FAAST Blast — October 14, 2009
Biweekly FAA Aviation News update

Runway Incursions Down 50 Percent in FY 2009
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt announced last week that serious runway incursions were down 50 percent for the most recent 12-month period compared to the previous year. A serious runway incursion is one in which a collision was narrowly avoided, or there was a significant potential for collision that resulted in the need to take quick corrective action.

“Teamwork helped us get where we are today,” said Babbitt, referring to the many collaborative efforts focused on improving runway safety. Among them were enhancements made to runway markings and lighting, as well as an educational outreach campaign that used videos and training aids to raise awareness of the dangers of runway incursions. 

“While the reduction is remarkable, there is still much work to be done,” continued Babbitt. As part of an ongoing effort to focus on runway safety, FAA is hosting its first-ever runway safety seminar Dec. 1-3 in Washington, DC. For more details, go to: http://events.aaae.org/sites/091107/ .

FAA Issues SAIB on Ventilating Cockpit Smoke and Fumes
On October 8, 2009, FAA issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) to address an airworthiness concern regarding emergency checklist procedures that apply to ventilating smoke and fumes from the cockpit in GA aircraft. Aircraft type-certificated to CAR 3, or prior to 14 CFR Amendment 23-34, were not required to include procedures for ventilating smoke and fumes in the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH).

FAA recommends that aircraft owners and operators check any added/removed STC instructions for the removal of smoke and fumes against the OEM-issued emergency checklist. If the emergency checklist does not contain smoke and fume removal procedures, contact the OEM for instruction or additions. Also, FAA recommends that OEMs add smoke removal steps to the emergency checklist either by issuing a service bulletin, or by issuing a new checklist. To read the SAIB, go to: http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts/SAIB/ .

Getting Up Close and Personal
We marvel at their boundless skill. We’re awed by their meticulous precision. Like choreographed dancers they spin, turn, and leap in perfect unison. And they make it look so easy! Of course we’re referring to the men and women who dedicate themselves to the fine art of formation flying. FAA Aviation News’ Managing Editor Susan Parson gives a firsthand account of the exciting world of formation flight in her article “Up Close and Personal” in the Sep/Oct 2009 issue. In the article, Parson highlights several of the basic principles and behind-the-scenes preparations involved with formation flight, while pointing out the many similarities this type of training shares with safe GA flying. “Many of the basic formation flying principles,” Parson points out, “can apply to even the most humdrum home ‘drome flying.” Chief among them: trust and precision.

“Make it a game, or a challenge, to fly as precisely as you can on every flight,” says Parson. “You’ll be grateful—and safer—for having precision as a second-nature skill.”

To read the entire article, see page 11 of the Sep/Oct issue of FAA Aviation News.