Captain Peter Burkill to resume flying for British Airways

by B. N. Sullivan

Captain Peter Burkill, who was the commander of the British Airways Boeing 777-236ER that crash landed at London's Heathrow International Airport in January of 2008 will soon return to work as a pilot for the airline.  The aircraft, operating as British Airways Flight 038, was arriving at Heathrow from Beijing when itt experienced an uncommanded loss of thrust in both engines.  The aircraft (registration G-YMMM) landed short of Heathrow's runway 27L.  The plane was damaged beyond repair, but all 16 crew members and 136 passengers survived.

After a lengthy investigation, the UK's Air Accidents Investigations Branch (AAIB) determined that ice had formed within the fuel system and had obstructed fuel flow to the engines during the approach to Heathrow, causing the dual engine rollback and subsequent failure to respond to throttle inputs.

The actions of the crew in the face of such an unprecedented emergency saved the lives of all on board.  The AAIB report concluded that it was Capt. Burkill's split-second decision to reduce the flap setting that had allowed the aircraft to avoid colliding with an ILS antenna and to land as near to the runway threshold as it did.  All of the flight's three pilots and 13 cabin crew were awarded the British Airways Safety Medal for their actions that day.

Nevertheless, several months after the accident, Capt. Burkill took voluntary redundancy and left the British Airways.  Unfortunately, he was unable to find an appropriate position elsewhere.  Capt. Burkill and his wife told the tale of the events surrounding the accident and its aftermath, and the effects on their lives in a book called "Thirty Seconds to Impact," published earlier this year.

Now, nearly three years after the accident, Capt. Burkill is preparing to return to work at British Airways.  Yesterday he posted a message on his blog, which said in part:

I am delighted that the discussions with British Airways, have come to a mutually, happy conclusion. In my opinion British Airways is the pinnacle of any pilots' career and it is my honour and privilege to be returning to an airline that I joined as a young man.

He also expressed "thanks for all the support we have been given over the past couple of years, from family, friends, colleagues and strangers. We are looking forward to resuming a 'normal' life and anonymity once again!"

Godspeed, Peter Burkill.

NOTE:  Click here to view all posts on Aircrew Buzz about British Airways Flt 038.

Sully retires from US Airways

by B. N. Sullivan

Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, the US Airways pilot who successfully ditched an Airbus A320 in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009, has retired after 30 years service with the airline. He flew his last commercial leg yesterday: US Airways Flight 1167 from Fort Lauderdale to Charlotte. In the right seat was First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, who had also been Sully's co-pilot on US Airways Flight 1549. The aircraft was greeted at Charlotte Douglas International Airport by a spray-over from four water cannons.

In a statement to the press about his retirement, Captain Sullenberger said, "I have been fortunate to have followed my passion for most of my life, working in a profession I dearly love, side by side with thousands of wonderful colleagues, including the man flying my final flight with me, Jeff Skiles."

Sully says he plans to continue to serve as an advocate for aviation safety, and for the airline piloting profession. We all wish him well.

Here is a slide show of Flight 1167's arrival at CLT, from WCNC.com. Below is a news video about the event, from FoxProvidence.com.

If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.

The test pilots who flew Boeing's 787 Dreamliner on her maiden flight

by B.N. Sullivan

When the Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its long-awaited first flight earlier this week, Capt. Mike Carriker, pictured at right, was commanding the aircraft. Capt. Carriker is Boeing's chief pilot for the 787 program. In the Dreamliner cockpit's right hand seat was Capt. Randy Neville, pictured below.

An article about the 787's first flight on Wired.com's Autopia blog profiles the two pilots this way:

Boeing brought in two of its best for the 787’s first flight. Carriker is chief pilot on the 787 program and was a Navy pilot before joining Boeing in 1990. He’s made more than 300 carrier landings flying the A-7E Corsair and F/A-18 Hornet. In addition to flying the 787, Carriker was a chief test pilot on the 737 program and the assistant project pilot on the X-32 Joint Strike Fighter program when Boeing was competing for the contract. He also is checked out in the 1933 Boeing 247D, the company’s first all-metal airliner.

