Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Pilot of Hudson collision plane chose river route

By TOM HAYS and VICTOR EPSTEIN, Associated Press Writers 

It was easy banter about which route the pilot of a Piper airplane would take through the busy airspace over New York's Hudson River. The air traffic controller at Teterboro Airport gave him two choices: Head down the river, or take a southwest tack.


The pilot chose the river route, and shortly afterward the small aircraft carrying three family members clipped a sightseeing helicopter carrying a pilot and five Italian tourists. Both aircraft plunged into the river. Nine people died.

On Tuesday, divers are expected to go back into the challenging waters of the Hudson to search for the ninth body. Seven victims have been removed from the murky water, and divers found the eighth on Monday when they located the wreckage of the Piper. They were unable to remove the body and late Monday afternoon called off the effort until morning.

Police were consulting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about trying to pull the plane to the surface of the river, which is less than three-quarters of a mile wide at the crash site between New York and New Jersey. The wrecked helicopter was raised from the river Sunday.

Air traffic control transcripts described Monday indicate a worry-free exchange between controllers at Teterboro, in New Jersey, and Steven Altman, who was told he could pick his flight path toward Ocean City, where he was flying after picking up his brother Daniel Altman and teenage nephew Douglas Altman.

When a Teterboro controller asked the pilot if he wanted to go down the river or head southwest, he responded by saying: "Either."

"Let me know," the controller said.

"OK, tell you what," Altman replied, "I'll take down the river."

National Transportation Safety Board chief Debbie Hersman said air traffic controllers at Teterboro at some point told Altman to switch radio frequencies so controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport could communicate with him. Newark controllers never made contact, she said.

New York Police Department divers found the wreckage of the single-engine Piper in about 60 feet of water in the middle of the river, indicating it had drifted from the spot where it crashed, closer to New Jersey's riverbank, police said. It was on its side with no wings visible.

The divers couldn't remove the man's body from the aircraft wreckage on Monday.

All seven of the victims whose bodies were recovered have been positively identified through dental records and fingerprints, the New York medical examiner's office said. Autopsies found they died from blunt-impact injuries.

The collision at around noon on a sunny Saturday occurred in a congested flyway popular with sightseers. Hersman said an eight-day NTSB survey of the river corridor before the collision had counted about 225 aircraft flying within a 3-mile radius of the collision site each day.

Many of these tour craft fly below 1,100 feet, where pilots are largely free to choose their own routes, radioing their positions periodically but not communicating regularly with air traffic controllers.

The NTSB has issued at least 14 safety recommendations — 12 for collision avoidance — for flight in congested areas across the country, and more than 50 for the operation of air tours, Hersman said.

Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta said he had met with the medical examiner in New York and with relatives of the five Italian victims.

"Today the relatives were asking me, 'How it can be that a holiday in New York can become such a tragedy?'" Castellaneta said in Italian.

About a half-dozen relatives of the Italians were still in New York waiting to return home with their loved ones' remains. A group of 10 tourists traveled from Italy, two of them to celebrate a 25th wedding anniversary.

"They are destroyed by pain," Castellaneta said.

The NTSB has declined to speculate about the cause of the crash. The agency's investigation is expected to take months.

The helicopter had just taken off from Manhattan's West Side for a 12-minute tour. Witnesses said the small plane approached the helicopter from behind and clipped it with a wing. Hersman said the helicopter was gaining altitude when the two aircraft collided.

Both aircraft split and fell into the river, scattering debris and sending weekenders enjoying the beautiful day on the New Jersey side of the river running for cover.

___

Hays reported from New York. Associated Press writers Sara Kugler and Maria Sanminiatelli in New York and Geoff Mulvihill and Samantha Henry in Hoboken, N.J., also contributed to this report.

Plane carrying 13 missing in Papua New Guinea

By KRISTEN GELINEAU, Associated Press Writer 

A charter plane carrying 13 people to a popular tourist site in Papua New Guinea vanished on approach in bad weather to an airport nestled in rugged terrain on Tuesday. Australia's foreign minister said a "possible crash site" may have been found.

