JetBlog! Interactive

State Department Provides New Guidance on Exporting Aircraft Parts

The U.S. State Department has issued a rule that was meant to ‘clarify’ the State Department’s policies with respect to which aircraft parts are considered commercial for export purposes, and which ones are considered to be governed by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITARs). The true effect of this rule, though, is to expand the range of civil aircraft parts that are considered to fall within the State Department’s export jurisdiction.

When exported from the United States, aircraft parts can be regulated by either the State Department or the Commerce Department. Choosing the right department for you part is important: aircraft parts subject to Commerce Department export jurisdiction may often be exported without a license, but an exporter almost always must register and obtain a license to export anything that is considered to fit within the scope of the State Department’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITARs). The State Department is notoriously slow to issue export licenses, so avoiding ITAR jurisdiction is usually preferred by exporters.

Spanair MD-82 struck terrain tail-first: investigators

Spanish investigators have disclosed that the Spanair Boeing MD-82 which crashed on departure from Madrid Barajas last week descended and struck the ground tail-first while struggling to climb away.

The aircraft travelled for 1.2km, hitting terrain three times before coming to rest.

Spain's Comision de Investigacion de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviacion Civil (CIAIAC) revealed the information in the first update on the inquiry's progress since the 20 August accident which killed 154 of the 172 on board the jet.

It says that no marks or debris from the aircraft were found on the runway. Initial impact marks have been discovered to the right of the runway, indicating that the aircraft struck tail-first and that a section of the tail - possibly the tail-cone, which can detach to aid evacuation - came away.

The investigation agency has not confirmed the angle of attack of the aircraft at the point of impact.

CIAIAC's Francisco Javier Soto states: "[The MD-82's] movement along the ground lasted approximately 1,200m."

There is no firm indication of the height the aircraft achieved before it descended.

Specialists in the UK are extracting information from the cockpit-voice and flight-data recorders retrieved from the aircraft.

The aircraft's Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217 engines, thrust-reversers and auxiliary power unit have been recovered and stored for examination, along with some of the MD-82's avionics.

No conclusions have yet been reached over the status of the aircraft's engines or other systems at the time of the accident. The investigators are still collating data from several sources, including video surveillance, airport radar, air traffic control and maintenance personnel.

CIAIAC says that it is required to produce an initial factual report on the accident within a month.

NTSB issues brief Factual Report on Spanair Crash

NTSB Identification: DCA08RA090
Scheduled 14 CFR Non-U.S., Commercial operation of Spanair
Accident occurred Wednesday, August 20, 2008 in Madrid, Spain
Aircraft: Boeing MD-82, registration: EC-HFP
Injuries: 154 Fatal, 18 Serious.

On August 20, 2008, at 1245 local time, Spanair Flight JK5022, a Boeing MD-82 registered in Spain as EC-HFP, crashed upon take-off from Madrid Barajas International Airport, Mardrid, Spain. The flight was destined for Las Palmas De Gran Canaria Airport, in the Canary Islands. The aircraft was destroyed during the accident and 154 fatalities were reported. There were a total of 172 people on board. The Spanish Civil Aviation Accidents and Incidents Investigation Commission (CIAIAC) is the lead accident investigation authority. The NTSB sent a US Accredited Representative along with technical specialists to assist the CIAIAC.

For additional information on this accident investigation, contact the CIAIAC or check their website.

United Technologies tests world's fastest helicopter

BOSTON, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Diversified U.S. manufacturer United Technologies Corp, the world's second-largest helicopter maker, conducted the first test flight on Wednesday of what it called the world's fastest helicopter.

The prototype X2 aircraft has an estimated cruising speed of 250 knots, or 288 miles per hour (464 kmph), and has been in development since June 2005, United Tech's Sikorsky unit said.

The fastest helicopters on the market today top out at about 180 knots, or 207 miles per hour (333 kmph), according to Sikorsky officials. Textron Inc's V-22 Osprey tilt- rotor aircraft, which takes off and lands like a helicopter but flies like an airplane, cruises at about 275 knots, or 316 miles per hour (509 kmph).

FAA Updates Insulation Installation Guidance

As many PAMA members will remember, in recent years there has been considerable concern over flammability of thermal and acoustic insulation in transport aircraft. The FAA has recently published new guidance in the form of a revised advisory circular.

Advisory Circular 25.856-2A has been updated to include guidance on an alternative burner (the “nextgen burner”) that provides greater reliability in burn testing.

FAA Job Aid Helps Choose Right Form of Data Approval

Been wondering what sort of data approval is necessary for your maintenance activity? Do you know when an STC is required and when it is not? The FAA recently published new guidance for its field inspectors to aid them in analyzing field approvals, and this guidance can be useful to mechanics as well.

The Aviation Inspectors’ Handbook includes a “Major Alterations Job Aid,” which lists a variety of different common major alterations and specifies the recommended form of approval for each – ranging from DER data approvals to supplemental type certificates (STCs). Be sure to use it only for major alterations – minor alterations are not meant to be covered in the chart, so efforts to use it for minor alterations will likely lead to overly onerous data approval requirements.

