No 'show stoppers' have emerged to block plan, which would focus only on engines - no cockpit or other upgrades

15 MAR 2010

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive EAD 2010-0042-E regarding the main fuel pump system and water scavenge system on certain Airbus A330 aircraft.
During a recent in-service event the flight crew of a Trent 700 powered A330 aircraft reported a temporary Engine Pressure Ratio (EPR) shortfall on engine 2 during the take-off phase of the flight. The ENG STALL warning was set. The flight crew followed the standard procedures which included reducing throttle to idle. The engine recovered and provided the demanded thrust level for the remainder of the flight.
Data analysis confirmed a temporary fuel flow restriction and subsequent recovery, and indicated that also engine 1 experienced a temporary fuel flow restriction shortly after the initial event on engine 2, again followed by a full recovery. The engine 1 EPR shortfall was insufficient to trigger any associated warning and was only noted through analysis of the flight data.
No flight crew action was necessary to recover normal performance on this engine. The remainder of the flight was uneventful.
Based on previous industry-wide experience, the investigation of the event has focused on the possibility for ice to temporarily restrict the fuel flow.
While no direct fuel system fault has been identified, the operation of the water scavenge system at Rib 3 cannot be excluded as being a contributory factor.
Testing and analysis are continuing to identify the root cause of the event.
The scenario of ice being shed and causing a temporary blockage in the engine fuel system may lead to a temporary fuel flow restriction to the engine. This may result in a possible engine surge or stall condition, and in the engine not being able to provide the commanded thrust.
Therefore, as a precautionary measure to reduce the possibility of ingesting ice into the engine fuel feed system, this AD requires to:
- deactivate the automatic Standby Fuel Pump Scavenge System, which operates during Taxi and Take-off by removing relays
Functional Item Numbers (FIN) 80QA1 and 80QA2 (this will not affect normal standby pump operation) for aeroplanes identified in the applicability section of this AD and on which this deactivation has not been performed in production through the modification 200801, and
- Prohibit the dispatch with one MAIN Fuel Pump inoperative on all aeroplanes identified in the applicability section of this AD.

Tagged: AD, Airbus A330, EASA (EASA)

Parties debate impact with six weeks to go before U.S. begins enforcing tarmac delay regulation

President Tim Clark, referring to A350, says carrier 'will not accept again what they did to us with the A380'

12 MAR 2010
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking to collect three proposed civil penalties totaling $787,500 from American Airlines for maintenance violations. In the first case, which occurred in April 2008, the FAA alleges American Airlines mechanics diagnosed problems with one of two Central Air Data Computers (CADCs) on a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 jetliner. Instead of replacing the computer, mechanics improperly deferred this maintenance under the airline’s DC-9 Minimum Equipment List (MEL) by noting that the auto-throttles were inoperative. The MEL, however, does not allow deferral of an inoperative CADC. The airline subsequently flew the plane on 10 passenger flights before the computer was replaced. During this time, flight crews were led to believe that both computers were working properly. The FAA proposes a civil penalty of $625,000 in this case. In the second case, the FAA found that in March 2008, American failed to correctly follow an Airworthiness Directive involving the inspection of rudder components on certain Boeing 757 aircraft. As a result, four 757s operated by American Airlines did not comply with the requirements of the Airworthiness Directive. The FAA alleges that after American was advised of the situation, the company said it would cease flying the planes until they were repaired. However, during the following two days, the airline flew two of the planes on a total of three passenger flights. The FAA is seeking a penalty of $75,000 in this case. In the final case, the FAA alleges that in May 2009, American’s mechanics returned an MD-82 aircraft to service, even though several steps of a scheduled B-check maintenance visit had not been checked off as completed. The airline also replaced a landing gear door without noting it in the aircraft’s logbook. The aircraft was operated on two passenger flights with the logbook error. An FAA inspection of the aircraft revealed several discrepancies in the tail section, including loose screws, a missing nut plate and a right hand elevator torque tube binding and making noise. As a result of these discrepancies, the FAA proposes a civil penalty of $87,500. American Airlines has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency. (FAA)

IATA points to a recent uptick in passenger demand and says airline losses this year will be lower than projected

