All US cargo carriers face tougher US Federal Aviation Administration surveillance in the wake of the 7 August fatal crash of a Fine Air McDonnell Douglas DC-8-61 freighter during its take-off from Miami International Airport, Florida.
The FAA has started by suspending Fine Air's operating certificate and revising the conditions for issue of certificates to cargo carriers.
Investigators are examining whether the Fine Air aircraft's cargo shifted rearward during take-off because of failure to secure main-deck cargo pallets. The FAA now reveals that, during checks of Fine Air, which started in June, it had found "-indications of cargo-related problems-brought them to the firm's attention, and was evaluating Fine Air's response" when the DC-8 crashed. Subsequently, the FAA sent 11 inspectors "-who specialise in cargo operations" for a more detailed inspection.
As a result, says FAA Administrator Jane Garvey, "-we found that the FAA must devote more attention to ensuring that carriers have systems in place to be certain that cargo is being properly loaded and secured." Now, FAA inspectors are to evaluate cargo-loading procedures in more detail, including cargo-handler training, cargo weighing and the securing of cargo inside aircraft. All freight operators are being required to test their flight-data recorders (FDRs) because only three of 11 parameters were being recorded on the crashed DC-8's FDR.
The FAA is also reviewing the effectiveness of its review procedures. The in-depth probe revealed significant problems with Fine Air's ground-handling procedures, cargo-weighing, cargo-security and cargo-restraining systems. Six out of 11 Fine Air DC-8s provided evidence of "significant violations in every instance," including illegal carriage of hazardous materials.
Fine Air says that it is co-operating with the FAA, and the carrier hopes to resume operations within 30 days.
Source: Flight International
