Urgent FAA safety alerts to operators, with subject, discussion, and recommended action.
What Is This Collection?
A Safety Alert for Operators is the FAA telling operators about an urgent safety issue and the action it recommends. SAFOs come from the FAA Flight Standards Service, usually in response to accidents, incidents, or emerging hazards. They are directive in tone even though compliance is voluntary.
Oct 8, 2008
From the Document
This SAFO emphasizes the necessity for operators of the Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes to provide flightcrews with guidance and appropriate training to more quickly recognize the symptoms and to apply the electronic centralized aircraft monitoring (ECAM) resolution procedures for the loss of flight displays and aircraft systems which occur as a result of AC BUS 1 failure.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, chief pilots, check airmen, pilot instructors, and line pilots of certificate holders operating Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes should become familiar with the content of this SAFO. The FAA recommends the following actions: It is important for flightcrews to recognize the symptoms of AC BUS 1 failure, and to apply the appropriate ECAM procedures in order to regain the lost flight…
Study Focus: Review aircraft-system operation, limitations and failure awareness.
Original Issue
Oct 1, 2008
From the Document
This SAFO alerts operators of B-717, MD-10, and MD-11 aircraft equipped with Honeywell Pegasus flight management computers (FMC) that the Pegasus FMC calculation of the internal magnetic variation (magnetic declination) was found to contain errors of up to 15 degrees. These magnetic variation (MAGVAR) errors adversely impact operations at all latitudes between 0 degrees and 6 degrees West longitude and affect many navigational bearing references.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, chief pilots, fractional ownership program managers, training managers, and dispatchers of aircraft equipped with Honeywell Pegasus should instruct pilots to always check FMS Flight Plans by comparing the PLAN mode displayed route and MCDU route with air traffic control clearance and the appropriate charts. Route misalignment in the PLAN mode indicates a segment affected by the MAGVAR error.
Original Issue
Aug 5, 2008
From the Document
This SAFO alerts operators of the DC-9, MD-80 and MD-90s of the need to ensure their training curriculums, aircraft systems manuals and checklists properly address the characteristics of the fire handle.
Recommended Action: Directors of Safety, Directors of Operations, Chief Pilots, and Training Managers of Boeing Models DC-9, MD-80 and MD-90 airplanes should review their training syllabus to ensure they effectively present the design and interrelationship of the systems affected by the fire handle. This would include that issues mentioned in the above Discussion Section are described in the Aircrew Operating Manual (ACOM).
Study Focus: Review training practices and proficiency.
Original Issue
Jul 22, 2008
From the Document
This SAFO calls attention to the possibility of injury to ground personnel caused by the inadvertent deployment of the emergency evacuation escape slide when opening doors from outside the Embraer Model ERJ-170 and ERJ-190 aircraft.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety and directors of operations should immediately make this hazard known to their flight crews and all ground personnel. Additionally, directors of operations should ensure that proper door opening policies and procedures are followed.
Study Focus: Review preparation and response to abnormal or emergency situations.
Original Issue
Jul 7, 2008
From the Document
To call attention to the possibility that a B-737 flightcrew might incorrectly interpret the cabin altitude warning horn as the takeoff configuration horn while in flight, and to emphasize the importance of donning oxygen masks immediately any time the intermittent warning horn sounds during flight.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, trainers and check airmen for operators flying any B-737 model should immediately make known to their flightcrewss and flight attendants the absolute necessity of donning an oxygen mask -- flightcrewss as soon as an intermittent warning horn sounds during flight, flight attendants whenever the passenger oxygen masks deploy automatically. They should ensure that this message is included in manuals and…
Original Issue
Jun 20, 2008
From the Document
This SAFO supersedes SAFO 08005 and reemphasizes the importance for operators to ensure their pilots are conducting preflight system checks that specifically includes review of the helicopter’s hydraulic system to validate control movement smoothness and reveal any adverse flight control “stick-jump.” This SAFO supplements SAFO 06021 issued December 6, 2006.
Recommended Action: All directors of operations and chief pilots of part 135 helicopter operators and part 142 training centers should ensure that all air carrier training programs include pilot training and checking of aircraft hydraulic systems during initial and recurrent training. All pilots of aircraft equipped with a hydraulic system should test the function of the hydraulic system, to include control movement smoothness and checking for any adverse flight…
Study Focus: Review the information and decisions needed before departure.
Original Issue
Source includes a cancellation/supersession notice.
