الخميس 21ابريل 2016
http://atwonline.com/ Flydubai crash investigators suggest pilot goaround errors Russian’s Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) has issued five “prompt” safety recommendations in its interim reporton the crash of Flydubai flight 981, a Boeing 737-800 that plunged into the ground after a second missed approach at the Rostov-onDon airport early on the morning of March 19, killing all 62 aboard. Potential disorientation Four of the recommendations address pilot actions and potential disorientation during go-arounds (or missed approaches) with both engines operating near the end of a flight, when aircraft weight is lower and the engines provide more acceleration. A fifth recommendation calls for Boeing 737800 operators to take note of the findings. The early recommendations hint that disorientation as a result of the dynamic maneuver—a full-power go-around with both engines operating and low aircraft weight after six hours of flying—could have played a major role in the crash. Fatigue or circadian rhythm issues could also be involved, given the aircraft was attempting the second landing at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time. Flight recorders Based on flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder information, an international team of investigators determined that crew abandoned the second instrument landing system approach to Runway 22 at a height of 722 ft., then climbed to
http://atwonline.com/ (Continue) steeply to approximately 3,280 ft. before entering a steep dive and crashing 400 ft. past the threshold of Runway 22. What happened during that climb will be key to solving the mystery. Data shows pilots may have initiated the second abort due to an abrupt 20 kt. increase in indicated airspeed, possibly signaling wind shear. The pilots in response set maximum power to the engines, raised the landing gear and began climbing at approximately 4,000 ft./min. Investigators said the final portion of both approaches had been flown with the autopilot and autothrottle systems turned off, but the flight director turned on. The flight director provides a visual indication on the primary flight display of how the pilot should control the aircraft to follow a preprogrammed course. At a height of 1,900 ft. with a pitch attitude of 18 degrees nose-up, the pilot-flying pushed forward on the control column, causing the flaps, which had been set at 15 degrees, to automatically retract to 10 degrees to prevent over-speed damage. After a reduction in power, the crew then restored full power and the pilot-flying pulled back on the control column resulting in a climb rate of about 3,200 ft./min. At approximately 3,000 ft. height, investigators said there was a “simultaneous� control column nose-down input and stabilizer nose-down deflection. Pilots use the control column to deflect the elevator while an electrical switch on the control column can be used to move the stabilizer to provide trim control. The FDR showed that the stabilizer nose-down trim control input lasted 12 seconds, and the CVR verified the sound of the trim system in motion. The combination of control inputs resulted in a -1G pushover that resulted in a steep dive from which the crew did not recover.
http://atwonline.com/ (Continue) Additional training on go-arounds Two recommendations call for airlines to provide “additional training,� including simulator scenarios, on go-arounds with two engines operating from various heights and lower aircraft weights. The IAC also wants airlines to study the safety recommendations it issued after the November 2013 crash of a Tatarstan Airlines Boeing 737-500 at Kazan, and the May 2006 crash of an Armavia Airbus A320 near Sochi. Both crashes involved crew mistakes in part caused by higher than normal accelerations caused by two-engine go-arounds. Potential illusions include somatogravic illusions, which can lead a pilot to believe that forward acceleration is causing the aircraft is pitch up steeply. Another recommendation calls on airlines to analyze recommendations made by the French safety agency BEA in its August 2013 Aeroplane State Awareness during Go-Around (Asaga) study. BEA concluded that pilots are ill-prepared for go-arounds, relatively rare events where many actions must be completed in a short time, leaving little margin for error in handling automation and control of the aircraft. Failure to handle either can lead to a loss of control. Along with calling for somatogravic illusions to be incorporated into simulators, the BEA also recommended more training for goarounds, particularly with both engines operating, and installation of devices to limit thrust during go-arounds.