Air Force veteran Randy Neville flew in right seat for the first flight. Neville spent 20 years flying F-106 Delta Darts and F-16 Fighting Falcons. He is a graduate of the USAF Test Pilot school and went on to weapons testing in the F-4 and F-16. Neville also flew the F-22 Raptor while at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

About the flight

On December 15, 2009 at 10:27 local time, the new aircraft departed Paine Field in Everett, WA on its maiden flight. Carriker and Neville kept the aircraft aloft for about three hours, testing some of the Dreamliner's systems and structures, while on-board equipment recorded and transmitted real-time data to a flight-test team at Boeing Field. They took the aircraft to an altitude of 13,200 feet (4,023 meters) and an air speed of 180 knots, or about 207 miles (333 kilometers) per hour -- which Boeing says is customary on a first flight. At about 13:33 local time, the 787 landed for the time at Seattle's Boeing Field.

Upon landing, the pair of pilots participated in a news conference about the first 787 flight. Both seemed enthusiastic about the aircraft and the experience of flying it (and who wouldn't?!).

Carriker, replying to a question, said, "Is it a relief? Yes. Would I like to go get another 20,000 pounds of gas and good weather and go again? You bet I would. Make that about 80,000 pounds of gas."

Neville said, "The airplane flew great. There were no surprises and the airplane did exactly as we were expecting -- and that's goodness from the pilot viewpoint."

Neville talked about the progression of the flight: "We took off with flaps 20, the normal take off setting and we stayed there for quite a ways. We were at flaps 20 for the bulk of the mission, that was with the gear down. We ultimately got to flaps 30, we cycled the landing gear, that was a big point we wanted to do. We brought the gear up then we both breathed a big sigh of relief when we put it back down and it came down properly."

In addition to the aircraft itself, a highlight for Carriker turned out to be the scenery from his 'office window': "We popped out of the top of the clouds at about 7,000 feet and there was the snow-capped Olympics, the Straits of San Juan, all framed in the front left window of a 787 at 10,000 feet. That image will be in my mind for the rest of my life."

By the way, they greased the landing at Boeing field, and rolled out straight down the runway's center line.

According to Boeing, the 787's first flight marks the beginning of a flight-test program that will see six airplanes "flying nearly around the clock and around the globe," with the first 787 scheduled for delivery in the fourth-quarter 2010. Like the first aircraft, three more of the 787s in the test program will be powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines,while two will be powered by General Electric GEnx engines.

Congratulations to Mike Carriker, Randy Neville, and all the folks at Boeing for the successful first flight of the beautiful new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

UPDATE Jan. 4, 2010: Michael Carriker, the pilot in command of the first flight of the Boeing 787, was interviewed recently for EAA Radio. He talked about "the 787, test flying, belonging to EAA, and if it's possible to put a Hatz biplane on floats." In case you missed it on the EAA Web site, here is the link to the MP3 audio file of the EAA interview with Michael Carriker.

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Video: US Airways Flight 1549 flight attendants recall Hudson River ditching

by B .N. Sullivan

Donna Dent and Sheila Dail -- two of the three flight attendants who evacuated US Airways Flight 1549 after it was ditched in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009 -- were interviewed recently by David Learmount, operations and safety editor of Flight International. The occasion was the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators annual awards banquet on October 29, 2009, which took place in England at the Guildhall in the City of London. (The third flight attendant from Flight 1549, Doreen Welsh, was unable to attend the banquet.)

In the interview, the flight attendants recount their impressions of the water landing and the subsequent evacuation of the aircraft. Here is a video clip of that interview, first posted on Mr. Learmount's blog, Operationally Speaking.

RELATED: Click here to view all posts about US Airways Flt 1549 on Aircrew Buzz.