Jun 6, 2008
From the Document
To inform operators conducting ETOPS with the Boeing Model 777 series airplane, of a necessity to restrict some aircraft with Walter Kidde filter/regulators installed in the cargo compartment fire suppression system. The affected systems are those with Walter Kidde filter/regulators identified as part numbers 473494-1, -2, or -3, 473995-1, -2, or -3 or 473857-1, -2, or -3.
Recommended Action: Directors of Operations and Directors of Maintenance should determine if their 777 airplanes are equipped with the identified Walter Kidde filter/regulators as part of the airplane’s cargo fire suppression systems. Operators should limit their ETOPS Maximum Diversion Time to the actual capability of their airplanes cargo fire suppression system (minus 15 minutes) or maximum ETOPS authority granted by the FAA, whichever is less.
Original Issue
May 29, 2008
From the Document
Provide operators of Piper PA-23 and 31 series aircraft with recommendations for preventing the forward baggage door from opening in flight.
Recommended Action: Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part 135 Directors of Operations, Chief Pilots, Pilots, training centers and instructors involved in the operation or training in Piper PA-23 and PA-31 series aircraft should become familiar with and consider adopting the recommendations contained in the supplement located at the following link: http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo/all_safos/media/20…
Original Issue
May 20, 2008
From the Document
This SAFO emphasizes the importance of conservative aircraft taxi operations in snow and ice weather conditions.
Recommended Action: All Directors of Operations and Chief Pilots should ensure that training and operational procedures provide for pilot’s use of appropriate speeds during taxi operations so as to minimize the risk of sliding on slippery surfaces covered by ice and/or snow. Additionally, this training for pilots should include the conspicuity of surfaces, references to distinguish usable from unusable surfaces, and discussion on when to consider suspending…
Study Focus: Review weather hazards and how they affect planning and flight decisions.
Original Issue
Mar 20, 2008
From the Document
To stress the importance of two operating procedures by flightcrew (pilots) in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 135 operations: (1) clearly identifying to passengers those crew members who are safety-qualified and those who are not, and (2) accomplishing all functions relating to passenger safety when no safety-qualified flight attendant is on board.
Recommended Action: Directors of operations, chief pilots, trainers, flight attendants, pilots, and people employed to perform cabin services in part 135 operations should be aware of the circumstances of the accident described in this SAFO. For more information: http://www.ntsb.gov/Publictn/A_Acc1.htm Scroll down to NTSB Report Number: AAR-06-04, adopted on 10/31/2006.
Original Issue
Mar 7, 2008
From the Document
This SAFO emphasizes to operators of CRJ-200s the importance of ensuring the integrity of the ground service connection cover and the pip pin and to train ground personnel on the proper installation and security of the cover and outside access panel.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety and trainers should be made aware of this safety concern that is caused by the loss of the cover on taxiways or runways due to improper pip pin installation and/or failure to close the outside access panel. Training on the proper procedures for the installation and removal of the ground air-conditioning supply and security of the ground connection access cover and door should be provided to all responsible ground service…
Study Focus: Review traffic awareness and collision avoidance.
Original Issue
Jan 25, 2008
From the Document
This SAFO informs air carriers about the hazard presented by an air conditioning (A/C) cart pressurizing an airplane cabin on the ground if all airplane doors are closed.
Recommended Action: Directors of operations, directors of safety, managers of training and flight and cabin crewmembers should be aware of the hazard discussed in this SAFO. If this hazard is present in its operations, the air carrier should revise its crewmember training programs and operating manuals to educate crewmembers on the hazard and to provide procedures to mitigate the risk presented by it.
Original Issue
Jan 24, 2008
From the Document
This SAFO reemphasizes the importance for operators to ensure their pilots are conducting preflight system checks that specifically includes review of the helicopter’s hydraulic system to validate control movement smoothness and any adverse flight control “stick-jump.” This SAFO supplements SAFO 06021 issued December 6, 2006.
Recommended Action: All directors of operations and chief pilots of part 135 helicopter operators and part 142 training centers should ensure that all air carrier training programs include pilot training and checking of aircraft hydraulic systems during initial and recurrent training. All pilots of aircraft equipped with a hydraulic system should test the function of the hydraulic system, to include control movement smoothness and checking for any adverse flight…
Study Focus: Review the information and decisions needed before departure.
Original Issue
Jan 17, 2008
From the Document
This SAFO identifies Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published guidance material that all operators are encouraged to incorporate into their standard operating procedures (SOP) to mitigate the risk of landing operations on contaminated runways.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, aviation instructors, those responsible for operational control, and flight crewmembers should become familiar with the safety recommendations provided in these two documents and incorporate them into their SOP. Air carriers and air operators should incorporate the safety elements of these two documents into their operating procedures.
