Fwd: "FAAST Blast" - FAASafety.gov

	FAA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education
FAAST Blast Notice Number: NOTC4948 FAAST Blast — Week of Sept 2 – Sept 8, 2013 Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update New Beechcraft Airworthiness Directive             A new airworthiness directive, AD 2013-16-01, will affect an estimated 1,326 aircraft and includes certain Beechcraft Corporation Models 58, 95-C55, E55, and 56TC; and Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Models 58P and 58TC. This AD was prompted by reports of elevator balance weights becoming loose or failing because the balance weight material was under strength and did not meet material specifications. This AD requires inspections of elevator balance weights and replacement of defective elevator balance weights. This AD has been issued to correct the unsafe condition on these products and is effective September 24, 2013.             The assigned Docket (Docket No FAA-2012-1180) can be found through http://www.regulations.gov/.   Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) on Using Runways as Taxiways A new SAFO has provided information on reducing the risk of runway incursions when taxiing on intersecting or active runways. It is a common practice for ATC at many airports to use active or inactive runways as a taxiway, however, due to runways typically being wider than taxiways, signs located on the edge of the runway may be more difficult for the pilot to see and identify. In addition, many of the visual cues typically present on taxiways such as signs, markings, and lighting, are frequently missed.             The FAA strongly urges directors of operations, safety, training and maintenance, as well as chief pilots, collaborate to: minimize distractions, promote awareness, distribute runway incursion prevention information, and ensure all training events and programs include realistic runway incursion prevention.             Click on http://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safety/ for more information or contact Craig Botko, Part 121 Air Carrier Operations Branch, AFS-220, at (202) 267-8166. New Sept/Oct FAA Safety Briefing Highlights Aviation Citizenship             The September/October 2013 issue of FAA Safety Briefing focuses on aviation citizenship. Articles take a look at how a personal SMS can help make you a good aviation citizen and cover the importance of good citizenship in aviation maintenance. Among the featured articles in this issue are: "Be Your Fellow Pilot's Keeper" — an insight into how to develop safety intervention strategies (p. 14), "A Heading Set for Success" — a Q&A session with FAA Administrator Michael Huerta (p. 20), and a look at how the FAA makes use of social media to stay engaged with the aviation community in "Citizen Engagement" (p. 6).  The department Vertically Speaking highlights the new Moral Courage Safety Award, and Jumpseat discusses the fundamentals of the Aviators Model Code of Conduct. The link to the online edition is www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing.   Produced by the FAA Safety Briefing editors, http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/