Sully returning to duty at US Airways, as a management pilot

by B. N. Sullivan

Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger, III -- AKA 'Sully' -- is about to return to work at US Airways, this time as a management pilot. Capt. Sullenberger, you will recall, was the pilot in commend of US Airways Flight 1549, the Airbus A320 that successfully ditched in New York's Hudson River on January 15, 2009.

The announcement about Sullenberger's return to work at US Airways was made today in a press release issued by the carrier. That statement also said that in addition to his flying duties, Sullenberger will join the US Airways flight operations safety management team.

“We welcome Capt. Sullenberger back to work and are proud to have him flying with us again as a member of the US Airways safety management organization,” said Chairman and CEO, Doug Parker. “US Airways is an industry leader when it comes to safety and Sully is an excellent addition to the team.”

“The months since January 15 have been very full, and my family and I have had some unforgettable experiences,” said Capt. Sullenberger. “However, I have missed working with my colleagues at US Airways and I am eager to get back in the cockpit with my fellow pilots in the months ahead. In my new role, I will continue to be the same kind of advocate for aviation safety that I have been for several decades.”

Here's hoping his advocacy for aviation safety continues to encompass the issues about which he spoke so eloquently before Congress in February of 2009.

Welcome back, Sully!

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Downdrafts cited by NTSB as probable cause of Steve Fossett's fatal crash

by B. N. Sullivan

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has completed its investigation of the aircraft accident that claimed the life of legendary aviator Steve Fossett. The NTSB's final report on the accident cites as probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent encounter with downdrafts that exceeded the climb capability of the airplane. Contributing to the accident were the downdrafts, high density altitude, and mountainous terrain.

The NTSB found no evidence of engine malfunction or airframe failure that would have contributed to the accident.

Mr. Fossett, flying a borrowed Bellanca 8KCAB-180 Super Decathlon (registration N240R), disappeared on September 3, 2007. Early that morning, he took off from a private airstrip at the Flying M Ranch near Yerington, Nevada. He never returned.

An extensive and lengthy search for the aircraft and Mr. Fossett was unfruitful. According to the NTSB report, no emergency radio transmissions were received from the airplane, nor were any Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) transmissions received.

About a year later, on October 1, 2008, a hiker notified the Madera County Sheriff's Department (California) that he had found personal effects, including a pilot certificate and another identification card belonging to Mr. Fossett near Minaret Summit in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This prompted a new search of that area.

The wreckage of the aircraft was found about a half mile from where the hiker came across some of Fossett's personal effects. The crash site was located in steep mountainous terrain at an elevation of approximately 10,000 feet. The severely fragmented wreckage had been burned by "a severe post crash fire."

The NTSB reports that after the wreckage was located, "a review of radar data from September 3, 2007, revealed a track that ended about 1 mile northwest of the accident site. This 20-minute track showed the airplane flying south along the crest of a mountain range with elevations greater than 13,000 feet."

Quoting from the synopsis of the NTSB accident report:

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane was on a northerly heading at impact, indicating that the pilot had executed a 180-degree turn after radar contact was lost.

Ground scars and distribution of the heavily fragmented wreckage indicated that the airplane was traveling at a high speed when it impacted in a right wing low, near level pitch attitude.

A postimpact fire consumed the fuselage, with the exception of its steel frame. The wings were fragmented into numerous pieces. The ELT was destroyed.

Damage signatures on the propeller blades and the engine crankshaft indicated that the engine was operating at impact. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation.

Visual meteorological conditions existed in the accident area at the time of the accident.

Mean winds at 10,000 feet were from 220 degrees at 15 to 20 knots; some gusts of 25 to 30 knots may have occurred. Moderate turbulence and downdrafts of at least 400 feet per minute probably occurred at the time and in the area of the accident. The magnitude of the downdrafts likely exceeded the climb capability of the airplane, which, at a density altitude of 13,000 feet, was about 300 feet per minute.

According to the Medical and Pathological Information section of the NTSB report, Steve Fossett is believed to have died as a result of "multiple traumatic injuries":

On October 29, 2008, law enforcement personnel returned to the area where the pilot's personal effects were found to search for human remains and evidence as to the identity of any remains. They found skeletal fragments, a pair of tennis shoes, clothing, credit cards and the pilot's driver's license.

