AIR SAFETY WEEK :: JULY 14, 2008

FAA Stubborn on Reform  
The Department of Transportation's inspector general says the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) refuses to implement some of its recommended measures designed to prevent serious lapses in airline oversight. On June 30, DOT issued a review of the FAA's oversight of airlines. The DOT IG initiated the...

NTSB Probes Near Midair Collision in New York  
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating a near midair collision near New York City on July 5. At 8:36 pm EDT, Cayman Airways Flight 792, a Boeing 737-300, and Linea Aerea Nacional de Chile Flight 533, a Boeing 767-300, almost collided over New York's John F. Kennedy International...

Boeing 747 Freighter Crashes in Colombia
The Colombian Government, with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, is probing the fatal July 7 crash of a Boeing 747-209BSF freighter. At about 2:52 a.m. EDT on July 7, the cargo aircraft (N714CK)...

U.S. Cargo Flight Crashes in Mexico
The Mexican Government, with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, is investigating the July 6 fatal accident in which a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15 freighter (N199US), operated by USA Jet Airlines...

NTSB Probes 767 Freighter Fire
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found no evidence that the June 28 ABX Air freighter fire at San Francisco International was intentionally set. The fire burned a hole through the top of the fuselage of the fully loaded Airborne Express Boeing 767 cargo airplane (N799AX) (Flight 1611)...

Improving the U.S. Air Transportation System
Two Purdue University professors are helping to shape the national plan to transform the U.S. air transportation system to increase its capacity and efficiency and ease congestion. Timothy Ropp, an assistant professor who specializes in aircraft maintenance, and Brian Dillman, an associate professor who...

Air Safety Data Mining Research Ongoing  
Computer scientists at The University of Texas at Dallas are developing technology that will sift through mountains of aviation data in search of ways to further enhance flight safety. Part of a new three-year, $1 million NASA-funded project being done in collaboration with researchers at the University of...

Aviation and Weather Forecasting
A team of researchers at the Ocean University of China has developed and tested a mobile lidar (light detection and ranging) station that can accurately measure wind speed and direction over large areas in real time -- an application useful for aviation...

Safety & Technology Trends
Aerobahn Service for Continental Sensis'Aerobahn Service is now operational at Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The web-based service provides Continental with the information needed to reduce taxi times at one of its key hubs. Sensis Aerobahn integrates flight schedule and operational data with...

Security Shortlines
Lawsuit Filed over Atlanta Hartsfield Gun Ban The nation's busiest airport is dueling with gun rights advocates over whether a new Georgia state law allows visitors to carry firearms at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International. The airport was designated a "gun-free zone" when a law allowing people...

Safety Rules & Regs
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88. Final rule. SUMMARY: This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the overwing frames from stations 845 to 905 (MD-87 stations 731 to 791), left and right sides, and...

Accidents & Incidents
Date Aircraft Type Narrative Death/Injury Remarks June 01, 2008 Carrollton, OH Bell 47D1 N74898 A/c sustained substantial damage during forced landing in field after experienced severe shaking in cyclic control during cruise flight. No injuries A/c departed Carrollton County-Tolson Airport (TSO) en route to...