traffic Report
Today's Air Traffic Report:Today's weather is expected to be favorable for flying in most of the country. Clouds could reduce visibility in the Washington, D.C., area (BWI, DCA, IAD).Pilots: Check out the new Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) Tool from the Aviation Weather Center.For up-to-the-minute air traffic operations information, visit fly.faa.gov, and follow @FAANews on Twitter for the latest news and Air Traffic Alerts.The FAA Air Traffic Report provides a reasonable expectation of any daily impactsto normal air traffic operations, i.e. arrival/departure delays, ground stoppages, airport closures. This information is for air traffic operations planning purposes and is reliable as weather forecasts and other factors beyond our ability to control.Always check with your air carrier for flight-specific delay information.
FAA Statement on Boeing 737 Max
3/13/19 3:00pm UpdateStatement from the FAA on Ethiopian AirlinesThe FAA is ordering the temporary grounding of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory. The agency made this decision as a result of the data gathering process and new evidence collected at the site and analyzed today. This evidence, together with newly refined satellite data available to FAA this morning, led to this decision.The grounding will remain in effect pending further investigation, including examination of information from the aircrafts flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders. An FAA team is in Ethiopia assisting the NTSB as parties to the investigation of the Flight 302 accident. The agency will continue to investigate.3/12/19 6:10pm UpdateStatement from Acting FAA Administrator Daniel K. ElwellThe FAA continues to review extensively all available data and aggregate safety performance from operators and pilots of the Boeing 737 MAX.Thus far, our review shows no systemic performance issues and provides no basis to order grounding the aircraft. Nor have other civil aviation authorities provided data to us that would warrant action.In the course of our urgent review of data on the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash, if any issues affecting the continued airworthiness of the aircraft are identified, the FAA will take immediate and appropriate action.3/11/19 6:00pm UpdateThe FAA has issued a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC) related to the Boeing 737-8 and Boeing 737-9 (737 MAX) fleet.3/11/19 3:15pm UpdateAn FAA team is on-site with the NTSB in its investigation of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.We are collecting data and keeping in contact with international civil aviation authorities as information becomes available.Today, the FAA will issue a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC) for Boeing 737 MAX operators. The FAA continuously assesses and oversees the safety performance of U.S. commercial aircraft. If we identify an issue that affects safety, the FAA will take immediate and appropriate action.
Aerospace Pact Lowers Fees on U.S. Companies and Opens European Access to U.S. Markets
During a meeting between the co-chairs of the Bilateral Oversight Board (BOB) at the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) Headquarters in Washington, D.C., the officials with FAA and the European Union (EU) signed two decisions associated with the Airworthiness Annex of the U.S./EU Safety Agreement.The first decision, Bilateral Oversight Board (BOB) Decision 0008-0001, enables reductions of the EUs European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) fees for validation of U.S. aerospace products. This achievement is the culmination of a multi-year effort to reduce duplication of efforts by the FAA and EASA, and to lower EASA fees on U.S. industry to be more commensurate with that reduced level of effort. The decision covers simple design modifications such as Basic Supplemental Type Certificates. Fee reductions will take effect 30 days from todays signing.The second decision, BOB Decision 0009, amends the U.S./EU Safety Agreement to remove country specific limitations associated with aeronautical products and parts eligible for import into the United States. This amendment treats all EU Member States equally under the agreement and recognizes EASAs oversight and standardization processes throughout their jurisdiction.The FAA is fully committed to mutually working together with our international partners to improve aviation oversight and management, said FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety and BOB Co-chair Ali Bahrami. These agreements are a win, win for both the United States and Europe by providing greater access to aerospace markets, products and services.Director for Aviation, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport and BOB Co-chair Filip Cornelis said, Closer cooperation between the European and the US aviation safety oversight bodies brings clear benefits to both sides of the Atlantic. These agreements will facilitate the work of both the European and the US manufacturing sectors and help us maintain the highest aviation safety records in the world.About the FAAThe FAA operates the safest, most efficient, and complex aerospace system in the world. The FAA employs more than 45,000 people globally who are dedicated to improving safety, efficiency and environmental sustainability through global leadership, regulatory harmonization and partnerships. The FAA regulates the U.S. civil aviation industry, commercial space transportation, and is increasing safety and efficiency through its air traffic modernization program. Aviation contributes $1.6 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, supports 10.6 million jobs, and constitutes 5.1 percent of the nations gross domestic product.