DNA testing performed by a California Department of Justice laboratory on two of the recovered skeletal fragments determined that they were from the pilot.

A postmortem examination of the skeletal fragments was performed under the auspices of the Madera County Sheriff's Department. The cause of death was determined to be multiple traumatic injuries.

Here are the links to the NTSB synopsis and full narrative report on the investigation of this accident.

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Emily Howell Warner -- Legend of Aviation

Emily Howell Warner, the first woman to become an airline pilot in the United States, tells her story:



If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.

ALPA past president named to head FAA

A short time ago, the Obama administration announced the nomination of J. Randolph "Randy" Babbitt to serve as the new Administrator of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Babbitt's candidacy for the post has been rumored for some time; today it's official.

Randy Babbitt, who attended the University of Georgia and the University of Miami, began his aviation career as a pilot for Eastern Airlines. He flew for more than 25 years, and is a past President of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

Babbitt must now be confirmed for the FAA Administrator post by the U.S. Senate.

UPDATE: The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) just issued the following statement regarding Randy Babbitt's nomination as FAA Administrator:

The president of the world’s largest pilots union today heralded the Obama administration’s nomination of Capt. J. Randolph Babbitt as the next FAA Administrator, calling him “a powerful leader who promises to direct the FAA with staunch determination and a deep understanding of the aviation industry.”

“I speak for ALPA’s more than 52,000 airline pilots in welcoming this news as critical progress to ensure that the U.S. air transportation system sets the world standard for safety and efficiency now and in the future,” said Capt. John Prater, ALPA's president. “Capt. Babbitt’s decisive leadership will position the FAA to take aggressive action to modernize our country’s antiquated airspace in the face of air traffic demand that is sure to escalate as the economy improves.”

Babbitt’s keen understanding of the airline industry is rooted in his experience as an airline pilot, union president, aviation consultant, and a member of numerous government and industry advisory committees. He began his career with Eastern Airlines and served two terms as president of ALPA. In 1993, Babbitt served the country as a Presidential appointee for the National Commission to Ensure a Strong Competitive Airline Industry. He was also a Presidential appointee to the FAA Management Advisory Council, created by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 1996.

In 2008, Babbitt was named by then U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters to an independent review team of aviation and safety experts tasked with evaluating and crafting recommendations to improve the FAA’s implementation of the aviation safety system and its safety culture.

“Capt. Babbitt knows what it’s like to serve as the pilot in command of an airliner and is intimately familiar with all aspects of the regulatory and industry framework,” said Prater. “He will develop a flight plan to guide the FAA into the future.”

ALPA is the world’s largest non-governmental safety organization. “ALPA’s leaders and hundreds of safety representatives eagerly await the opportunity to roll up our sleeves alongside Capt. Babbitt and his team and get down to the business of moving our aviation system forward for the benefit of all who depend on it,” concluded Prater.

Video: Southwest Airlines' rapping flight attendant

Just in case there's still someone out there who has not heard about Southwest Airlines flight attendant David Holmes, who became famous recently for 'rapping' a safety briefing, here is the video - "uncut and unedited," says LiveLeak.com:



If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on LiveLeak.com.

9/11 flight attendant Cee Cee Lyles memorialized by her home town

Cee Cee Lyles, a United Airlines flight attendant who was killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, was honored by her home town of Fort Pierce, FL, yesterday. A post office in Fort Pierce was dedicated in her memory, in a ceremony conducted by Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), and attended by family members, community leaders, and her fellow flight attendants.

Ms. Lyles was born and raised in Fort Pierce, FL. Prior to pursuing a career as a flight attendant with United Airlines, she was a Fort Pierce police officer for six years. She died at age 33, when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field outside Shanksville, PA.

A delegation from the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), of which Cee Cee Lyles was a member, attended the ceremony in Fort Pierce.