President stresses need to reform regulations to boost U.S. exports without sacrificing national security

The U.S. and the EU plan to meet in Brussels March 22 for what they hope will be the last round of open-skies talks

NASA-funded study says it could aid use of advanced short-runway airliners, large commercial tiltrotors

10 MAR 2010
The crew of a Ryanair flight to Altenburg, Germany was forced to divert to Berlin because there was no air traffic controller present at the airport, according to a report by the German “Ostthüringer Zeitung” newspaper. On Sunday March 7, 2010 Ryanair flight FR 8926 departed London-Stansted Airport (STN/EGSS) airport on a flight to Altenburg Nobitz Airport (AOC/EDAC). The flight, carrying about 180 passengers, was scheduled to arrive at 09:45 but the crew were not able to contact the Altenburg controller. The crew decided to divert to Berlin-Schönefeld Airport (SXF/EDDB). The absence of an air traffic controller in the tower was due to an error in staff scheduling, according to a spokesman of “The Tower Company”, the Air Navigation Service Provider at Altenburg. The flight was carried out by Boeing 737-8AS, registered EI-DAN. (Ostthüringer Zeitung)

10 MAR 2010
The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism reprimanded Skymark Airlines for replacing a captain who refused to take off over safety concerns, The Mainichi Daily News reported. In a press release, the Ministry reported that the captain of Skymark Airlines flight BC017 asked the company’s headquarters on February 5, 2010 to replace the chief cabin attendant who he judged unable to deal with a possible emergency during the flight. The chief cabin attendant reportedly suffered from a cold. The flight was due to depart Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND/RJTT) on a domestic flight to Fukuoka Airport (FUK/RJFF). Company officials ordered the captain to accomplish the flight without changing the chief cabin attendant, but he refused to do so. Skymark then ordered another captain on standby to take over the flight and fired the original captain the same day. Skymark was given a written reprimand by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on March 9, 2010. Flight BC017 was carried out by a Boeing 737-86N, registered JA737K. (The Mainichi Daily News, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism )

10 MAR 2010
Two Ukrainian crew members were not allowed to carry out a flight from Simferopol to Kiev because their blood-alcohol concentration was above legal limits. The Ukraine Ministry of Transport and Communications reported in a news release that the level of alcohol in the flight engineer’s blood was 0.75 pro mil and that of flight attendant 0.57 pro mil, with the maximum legal amount being 0.2 pro mil. The crew were supposed to operate a Dnieproavia/Donbassaero Yakovlev 42 on March 9, 2010, on flight UDN398 from Simferopol Airport (SIP/UKFF) to Kiev-Borispol Airport (KBP/UKBB). In a statement, Donbassaero claimed it was unreasonable to subject this crew to an alcohol test at 11:00 because of the time between the test and the intended departure time. Under mandatory rest requirements, the flight could take place no earlier than midday, according to Donbassaero. (Ukraine Ministry of Transport and Communications)

Boeing flew its second 787 to California, the first time the aircraft has left Washington state

FAA revised its forecast to reflect slower demand recovery than previously expected

One issue being looked at is whether to use the reengining opportunity to introduce other changes

Delta is joining JetBlue in asking the U.S. DOT to waive the three-hour tarmac delay rule at New York Kennedy

U.S. Army Major Gen. Robert A. Harding (ret.), is an intelligence specialist with more than 30 years experience

Las Vegas-based carrier's fleet currently consists of MD-80s it paid for in cash

06 MAR 2010
Russian commercial pilots flying for Iranian airlines have to leave the country within two months, according Fars News Agency. "Upon an order from President [Mahmoud Ahmadinejad], the Road and Transport Ministry has set a two-month deadline, after which all Russian pilots must leave the country," the Iranian Minister of Roads and Transportation Hamid Behbahani said. The order was issued by the Iranian President after the accident involving an Ilyushin Il-62 in July 2009. The airplane, flown by a Russian captain, suffered a runway excursion accident after landing at high speed at Mashhad Airport. Sixteen were killed in the accident. (FARS)

Strategy could terminate the carrier's scheduled operations, revive as wet-lease operator for Caribbean Airlines