Study Focus: Review surface awareness and decisions during taxi, takeoff and landing.
Original Issue
Jan 11, 2008
From the Document
This SAFO supersedes InFO 07017 published on August 3, 2007. This SAFO reinforces the recommendation that operators enable their cockpit voice recorder (CVR) before and during performance of engine run-ups, other tests, and ground operations conducted by maintenance or ground personnel.
Recommended Action: Operators, Directors of Operations, Chief Pilots, Directors of Maintenance, and maintenance personnel of aircraft are encouraged to perform ground operations including functional tests with the CVR operational for purposes of post-incident investigation or evaluation, should such incident occur. Questions or comments on this SAFO should be addressed to the Aircraft Maintenance Division, AFS-300, (202) 267-3807.
Study Focus: Review aircraft-system operation, limitations and failure awareness.
Original Issue
Source includes a cancellation/supersession notice.
Nov 30, 2007
From the Document
This SAFO informs pertinent owners, operators, and FAA certificated entities of new training requirements for pilots of CE-208 (Cessna Caravan 1) and CE-208B (Cessna Grand Caravan) airplanes for flight into icing conditions.
Recommended Action: Directors of Operations, Chief Pilots, Directors of Safety, Directors of Training, Fractional Ownership Program Managers, and Training Managers should ensure their programs meet the training requirements in the applicable Supplement S1. Operators should also ensure their pilots are aware of the information contained in this SAFO.
Study Focus: Review weather hazards and how they affect planning and flight decisions.
Original Issue
Sep 17, 2007
From the Document
This SAFO emphasizes the operational procedure of selecting idle thrust on both engines during a landing conducted with one deactivated thrust reverser.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, chief pilots, check airmen, pilot instructors, and line pilots of certificate holders operating Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes should become familiar with the content of this SAFO. U.S. operators should implement the following recommended actions: • Pilots, dispatchers, and maintenance personnel should ensure compliance with the FAA approved MMEL prior to dispatch.
Original Issue
Jul 3, 2007
From the Document
This SAFO calls attention to the possibility that a pilot of an Embraer Legacy, EMB-135 or -145 (sometimes called EMB-140 in marketing literature) might inadvertently change VHF radio frequencies or place the ATC transponder into standby mode during flight.
Recommended Action: Managers of part 142 training centers where pilot training on the Embraer Legacy, EMB-135, and EMB-145 is conducted should ensure that their trainers caution pilots of this latent hazard and emphasize the importance of being careful when using the footrests provided. Similarly, directors of safety, directors of operations, trainers, and check airmen for operators flying any of these Embraer models should immediately make this hazard known to…
Study Focus: Review communication and coordination procedures.
Original Issue
Apr 16, 2007
From the Document
This SAFO emphasizes the importance of implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training for flight crews to ensure that an airplane is at the desired takeoff runway, and to recommend some modern resources and procedures for doing so.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, fractional ownership program managers, trainers, and pilots should be familiar with the content of this SAFO. They should establish and implement aircraft-specific SOPs, supported by pilot training which exploits all available resources (including the most modern ones), in an effort to positively confirm and cross-check the takeoff runway and the airplane’s location at the assigned departure runway…
Study Focus: Review surface awareness and decisions during taxi, takeoff and landing.
Original Issue
Jan 5, 2007
From the Document
This SAFO alerts operators of Agusta S.P.A. model A109 series helicopters of the potential for VHF navigation antenna failures causing reduction in usable range and sensitivity performance of very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) and localizer (LOC) receivers.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, chief pilots, fractional ownership program managers, training managers, and pilots operating the Agusta model A109 series helicopters equipped with the Dorne & Margolin, model DMN48-1 antenna are encouraged to closely monitor VOR or LOC performance during operations, and to discontinue operations predicated on VOR or LOC navigation upon observing any system anomaly or degradation. Additionally,…
Original Issue
Dec 6, 2006
From the Document
This SAFO emphasizes the importance of operators ensuring they have procedures and training for the functional test of the helicopter hydraulic system.
Recommended Action: All Directors of Operations and Chief Pilots should ensure that all training requirements for testing of aircraft hydraulic systems are emphasized during initial and recurrent training. All pilots of aircraft equipped with a hydraulic system should test the function of the hydraulic system, in accordance with the RFM/Published and approved guidance, as part of an accepted aircraft checklist.