"Today's dedication of the Fort Pierce Post Office is a wonderful way to celebrate the professionalism and the memory of our flying partner and friend," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. "Her memory will live on through the Fort Pierce community for generations to come."

Last year, Congress passed a resolution, sponsored by Senator Martinez and Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), which officially designated the local U.S. postal facility to be named in honor of Lyles. In 2003, Fort Pierce erected a bronze statue in Liberty Garden in Veteran's Memorial Park to memorialize the United flight attendant and Fort Pierce native.

Click here to read about the life of Cee Cee Lyles, from the archives of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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US Airways Captain Sullenberger Honored by the Seaplane Pilots Association

The Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA) is honoring US Airways Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, the pilot in command of the A320 that was successfully ditched in New York's Hudson River last week, by awarding him a lifetime membership in the Association. The SPA lifetime membership was awarded to Sully "in recognition for his extraordinary airmanship, seamanship, and decision-making, saving hundreds of lives in his emergency landing."

In addition to his ATPL, Capt. Sullenberger is an experienced glider pilot, and also flew fighters in the U.S. Air Force during his early career. Now he will have an opportunity to qualify as seaplane pilot as well. Jack Brown's Seaplane Base, in Winter Haven, FL, has offered Capt. Sullenberger a complimentary seaplane rating course. Jon Brown promised Capt. Sullenberger that he would enjoy his future water landings much more than his first!

US Airways identifies the crew of Flight 1549

A short time ago, US Airways officially identified members of the crew of Flight 1549, the A320 that ditched in New York's Hudson River on January 15, 2009. The water landing was successful, and all 155 on board were immediately evacuated and rescued. There were no fatalities or life-threatening injuries.

They crew members of US Airways Flight 1549 were:

• Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger, III - Age 58, joined US Airways (PSA Airlines) in 1980. He has a total of 19,663 flights hours.
• First officer Jeffrey B. Skiles - Age 49, joined US Airways (USAir) in 1986. He has a total of 15,643 flight hours.
• Flight attendant, Shelia Dail - Age 57, joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1980 and has more than 28 years experience with the airline.
• Flight attendant, Doreen Welsh - Age 58, joined US Airways (Allegheny Airlines) in 1970 and has more than 38 years experience with the airline.
• Flight attendant, Donna Dent - Age 51, joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1982 and has more than 26 years experience with the airline.

In a press conference earlier today, US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said, "I, like the rest of you, am extremely proud of our crew for their quick and heroic actions. Today they are safe and doing well, and along with so many other members of our team, are assisting with the official investigation. In the meantime, our continued focus and support will be on our passengers, their families and our crew."

I would like to add my own small voice to those congratulating the entire crew, and commending them for their exemplary professionalism. They have made all of us in the aviation community very proud indeed.

UPDATE Jan. 19, 2009: Joint Statement from the US Airline Pilots Association and the Association of Flight Attendants Concerning the Crew of US Airways Flight 1549:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – January 19, 2009 – Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, First Officer Jeff Skiles and Flight Attendants Sheila Dail, Doreen Welsh and Donna Dent wish to offer their sincere thanks and appreciation for the overwhelming support, praise and well wishes they have received from the public around the world since the events of last Thursday.

The entire crew recognizes the media’s interest in speaking with them as soon as possible, and they are willing to share their experiences when the time is right. However, as the NTSB investigation is ongoing, they ask that the media respect their desire to refrain from participating in interviews until further notice.

RELATED: Click here to view all posts about US Airways Flt 1549 on Aircrew Buzz.

To the Captain of US Airways Flight 1549: Way to go, Sully!

Meet Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III, reported to have been the captain who successfully ditched a US Airways A320 in the Hudson River earlier today, Jan. 15, 2009. The aircraft apparently remained intact, and all 155 souls on board survived and were rescued.

The aircraft, operating as US Airways Flight 1549, had just departed New York 's LaGuardia airport en route to Charlotte, NC, when it was said to have suffered multiple bird strikes. The aircraft subsequently lost power to both engines, and the captain elected to ditch the aircraft, landing on the surface of the Hudson River.