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http://atwonline.com/ United settles board battle; former Air Canada CEO to be chairman United Continental Holdings has resolved the proxy fight over the makeup of its board of directors by agreeing to make former Air Canada CEO Robert Milton the non-executive chairman of the board. The parent of Chicago-based United Airlines has also agreed to add two board members nominated by activist investors Altimeter Capital Management and PAR Capital Management, hedge funds that together own 7.1% of United. In March, Altimeter and PAR had announced their intention to nominate a slate of six board members, including former Continental Airlines CEO Gordon Bethune, sparking a public dispute over the makeup of United’s board. United CEO Oscar Munoz, whose contract with the company had specified that he would also become chairman of United’s board in 2017, has agreed to amend his contract so that he won’t assume the chairman’s role until 2018. Henry Meyer, United’s non-executive board chairman and a target of Altimeter and PAR’s displeasure with United’s governance, will step down at United’s annual shareholders’ meeting, expected to occur in June, and be replaced by Milton. United added Milton and former Delta Air Lines COO James Whitehurst to its board in early March as part of an effort to appease the hedge funds. Also joining the board in June will be PAR managing partner Edward Shapiro and former Orbitz Worldwide CEO Barney Harford, nominees chosen by Altimeter and PAR. United and the hedge funds have also agreed to add a mutually agreed board member within six months. Bethune will not become a member of United’s board. “With his deep experience in the airline industry, we are confident [Milton] is an excellent choice for non-executive chairman and he is exceptionally qualified to lead our board,” Munoz said in a statement. Altimeter CEO Brad Gerstner said, “As long-term United investors, we are pleased with the reconstituted board … We are confident that the new board will provide the guidance and oversight necessary to help United make its way back to the top.” United, Altimeter and PAR said they will shortly file their settlement agreement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
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http://www.thestar.com.my/ Mueller's early exit must not impact Malaysia Airlines turnaround KUALA LUMPUR: Christoph Mueller's decision to leave Malaysia Airlines Bhd before his three-year contract as chief executive officer ends comes as a surpise, but his departure must not derail the national carrier's turnaround plan and quest to chalk up profitability eventually. Understandably, the airline fraternity was taken aback by this piece of news as his entrance into the national carrier from Ireland's Aer Lingus last year, sparked hopes for the revival of MAB into a profitable entity. Mueller managed to set the right foundation in his short stint so far with the airline and in the process maintained his track record of turning around ailing airlines. Among his achievements with Malaysia Airlines included capacity reduction for unprofitable routes and a code-sharing partnership with Emirates. It was also during his watch that the national airline reported a profit in February this year, the first positive monthly result in years. He would leave behind a sterling legacy having notched up many successes in such a short time since his appointment on May 1, 2015. He would serve out his six-month notice period until September. An analyst said Mueller's decision to leave ahead of his three-year contract would not send a good message to the public, given that he is someone with that much calibre. "Everyone had high hopes when he joined. He steered the airline in the right direction and made tough decisions with route rationalisation and staff reduction.
http://www.thestar.com.my/ (Continue) "If the management continues with what he has left them, we believe the airline will stand a chance to become profitable," he told Bernama. "Shame, he was a good guy," remarked AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes who also expressed disappointment when he heard the news. Firefly Chief Executive Officer Ignatius Ong feels that the show must go on for MAB as the building blocks have been put in place. "The management team would see to the turnaround plan being carried out," said Ong, who helms low-cost carrier Firefly, a subsidiary of MAB. Meanwhile, based on its statement yesterday, the national airline was actively searching for a new chief executive officer, internally and externally, for potential candidates. It also appointed Chief Operations Officer Peter Bellew, the former Ryanair Flight Operations Director, as Executive Director on the board with immediate effect. Mueller attributed personal circumstances to his early departure. "I am looking forward to continuing this exciting task for another six months in my executive position. "I am confident that the company is now on the right track to succeed in its next phase of growth under a new CEO. "I remain fully committed to do everything possible to facilitate the continuing turnaround of Malaysia Airlines," he added. - Bernama
http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/ ICAO's Air Transport Monthly Monitor Jan 2016 According to ICAO’s (International Civil Aviation Organisation) Air Transport Monthly Monitor , the world passenger traffic grew by +7.1% y-o-y in January 2016, +1.7 percentage points higher than previous month. Strong passenger traffic growth observed in 2015 carried on into 2016. International traffic started the year with an acceleration in growth. Key domestic markets like India, China, and United States continued to grow strongly, with India posting a significant increase of +22.9%. The outlook for passenger traffic demand in 2016 is expected to remain strong supported by the fall in oil price.
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