The twin-engine plane left the capital of Port Moresby en route to an airport near the country's Kokoda Track, a mountainous 60-mile (100-kilometer) trail. The plane's crew radioed air traffic controllers as it was approaching the airstrip, but the aircraft never landed, said Allen Tyson, a spokesman for Airlines PNG.

A search and rescue mission was immediately launched, Tyson said. The plane, carrying 11 passengers, including nine Australians, and two crew, had an emergency locator beacon, but it was not transmitting, he said.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told reporters in Canberra that a helicopter searching for the plane had landed in a village thought to be near a "possible crash site" Tuesday night.

"I say a 'possible crash site' because PNG authorities, PNG Airlines and Australian officials are relying on information relayed by villagers on the ground," Smith said.

Efforts to locate the plane were being hampered by bad weather, low visibility and rugged terrain in the mountainous region.

"We hope, weather permitting, that a substantially enhanced search and rescue effort can commence tomorrow morning," Smith said.

The Kokoda Track is a popular tourist destination for Australians. On board the plane were eight Australian tourists and an Australian tour guide planning to walk the trail as part of a trek organized by the adventure tour company No Roads Expeditions, the company said in a statement. Another guide from Papua New Guinea was also on board, the company said.

"We hold grave concerns for their safety and well-being," Smith said.

The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby was working with authorities in the Pacific island nation to determine what happened, Smith said. Searchers were also checking other small airstrips in the area to see if the plane may have landed elsewhere.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Schedule Still A Dream

By Glenn Pew, Contributing Editor, Video Editor
flightglobal.com
August 7, 2009


The economic slowdown may mean that some companies waiting on Boeing's next-generation, long-range composite fuel miser, the 787, are happy to continue waiting -- but with the aircraft already two years behind schedule the company's late-stage wing redesign is adding complications. The 787 was nearing flight tests when composite layers near the wing/fuselage seam separated during ground testing. Now, as engineers scramble to apply a workable solution, a new 787's test schedule may still be weeks away and until that mark is reached, the aircraft's development has been indefinitely delayed. Boeing last month said it wouldn't provide even a new target for the first flight, let alone first delivery. Industry watchers and customers will have to wait, though Boeing has indicated it expects to provide more information before the end of the quarter. The company has said it won't release any timetables until the redesign has passed rigorous testing. As it is, the jet is two years behind schedule, but still holds about 850 orders. But with nearly all of its programs suffering under the down economy, Boeing is well aware of its obligations to its customers.


Reuters reported Thursday that chief program engineer Chris Musoke told a breakfast meeting of the Organization of Black Airline Pilots in Atlanta, "Obviously, we've disappointed our customers." Musoke added that he believed the company was weeks away from setting a new schedule and that "we have to stick to our plan whenever we lay it out and perform to it."

Principal Dimensions of Boeing 787 Aircraft

Boeing 787 Aircraft Principal Dimensions 

  • Overall length: 57 m
  • Height: 17 m
  • Fuselage Diameter: 5.91m
  • Cabin width: 5.49 m
  • Wingspan: 60 m

Weights 

  • Maximum takeoff weight: 219,540 kg
  • Empty weight: 110,000 kg

Speeds  

  • Normal cruise: 902 km/h at 40,000 ft
  • Max cruise: 945 km/h at 40,000 ft

Engine  

  • Category Turbofan
  • Max thrust 63600 lb

Performance  

  • Range: 14,200 - 15,200 km
  • Passenger capacity: 210 to 250
  • Maximum Fuel Capacity: 126,903 L
  • Service Ceiling: 43,000 ft
  • Maximum Thrust Capability: 285 kN

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Brief Description of Boeing 787-9 Dream Liner

Brief Description of Boeing 787-9:

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is a slightly bigger version of the 787-8. Both are super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. They will bring the economics of large jet transports to the middle of the market, using 20 percent less fuel than any other airplanes of their size.