Normally I do not identify crew members involved in aircraft accidents or safety incidents unless and until they are first officially identified either by their employers, government officials, or family members. In this case, I have not yet seen Capt. Sullenberger officially identified by either US Airways or any official agency, however several news reports, including this one on MSNBC, quote his wife, confirming that he was indeed the pilot in command of US Airways Flight 1549.

While we all will have to wait for the NTSB report before we know the details about how that A320 ended up in the Hudson River today, I doubt anyone will dispute the fact that putting it down there safely, with no loss of life and very few injuries to those on board, entailed a superb piece of airmanship on the part of Capt. Sullenberger and his (as yet un-named) co-pilot. * [EDIT: see update below.]

Way to go, Sully!! All of us in the aviation community are very proud of you and your entire crew.

Apparently Capt. Sullenberger has had a rich career. In addition to flying for US Airways, he also has a consulting business called Safety Reliability Methods, Inc. (SRM). The company website offers this profile of his credentials:

Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III is a captain for a major U.S. airline with over 40 years of flying experience. A former U.S. Air Force (USAF) fighter pilot, he has served as an instructor and Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) safety chairman, accident investigator and national technical committee member. He has participated in several USAF and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident investigations. His ALPA safety work led to the development of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular. Working with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists, he coauthored a paper on error inducing contexts in aviation. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Crew Resource Management (CRM) course used at his airline and has taught the course to hundreds of his colleagues.

Sully is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy (B.S.), Purdue University (M.S.) and the University of Northern Colorado (M.A.). He was a speaker on two panels at the High Reliability Organizations (HRO) 2007 International Conference in Deauville, France May 29-31, 2007. He has just been named a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley.

If this overview doesn't satisfy your curiosity, this expanded version is posted on the SRM website: Sullenberger Profile - 3-page 'Word' file

UPDATE Jan. 16, 2009: The first officer on US Airways Flight 1549 has been identified by his family as Jeffrey Skiles, 49. read about him here: Wis. co-pilot on crashed plane OK - Chicago Tribune, Jan. 16, 2009

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RELATED: Click here to view all posts about US Airways Flt 1549 on Aircrew Buzz.

Crew of British Airways Flight 038 receive medals

The crew members of British Airways Flight 038, the Boeing 777 that crash landed at London's Heathrow International Airport (LHR) on January 17, 2008 were given British Airways' highest accolade for their professionalism on the day of the accident. Pictured here, in a photo taken the day after the accident, are the senior crew members from BA Flight 038. Left to right, they are senior First Officer John Coward, who was the pilot flying at the time of the emergency; Captain Peter Burkill, pilot in command; and Cabin Service Director Sharron Eaton-Mercer, the senior cabin crew member on the flight.

All three pilots and 13 cabin crew members who were working on BA Flight 038 at the time of the accident were awarded the BA Safety Medal by BA chief executive Willie Walsh "for their remarkable skill and courage." The BA Safety Medal has been awarded only three times before.

In a statement about the award issued by British Airways, Willie Walsh said: "The crew demonstrated incredible professionalism, first in landing the aircraft safely and then evacuating all the passengers with only a few minor injuries sustained. The whole of British Airways is extremely proud of them."

Captain Peter Burkill said: "It is a great privilege for us to receive the BA Safety Medal. We are extremely honoured to be added to the list of the very few people who have received this award.

"The training we undergo at British Airways is second to none. During the events of the 17 January these skills kicked in, as we did everything we could to ensure the safety of our passengers."

Congratulations to all the crew of BA Flight 038 for a job well done.

RELATED: Click here to view all posts about British Airways Flt 038 on Aircrew Buzz.

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United Airlines Pilot Is New Executive Air Safety Chairman for ALPA

The Executive Board of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has confirmed a United Airlines pilot, Capt. Rory Kay (pictured at right), as the union's Executive Air Safety Chairman.