Fly Safe: Prevent Loss of Control Accidents
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the general aviation (GA) communitys national #FlySafe campaign helps educate GA pilots about the best practices to calculate and predict aircraft performance and to operate within established aircraft limitations.A Loss of Control (LOC) accident involves an unintended departure of an aircraft from controlled flight. LOC can happen when the aircraft enters a flight regime that is outside its normal flight envelope and quickly develops into a stall or spin. It can introduce an element of surprise for the pilot. However, with proficiency training, you can maintain and improve pilot performance with respect to many LOC precursors, making it much less likely that LOC will occur.Pilot Skills: Currency vs. ProficiencyDo you know the difference between keeping current and becoming proficient? The FAA sets minimum standards for currency, but proficiency means that you have taken the time to fully train and are ready to handle any situation at any time.Being current under the regulations means you have met the requirements to act as a pilot in command of an aircraft. Being proficient means that you are fully competent in those actions. In other words, you understand the normal operations as well as the what-if readiness for your type of flying.Aeronautical decision-making and judgment is a constant work-in-process. Make the commitment to fly, master the technology, use your checklists, review your proficiency and maintain your personal discipline.Know Your LimitsWe all have limits. Do you know yours? You know what is legal through the regulations, your insurance company, the company you fly for but do you know what your skills and talents enable you to do, safely? If the answer is no, are you able to respect that answer? Personal minimums mean we set a line for what we will accept as safe, before we go flying. Personal minimums must be, refined and internalized, before your emotions and ego become involved.What Would You Do?Imagine different scenarios. A difficult landing. What would you do? A long day of flying. How does that change your decisions? What if you have passengers on board? You can see that choices are not always black or white. The more you can think about these situations and what your personal minimums will be, the better prepared you will be.Benefits of WINGSEach aeronautical skill requires practice. Practice with your flight instructor. Challenge yourself. Enroll in the FAAs WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program to learn more, and help us reduce the number of accidents we see each year. This program helps you improve your skills and knowledge as pilots. The WINGS program will:Help pilots reduce stress and enjoy a safer flying experience by maintaining their currency and proficiency in the basics of flight.Encourage ongoing training with your flight instructor. Reviewing and refreshing your knowledge at regular intervals throughout the year is just as important as actual flying.Provide opportunities to complete online courses, attend seminars, and participate in webinars. Many third party activities, including those offered by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Aviation Supplies and Academics Inc., Sportys and others qualify for WINGS credit.Getting started in WINGS is as easy as one, two, three.1. Create an account on faasafety.gov2. Complete your WINGS Pilot Profile3. Attend a WINGS seminar or take a WINGS flight with your flight instructor.Theres nothing like the feeling you get when you know youre playing your A game and in order to do that you need good coaching. So, fly regularly with a flight instructor who will challenge you to review what you know, explore new horizons, and to always do your best.Of course, youll have to dedicate time and money to your proficiency program, but its well worth it for the peace of mind that comes with confidence.More about Loss of Control:Contributing factors may include:Errors in and aeronautical decision makingFailure to recognize an aerodynamic stall or spin and execute corrective actionIntentional failure to comply with regulationsFailure to maintain airspeedFailure to follow procedurePilot inexperience and lack of proficiencyUse of prohibited or over-the-counter drugs, illegal drugs, or alcoholDid you know?From October 2017 through September 2018, 382 people died in 226 general aviation accidents.Loss of Control was the number one cause of these accidents.Loss of Control happens in all phases of flight.It can happen anywhere and at any time.There is one fatal accident involving Loss of Control every four days.Learn more:The FAAs WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program is a great place to start.You can find the WINGS User Guide here.Learn more about Currency vs. Proficiency through this AOPA article on Pilot Skills.Time is getting short!!The FAAs Equip ADS-B website gives you the information you need to equip now.Curious about FAA regulations (Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations)? Its a good idea to stay on top of them. You can find current FAA regulations on this website.TheFAASafety.govwebsite has Notices, FAAST Blasts, online courses, webinars, and more on key general aviation safety topics.TheWINGS Pilot Proficiency Programhelps pilots build an educational curriculum suitable for their unique flight requirements. The program operates on the premise that pilots who maintain currency and proficiency in the basics of flight will enjoy a safer and more stress-free flying experience.TheGeneral Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC)is comprised of government and industry experts who work together to use data to identify risk, pinpoint trends through root cause analysis, and develop safety strategies to reduce the risk of GA accidents. The GAJSC combines the expertise of many key decision makers in the FAA, several government agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and stakeholder groups. Industry participants include the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, National Business Aviation Association, National Air Transportation Association, National Association of Flight Instructors, Society of Aviation and Flight Educators, and the aviation insurance industry. The National Transportation Safety Board and the European Aviation Safety Agency participate as observers.
Important Update for B4UFLY Users
FAA partners with Kittyhawk to redevelop B4UFLY to further our safety mission and create a new and improved mobile app.
