SMS OVERSIGHT CITED IN CANADIAN CRASH
As the FAA gets ready to implement mandatory safety management systems (SMSs), Canadian authorities are warning SMSs need proper oversight if they're to do their job of improving flight safety. The Canadian Transportation Safety Board cited insufficient oversight of a private operator's SMS in its final report on a landing accident that injured 10 people aboard a Bombardier Global 5000 at Fox Harbour, N.S., two years ago. Transport Canada has required SMS plans for commercial carriers for years but delegated oversight of SMS implementation for some operators to the Canadian Business Aviation Association in 2003. The TSB said in its report that CBAA's implementation of SMS criteria is flawed and Transport Canada failed to recognize that before the Nova Scotia accident. "This is a serious problem," said Kathy Fox, board member for the TSB. "Safety can be compromised when SMS plans are vague, deadlines are flexible, and critical oversight is lacking. Without proper milestones or auditing, SMS cannot function properly and the risks increase." The flawed SMS process is a thread throughout the TSB's findings, which determined the pilots ducked under the standard approach and, because they were used to flying smaller aircraft into the field, misjudged the touchdown and hit the ground seven feet before the pavement. More...

REPORT SAYS CHINA CUTTING BIZJET FEES
An investment analyst claims China has drastically cut taxes and fees for business aircraft but others say they'd like to hear that from the Chinese before they start ramping up production for the long-anticipated market. The New York Times is reporting that Morgan Stanley aerospace industry analyst Heidi Wood is claiming that Chinese authorities have made a series of moves to open up business aviation in the country. In her report, Wood says a $4,400 fee for each flight plan has been eliminated and a combined total of 23 percent in taxes and import duties has been reduced to a single tax of six percent on business aircraft effective in January. "This change was just announced in September, but made so quietly that true results have yet to be seen," Wood said in the report. "And yet the Chinese market has already begun to respond. Shortly after this announcement five new Gulfstream G650/G550s were ordered by Chinese customers." Business jet manufacturers say Wood's report is premature, but she's standing behind it. More...

POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED DRUNK PILOT
United Air Lines says it has suspended a 51-year-old pilot after he was arrested in London for allegedly reporting for work drunk Monday. A spokesman for the London Metropolitan Police told Reuters the pilot was released on bail pending completion of alcohol tests. The pilot was arrested at Heathrow Airport but it's not clear whether he was on board or was stopped before getting on the aircraft or whether he was the aircraft commander. More...

SENATORS PUSH FOR FAA BILL ASAP
Thirty-five senators have signed on to a letter (PDF) calling for the passage of a long-term FAA funding bill before the end of the year, AOPA said on Tuesday. The letter was circulated by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who is a pilot, and received bipartisan support from both Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "From rural America to our largest cities, the entire country will benefit from what the FAA bill will provide," the letter says, adding that the bill would create a safer and more efficient aviation system, while providing good jobs in construction and technology. The FAA has been operating on short-term funding resolutions since its last authorization bill expired in September 2007. "We're pleased to see that members of the Senate have taken the initiative to voice the necessity of passing an FAA funding bill this year," said AOPA President Craig Fuller. AOPA supports the Senate bill, Fuller said, which would fund the FAA through aviation fuel taxes, ticket taxes, and a contribution from the general fund, with no new user fees. More...

'MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON,' ANIMATED
The NTSB in June released an animation of the short flight of US Airways Flight 1549, which ditched in the Hudson in January, but now a private company has posted online its own animated rendering of the data that is like watching a movie of the event. K3 Resources, a Denver-based company that specializes in technical animation and accident reconstruction, took on the project at first as a marketing promotion, but Kas Osterbhur, a vice-president of engineering who is also a flight instructor, got intrigued with the project and invested about 200 hours in it. "The human brain is an amazing computer but it doesn't do very well at reading gigabytes of raw data," Osterbhur told EAA. "My goal is to bring together as much information into one place as possible, usually in a graphic way, and allow that human computer to do its job." More...

YOUNKIN HURT IN CRASH
Air show performer Matt Younkin is in hospital in Arkansas after being involved in an accident at Siloam Springs. 4029 TV News said the aircraft piloted by Younkin went down about 3 p.m. local time and he was pulled from the wreckage by witnesses. There was no word on his condition at our deadline. More...

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AOPA SUMMIT 2009 COMPLETE COVERAGE ROUND-UP
A complete recap of our podcasts, videos, blogs, and news reports from the 2009 AOPA Summit in Tampa, Florida. More...

JUBER JOINS PLATINUM AVIATION SERVICE

Glenn Juber

Glenn Juber is the new Director of Maintenance at Platinum Aviation Service at Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport. He was previously Director of Maintenance for Flight Level in Norwood, Conn.
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WHO'S WHERE? YOU TELL US
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