Study Focus: Review training practices and proficiency.
Original Issue
Nov 8, 2006
From the Document
This SAFO emphasizes the importance of operators ensuring they have procedures and training for the functional test of the CVR.
Recommended Action: All Directors of Operations and Chief Pilots should ensure that all training requirements for testing of CVRs are emphasized during initial and recurrent training. All pilots of aircraft equipped with a CVR should test the function of the CVR before the first flight of each day as part of an approved aircraft checklist.
Study Focus: Review training practices and proficiency.
Original Issue
Jul 27, 2006
From the Document
This SAFO announces the posting of “Pilot Guide to Takeoff Safety” on an FAA public Web site.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, trainers, and pilots of transport category airplanes should be familiar with the content of this SAFO and the Pilot Guide to Takeoff Safety. They should work together to ensure that the content of the Pilot Guide is provided to pilots during ground training, and is reinforced in flight training, supervised operating experience, line checks, and proficiency checks.
Original Issue
Jul 24, 2006
From the Document
The Air Transportation Division, AFS-200, issues this SAFO to advise operators of the fire hazards associated with flameless ration heaters.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, fractional ownership program managers, directors of training, and crewmembers of passenger-carrying airplanes should be familiar with the content of this SAFO, and should implement practices to prevent flameless ration heater MREs from being activated by passengers during flight.
Original Issue
Jul 24, 2006
From the Document
This SAFO advises operators and pilots of a potential hazard at Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (ATL) runway 10-28.
Study Focus: Review surface awareness and decisions during taxi, takeoff and landing.
Original Issue
Jul 20, 2006
From the Document
This SAFO alerts operators of the B-717 of a potential hazard in heavy rain or icing, and recommends mitigation measures, including those contained in Boeing Service Bulletin 717-30A0003.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, chief pilots, training managers, and flight crewmembers of passenger-carrying Boeing Model 717 should be aware of the potential hazard and recommended mitigations described in this SAFO. In addition to the instructions in the Boeing IOP, the FAA encourages all operators to verify that their “cockpit preparation” checklist identifies an instruction to, prior to engine start, actuate the AIR DATA HEAT…
Study Focus: Review weather hazards and how they affect planning and flight decisions.
Original Issue
Jul 20, 2006
From the Document
This SAFO alerts operators of helicopters of a special hazard when operating in the vicinity of hospital helipads, and to recommend procedures to mitigate that hazard.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, chief pilots, training managers, and flight crewmembers of passenger-carrying EMS helicopters under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 91 and 135 should be aware of the potential hazard described in this SAFO. Pilots of EMS helicopter operations, law enforcement, and military helicopters particularly departing from hospital helipads are advised to verify the accuracy of their…
Original Issue
Nov 30, 2005
Avian influenza (AKA, avian flu, bird flu) – current information for crewmembers.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, fractional ownership program managers, and crewmembers of transport-category airplanes should be familiar with the CDC Web site and CDC’s recommendations for the avian flu, including the general infection control measures. These persons should periodically revisit these Web sites and adopt new or revised CDC recommendations, as appropriate.
Original Issue
Oct 25, 2005
Introducing SAFOs.
Recommended Action: Besides FAA inspectors, air carrier certificate holders - particularly directors of safety (DOS) and directors of operations (DO) - fractional ownership program managers, and training center managers should know of the SAFO process and should pay particular attention to any SAFO bearing directly on their operations. Operators should consider immediate implementation of any applicable action recommended in a SAFO.
Original Issue
Oct 25, 2005
Multiple full deflection, alternating flight control inputs.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, fractional ownership program managers, and pilots of transport-category airplanes should be familiar with the location, availability, and content of “The Airplane Upset Recovery Training Aid.” They should pay particular attention to the cautions against control reversals and pilot-induced oscillations that are repeated throughout the training aid.
Original Issue
Oct 25, 2005
Flight attendant certification, notification by facsimile (AKA fax) (405-954-4105).
Study Focus: Review qualification and recent-experience requirements.
Original Issue
Oct 25, 2005
Bell 407 with Rolls Royce 250 series IV engine and Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC).
Recommended Action: Directors of operations, training managers, and pilots involved in operations of the Bell 407 with Rolls Royce 250 series IV engine and FADEC should be aware of the content of this SAFO and of SAIB SW-05-70, and should implement operations and training as recommended in the SAIB. SAFOSafety Alert for Operators U.S.
Study Focus: Review aircraft-system operation, limitations and failure awareness.
Original Issue