  • Seating:
    250 to 290 passengers
  • Range: 
    8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles (14,800 to 15,750 kilometers)
  • Configuration: 
    Twin aisle
  • Cross Section: 
    226 inches (574 centimeters)
  • Wing Span: 
    208 feet (63 meters)
  • Length: 
    206 feet (63 meters)
  • Height: 
    56 feet (17 meters)
  • Cruise Speed: 
    Mach 0.85
  • Maximum Takeoff Weight: 
    540,000 lbs (244,940 kg)
  • Total Cargo Volume: 
    5,400 cubic feet

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Fact Sheet

Brief Description of Boeing 787-8 Dream Liner


The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is a superefficient airplane with new passenger-pleasing features. It will bring the economics of large jet transports to the middle of the market, using 20 percent less fuel than any other airplane of its size.

  • Seating:
    210 to 250 passengers
  • Range:
    7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles (14,200 to 15,200 kilometers)
  • Configuration:
    Twin aisle
  • Cross Section:
    226 inches (574 centimeters)
  • Wing Span:
    197 feet (60 meters)
  • Length:
    186 feet (57 meters)
  • Height:
    56 feet (17 meters)
  • Flight deck size:
    Similar to that of a 777
  • Cruise Speed:
    Mach 0.85
  • Total Cargo Volume:
    4,400 cubic feet
  • Maximum Takeoff Weight:
    484,000 pounds (219,540 kilograms)

Boeing 787-3 Dreamliner Fact Sheet

Brief Description of Boeing 787-3 Dream Liner

The Boeing 787-3 Dreamliner is a super-efficient airplane with new passenger-pleasing features. It features a wing and structure optimized for shorter-range flights. It will bring the economics of large jet transports to the middle of the market, using 20 percent less fuel than any other airplane of its size.

  • Seating:
    290 to 330 passengers
  • Range: 
    2,500 to 3,050 nautical miles (4,650 to 5,650 kilometers)
  • Configuration: 
    Twin aisle
  • Cross Section: 
    226 inches (574 centimeters)
  • Wing Span: 
    170 feet (52 meters)
  • Length: 
    186 feet (57 meters)
  • Height: 
    56 feet (17 meters)
  • Cruise Speed: 
    Mach 0.85
  • Maximum Takeoff Weight: 
    364,000 pounds (165,100 kilograms)
  • Total Cargo Volume: 
    4,400 cubic feet

Source: boeing.com





Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a mid-sized, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner currently under development by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The Boeing 787's developing led by Boeing at its Everett facility near Seattle, Wash. Its maximum seating capacity in a 1-class seating is between 290 to 330 passengers depending on variant. Boeing stated that it will be more fuel-efficient than earlier Boeing airliners and will be the first major airliner to use composite materials for most of its construction. Boeing's development of the 787 is also innovative and large scale collaborative management approach with suppliers.
In addition to bringing big-jet ranges to mid-size airplanes, the 787 will provide airlines with unmatched fuel efficiency, resulting in exceptional environmental performance. The airplane will use 20 percent less fuel for comparable missions than today's similarly sized airplane. It will also travel at speeds similar to today's fastest wide bodies, Mach 0.85. Airlines will enjoy more cargo revenue capacity.
Passengers will also see improvements with the new airplane, from an interior environment with higher humidity to increased comfort and convenience.
On January 28, 2005, the aircraft's development designation 7E7 was changed to the 787. Early released concept images depicted a radical design with highly curved surfaces. On April 26, 2005, a year after the launch of the program, the final and more conventional external 787 design was set.

The 787-8 Dreamliner will carry 210 - 250 passengers on routes of 7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles (14,200 to 15,200 kilometers), while the 787-9 Dreamliner will carry 250 - 290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles (14,800 to 15,750 kilometers). A third 787 family member, the 787-3 Dreamliner, will accommodate 290 - 330 passengers and be optimized for routes of 2,500 to 3,050 nautical miles (4,600 to 5,650 kilometers).
Boeing featured its first 787 in a roll-out ceremony on July 8, 2007, at its Everett assembly factory, by which time it had become the fastest-selling wide-body airliner in history with nearly 600 orders. A total of 850 Boeing 787s have been ordered by 56 customers as of June 2009. Originally scheduled to enter service in May 2008, production has been delayed multiple times and as of May 2009 was planned to enter into service in 2010. The aircraft's maiden flight, originally planned for September 2007, has been delayed a number of times. Due to another delay there is no confirmed schedule for its first flight as of July 2009.