There is room to disagree with the chart in the job aid. For example, you can have a major alteration from one type certificated configuration to another type certificated configuration. Since both configurations are in the type design, no STC should be necessary (it is not a major change to type design if it is already in the type design). But the chart implies that if such an alteration affects a critical engine part then it will require a STC, even though the regulations do not require an STC for such an alteration.

Despite the fact that the chart can ‘miss’ from time-to-time, the chart still reflects the guidance that your FAA inspector will be relying on, so it is a good guideline to use. The chart can be found as figure 4-68 of volume four, chapter nine, section one of Order 8900.1.

Embry-Riddle Keeps Top Spot in U.S. News & World Report's Best College Rankings for Ninth Year in a Row

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug 25, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- New Doctoral Programs in Aviation and Engineering Physics Planned

For the ninth year in a row, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has earned the top ranking in the annual "America's Best Colleges" guide published by U.S. News & World Report magazine.

In the specialty category of "Best Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering Programs at Schools Whose Highest Degree is a Bachelor's or Master's," Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus has been number one every year since the category was introduced in 2001. Embry-Riddle's Prescott, Ariz., campus has been number three in that category since 2004. The U.S. Air Force Academy took second place this year, the U.S. Naval Academy fourth, and Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo fifth.

Embry-Riddle has one of the largest and most well-regarded Aerospace Engineering programs in the nation. The Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses offer a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. The Daytona Beach campus also offers two different master's programs in Aerospace Engineering.

"For the ninth straight year, U.S. News has honored Embry-Riddle for outstanding achievement," said Dr. John P. Johnson, Embry-Riddle president. "This prestigious accomplishment was made possible by top-caliber faculty, staff, and students in our engineering departments and throughout the University."

ICAO safety audit gives U.S. high mark

The U.S. aviation system received a score of 91 out of 100 in a new safety audit released by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The U.S. score, which was well above the global average of 56, reflected U.S. compliance with over 9,500 international safety standards. The FAA led U.S. preparations for the audit, which also included the National Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

The team of ICAO auditors conducted a comprehensive audit of all aspects of civil aviation in the United States, including aircraft operations and airworthiness, accident investigation, navigation services, airports, personnel licensing and legislation and regulations. The auditors interviewed technical experts and conducted site visits to government and industry facilities to assess overall safety oversight.

The Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program was established by ICAO in 1995 at the urging of the United States. It provides civil aviation authorities throughout the world with valuable information on the overall health and effectiveness of their airspace systems. (FAA)

FMI: Aviation Safety

TSA Retaliates Against American Eagle

Says Agency Has "Consistently Found Problems" With Carrier At ORD
The US Transportation Security Administration, apparently embarrassed last week for supporting an inspector who climbed aboard American Eagle regional jets at Chicago O'Hare by using air temperature probes as grab handles, has retaliated against the airline with charges and fines.

The Transportation Security Administration told CNN Thursday it will investigate "multiple security violations," and may fine the airport as much as $175,000.

TSA says airlines are allowed to park planes with unsecured doors overnight, provided they're not too close to jetways, but American Eagle is leaving its planes both unlocked and too close. The agency told CNN it has "consistently found problems" with American Eagle at O'Hare, adding that this is an isolated problem unique to this airline at this airport.

As reported, on the morning of August 19 a TSA inspector reported he was able to gain access to seven of nine parked American Eagle planes... by grabbing the fragile air temperature probes on the outside of the fuselages to pull himself up to unlocked doors. The airline delayed 40 flights to check for damage, after its own employees observed the inspector, and warned maintenance officials.

The airline says neither TSA nor the inspector said anything about the dangerous stunt ahead of scheduled takeoffs, putting crews and passengers at risk.

The TSA now admits its inspector erred, and says he'll be retrained. But the agency says he was, "...seeking to close a real danger to the traveling public... The TSA stands behind the inspector and that effort."

It's hard not to wonder if they'd still back the inspector if this was all part of an NTSB report.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.tsa.gov, Aero-News.net

FAA Changes Unapproved Parts Definition

The FAA has changed the definition of ‘unapproved parts’ in its latest unapproved parts guidance, and the change is largely focused on eliminating definitions that could interfere with the smooth functioning of the maintenance community.

On July 22, the FAA issued ‘change one’ to Advisory Circular 21-29C Download ac_2129c_chg.pdf, Detecting and Reporting Suspected Unapproved Parts. Change one alters the definition of an unapproved parts to remove several categories that used to be considered ‘unapproved.’

The old definition included parts that have been maintained or altered and then approved for return to service by someone who was not authorized to perform such services. In a surprising move, this has been eliminated from the list of parts that are presumptively unapproved. While this represents a surprising move on the part of the FAA, it makes a great deal of sense.

Such work often represents a violation of the FAA’s Part 43 regulations that apply to maintenance, but if the work was performed correctly notwithstanding their lack of qualification, then another (properly qualified) party may be able to inspect the part and find that it is in an airworthy condition. A good example of where this might happen is the case of a repair station that has the right personnel, housing, equipment, materials and technical data to perform the maintenance work, but that has failed to correctly update its ratings, operations specifications and/or capabilities list so that the work represents a technical violation of Part 43.