According to an ALPA news release about Capt. Kay's appointment:

Currently a full-time line pilot, Kay flies and serves as a line check airman for B767s and B757s throughout the United States, Europe, and South America. He has served his fellow pilots within the local, MEC, and national ALPA safety structure since 1989, holding numerous leadership positions along the way. From organizing Air Safety & Security Week forums to working at the Shanksville, Pa. UAL Flight 93 crash site in the days following 9/11, Kay has consistently embodied the professionalism and passion pilots commit to implementing airline safety improvements.

As he assumes his new position, Capt. Kay will lead the largest non-governmental safety organization in the world. Capt. Scott Schleiffer (Atlas) will continue serving ALPA members as the Executive Air Safety Vice Chairman.

Congratulations and good luck to Capt. Kay.

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Most senior Aloha Airlines pilot commands final passenger flight

On March 31, 2008, Aloha Airlines operated its final passenger flight, Aloha Flight AQ 251 from Kahului, Maui to Honolulu. Aloha's most senior pilot, Captain Darryl Wong (pictured at right), was the pilot in command of the Boeing 737-200 for that historic flight. The final flight came just a day after Aloha Airlines announced it was shutting down its passenger operations.

News reports said that Captain Mike Moore had been scheduled to fly the flight, but had relinquished the cockpit at the last minute to Captain Wong, who joined the company in 1976. In addition to flying for Aloha, Wong is a major general in the Hawaii Air National Guard. "It was very nice that they wanted me to fly, so I was very honored," he said.

In the right seat of Flight AQ 251 was First Officer Tasha Kobashigawa, Aloha's most junior pilot. Ms. Kobashigawa, who used to be a news reporter for Honolulu TV station KITV, joined Aloha Airlines just four months ago. An article about Aloha's final passenger flight in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin quoted Ms. Kobashigawa, who said, "You get to a place where you think you're going to be for the rest of your career and in a blink of an eye it's gone. I'm going to stay in flying. It's my passion. I worked too hard to let it go."

Flight attendants on the final Aloha Airlines passenger flight were Renee Jewell, Steve Oshiro and Tori Swoish.

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Aloha Airlines No. 1 flight attendant retires after 50 years

Patti Smart, the Number One flight attendant at Aloha Airlines, is retiring -- reluctantly -- after more than 50 years of service. The woman nicknamed the 'Queen of Aloha' will retire this coming Friday, but she says, "There will be sparks flying from my feet as they drag me down the runway."

Ms. Smart, whose hire date was Jan. 28, 1957, reminisced about her early flying days in an article in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:

A lot has changed since the old days, when people dressed up in hats and bow ties to fly on propeller-powered planes across the Pacific.

"You're supposed to have the same niceness, the same warmth, the same caring. But it's faster now," Smart said. "In the older days, the flights were longer so you had more time to be intimate with passengers and you got to be very good friends with them."

While she must have a million good stories to tell from those 50-plus years of flying, she did share this funny one with the newspaper reporter.

As she was serving pineapple juice to passengers, she spilled it all over her uniform. She changed into a pair of pants and washed out her skirt in the lavatory. When she tried to air-dry the skirt by letting it flap out the window in the cockpit, one of the two pilots snatched it and let it fly out the window.

"I wanted to kill those two. I wanted to get their two heads together and whack them. They were laughing and laughing," she said.

The joke didn't stop there. Another pilot on the next flight out radioed her plane and said he had caught the skirt as it went flying by.

Perhaps that incident happened while she was working on a DC-3 early in her career. She certainly has seen a lot of changes to the airline industry since then -- including the introduction of jet aircraft.

Congratulations and aloha to Patti Smart as her long career in the air comes to a close.

Click here to watch a KITV News Video about Patti Smart's final flight on Aloha Airlines.


Click here for many more photos of Patti Smart, the Queen of Aloha.

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US Airways No. 1 flight attendant celebrates 50 years service

Today was a special day for the Number One flight attendant at US Airways: Bette Nash celebrated 50 years of service. Ms. Nash began her flight attendant career on November 4, 1957.