Plane, copter collide over Hudson River, killing 9


By VERENA DOBNIK, Associated Press Writer

A sightseeing helicopter carrying five Italian tourists collided with a small plane above the Hudson River on Saturday, sending debris into the water and forcing people on New Jersey's waterfront to scamper for cover. Authorities believe all nine people aboard the two aircraft were killed.

The accident, which Mayor Michael Bloomberg called "not survivable," happened just after noon and was seen by hundreds and maybe even thousands of people out enjoying a crystal clear summer day.

The two aircraft went down just south of the stretch of river where a US Airways jet landed safely seven months ago. But this time, there was no miracle.

"This is not going to have a happy ending," Bloomberg said. He said, hours after the accident, that he thought it fair to say "this has changed from a rescue to a recovery mission."

Two bodies were recovered in the water, one floating free and one in the wreckage, and other bodies were spotted in the debris, the mayor said. The crash victims included five Italian tourists and a pilot on the helicopter and the three people on the plane, including a child, Bloomberg said.

Witnesses described the same scene: a low-flying plane smashing into the helicopter, and then wreckage scattering. The plane's wing was severed by the impact.

The plane, a Piper PA-32, was registered to LCA Partnership in Fort Washington, Pa., and had just taken off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey for Ocean City, N.J., authorities said. The helicopter was a Eurocopter AS 350 owned by Liberty Tours, a sightseeing and charter company. It was struck by the plane shortly after lifting off from a heliport on Manhattan's West side.

At least some people saw the crash developing. Another Liberty Tours helicopter pilot on the ground at the heliport saw the plane approaching the helicopter and tried to radio an alert to the pilots, New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. The warning either wasn't heard, or didn't happen in time.

Kelly Owen, who was visiting from Florida, saw the crash from a Manhattan park built upon an abandoned elevated rail line.

"First I saw a piece of something flying through the air. Then I saw the helicopter going down into the water," she said, adding that the crowd in the park seemed too stunned to react. "I thought it was my imagination."

On the Hoboken waterfront, people scattered as pieces of debris fell from the sky. A wheel from one of the aircraft lay on Hoboken's Sinatra Drive.

"We saw the helicopter propellers fly all over," said Katie Tanski, of Hoboken.

Afterward, much of the wreckage sank quickly into the river.

The cause of the crash wasn't immediately clear, but the National Transportation Safety Board was investigating, Bloomberg said.

The accident happened in a busy general aviation corridor over the river that is often filled with sightseeing craft on nice days.

Pilots have some freedom to pick their own route, as long as they stay under 1,000 feet and don't stray too close to Manhattan's skyscrapers. The skies over the river are often filled with pleasure craft, buzzing by for a view of the Statue of Liberty.

Accidents aren't frequent, but happen every few years. New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor died when their plane hit a skyscraper while flying a popular sightseeing route in 2006.

In January, the river was the scene of a spectacular aircraft landing that resulted in no loss of life after a US Airways flight taking off from LaGuardia Airport slammed into a flock of birds and lost power in both engines. The plane crash-landed in the river, and all 155 people on board were pulled to safety.

The identities of the victims of Saturday's crash were not immediately released. Italian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari confirmed there were Italians aboard the helicopter and said the ministry was working to find out further details through diplomats and authorities in New York.

A person who answered the phone at a Liberty Tours office declined to comment on the accident, but said the company would be releasing a statement. The company runs sightseeing excursions around the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Manhattan at costs ranging from $130 to about $1,000.

Two years ago, a Liberty helicopter fell 500 feet from the sky during a sightseeing trip. The pilot was credited with safely landing the chopper in the Hudson and helping evacuate her seven passengers.

In 1997, a rotor on one of its sightseeing helicopters clipped a Manhattan building, forcing an emergency landing. No one was hurt.

___

Associated Press writers David B. Caruso and Samantha Gross in New York and Beth DeFalco in Hoboken contributed to this report.