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AeroSafety World March 2010

Aircraft rescue and fire fighting doesn’t always take place within the airport boundary. The February 2009 crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 occurred in a residential neighborhood about 5 nm (9 km) from the airport. The March cover story details the exemplary coordination ARFF arranged with local fire and rescue departments at the crash site.

Also, Mark Lacagnina describes the Colgan accident causal factors and outcome, based on the NTSB accident report. Other stories concern proposed changes in regulations for carriage of lithium batteries on aircraft; the strained relationships between local and “expat” maintenance workers in Nigeria; the new FSF Basic Aviation Risk Standard, designed for mining and resource company aviation operations; plus additional items of interest. 68 pages. [PDF 4.1M] Read more >

In Sight

Mixed Culture

There is no valid reason why aviation maintenance technicians of different races, tribes and cultures cannot learn to work together in a friendly environment, enjoying equal career opportunities within the maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in Nigeria. 3 pages. [PDF 258K] Read more >

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Safety Standards

Raising the Bar

Flight Safety Foundation’s new Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) is intended to address the safety issues facing aviation operations in the resource sector — a term that typically encompasses mining and energy companies with operations that are primarily onshore — by establishing common safety standards. 6 pages. [PDF 543K] Read more >

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Causal Factors

Startled and Confused

The captain’s inappropriate response to a stick shaker activation was the probable cause of an unrecoverable stall and the crash of a Colgan Air Bombardier Q400 on approach to Buffalo Niagara (New York, U.S.) International Airport the night of Feb. 12, 2009, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. 6 pages. [PDF 405K]
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Cover Story

Mutual Aid

When the Q400 struck a house and exploded, the volunteer fire chief pulled ARFF specialists into a massive response. So began 11 days of ARFF mutual aid to various stages of firefighting, crash site recovery and accident investigation in Clarence Center, a village surrounded by the Town of Clarence in New York, U.S. 6 pages. [PDF 359K] Read more >

Expanded Version of this article

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Runway Safety

Line Up and Wait

SMS risk assessments convince the FAA that more of ICAO’s ATC clearance procedures and phrases can be adopted safely. New factors have persuaded the FAA to adopt elements of safety recommendations traceable to accident investigations more than a decade ago. 4 pages. [PDF 217K] Read more >

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Maintenance Matters

Gear Collapse

Accident investigators blame the rough finish on a landing gear part and the incomplete performance of a corrective airworthiness directive for a fatigue failure that caused the collapse of the nose landing gear on an Avro 146-RJ100 after touchdown at London City Airport. 3 pages. [PDF 215K] Read more >

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Seminar EASS

Combining Resources

Urgent calls for action in establishing binding obligations to block criminal prosecution of people who provide safety information and in pooling the resources of member states to create a pan-European air accident investigation board kicked off the Flight Safety Foundation 22nd annual European Aviation Safety Seminar March 15–17 in Lisbon, Portugal. 4 pages. [PDF 288K] Read more >

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Cargo Safety

Battery Rules

U.S. transportation officials expect to finalize new rules later this year for the air transportation of lithium batteries and cells — including those that are packed with or contained in equipment. 3 pages. [PDF 237K] Read more >

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President’s Message

Building on the Basics

Lately, several high-profile accidents and incidents have involved violations of basic sterile cockpit procedures. This troubles me, and I know that I am not alone. 1 page. [PDF 85K] Read more >

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Editorial Page

Unintended Consequences

Members of Congress, alarmed by the Colgan captain’s poor piloting skills, compounded by a relatively inexperienced first officer’s response, are legislating a solution. 1 page. [PDF 70K] Read more >

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Safety Calendar

Industry Events

A listing of aviation safety-related conferences, seminars and meetings through the beginning of May 2010. 1 page. [PDF 71K] Read more >

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In Brief

Safety News

The risk of collisions on runways is among the most critical safety issues in Canada’s transportation system, the Transportation Safety Board said in releasing its “Watchlist” of nine items that present the greatest risks to Canadians. 3 pages. [PDF 187K] Read more >

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Data Link

By the Book

As flight deck automation technology has advanced, most commercial transport pilots have transitioned from active participants in many processes to supervisors of the automation. Unfortunately, this shift can lead to complacency. 4 pages. [PDF 106K] Read more >

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Info Scan

A Code Shared Accident

For those who did not view the Frontline program, “Flying Cheap,” when it aired on U.S. television, PBS has made it available on the Internet. The video and its full-text transcript may be viewed and read online at no charge. 5 pages. [PDF 395K] Read more >

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On Record

Takeoff Rejected Well Above V₁

The following information provides an awareness of problems in the hope that they can be avoided in the future. The information is based on final reports by official investigative authorities on aircraft accidents and incidents. 8 pages. [PDF 288K] Read more >

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