Here is an excerpt from a news release issued by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) about Ms. Nash and her golden anniversary:

"Bette Nash is a walking, talking history of the evolution of our industry, and we are so fortunate to benefit from her experience each day," said Alin Boswell, fellow US Airways flight attendant and Washington, DC Local Council President for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA). "Not only is she a great flight attendant and mentor, but she is a wonderful person who brings much joy to everyone she encounters."

Ms. Nash began her career the same year Sputnik was launched, and when air travel was an expensive luxury full of amenities. As air travel evolved into what it is today, so has the role of flight attendant. Fifty years ago, flight attendants were forced out of their job after a few short years and the average career span was less than 18 months.

In 1964, seven years after Ms. Nash began her career, the Civil Rights Act passed and with the strength and determine of AFA-CWA, for the first time flight attendants were able to challenge the discriminatory policies based on gender, age, race, weight, marital status, and pregnancy that had become commonplace in the airline industry.

"Bette's accomplishment today is the fully realized goal that AFA-CWA set out to achieve over sixty years ago," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. "When AFA-CWA began representing flight attendants in 1945, it was the goal of our founders to turn this 'job' into a full-blown career - a career that would provide for, and support flight attendants and their families. It is a humbling moment to reflect upon Bette Nash's accomplishment and realize how far we have come as a profession. AFA-CWA congratulates and thanks Bette for her years of devoted service. We look forward to celebrating many more milestones with her in the future."

Congratulations to Bette Nash!

[Photo Source]

Capt. Robert Ting: PIC of Airbus A380 inaugural commercial flight

The pilot in command (PIC) of this week's inaugural commercial flight of the A380 was Singapore Airlines Captain Robert Ting. According to some news reports, Capt. Ting was treated like a rock star -- at least for the day -- as journalists interviewed him, passengers asked for his autograph, and everyone wanted him to pose for pictures.

Singapore Flight SQ 380 from Singapore to Sydney, the first commercial flight of the A380, took place yesterday. There were 455 passengers and 35 crew on board, including four pilots. Capt. Ting was in command of the historic flight.

According to Capt. Ting, the A380 handles a lot like the A340-500. Here are a few operational details about the inaugural flight, from an interview with Capt. Ting published in The Australian:

• Takeoff weight was 468 tons. The passengers and crew accounted for just 8% of that total, with fuel making up another 28%.
• The aircraft rotated at 154 knots. It took 40 to 45 seconds for the aircraft to rotate, using about 76% of maximum engine thrust.
• "At max landing weight of this plane compared to the max landing weight of a Boeing 747-400, we are at a lower landing speed, 138 knots. This is mainly because of the size of the wings," said Capt. Ting.

In addition to being the PIC for the A380's first commercial flight, Captain Ting also commanded the aircraft on its delivery flight from France to Singapore earlier this month.

The 56 year old Singaporean joined Singapore Airlines in 1971, and has logged over 15,000 flying hours. Captain Ting holds eight different type ratings.

How you can help to find Steve Fossett

Aviation legend and adventurer Steve Fossett has been missing for nearly a week. Search teams in multiple aircraft have been scanning rugged terrain in Nevada ever since it was learned that Mr. Fossett had not returned from his flight last Monday. The searchers have found no sign of Fossett or the light aircraft he had been flying, a single-engine Super Decathlon.

Now an additional search method has been organized, and you can participate. Amazon.com is hosting a KML file, which is being used in conjunction with Google Earth to search the area where Steve Fossett and the aircraft may be located. Anyone with a computer can join in the search.

Volunteers are needed to help review satellite imagery of the area where Fossett disappeared and flag potential areas of interest. Here is the link to the instructions for how to search for Steve Fossett on Amazon's Mechanical Turk web site. Aviation news outlet AVweb has provided a page with additional tips and tricks for the search, by editor Jennifer Whitley.

Please help in this effort to locate Steve Fossett. The more eyeballs we have scanning the satellite images of the terrain, the more likely it is that someone will discover something to facilitate the search and rescue effort.