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USA #1549 Update

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for the most part has finished the field phase of the investigation into the accident of US Airways Flight 1549 into the Hudson River. The second engine was recovered on Friday, January 23, 2009 and transported to the barge where the rest of the aircraft fuselage was located and examined. Both engines have been shipped to the manufacturer in Cincinnati for a complete tear-down of the engine. The next thing that happened was that the aircraft wings, the horizontal and vertical stabilizers were removed so that the wreckage could be transported to another secure storage facility where it will remain available for further examination.

AFA-CWA was basically released by the NTSB from our field duties on Friday, January 23. One thing that needed to be done before being dismissed was that the different groups needed to complete their field reports. Field reports are a compilation of the working group's notes during the on-scene phase of the investigation. AFA-CWA participated in the Survival Factors Group which was responsible for documenting the emergency equipment and the state of the cabin after the accident relevant to anything that could cause an injury or hinder the evacuation. Survival Factors Group also collects statements from the flight attendants and passengers. Other NTSB groups created included structures, engines, weather, operations and CVR readout groups to name a few.

The next phase of the investigation now that the on-scene portion of the investigation is complete is generally one of paperwork.

The NTSB chairmen of the different working groups will now take the field reports and begin drafting the group specific Factual Report.

Given that AFA-CWA participated on the Survival Factors group we will have an opportunity to comment on the Survival Factors Factual Report before it is finalized.

AFA-CWA will also have an opportunity to eventually review all the other group's finalized Factual Reports to ensure accuracy of the reports.

These technical reviews will be done during meetings in Washington, DC

Sometimes the NTSB also holds a Public Hearing which is another step in the fact gathering process. It is a proceeding where witnesses are questioned by the Board. Witnesses could be FAA policy makers, surviving crewmembers, rescue personnel and the like. If a Public Hearing is held AFA-CWA would be afforded the opportunity to question the witnesses. At this hearing the factual reports from the different groups will be released to the public and media.

As a party to the investigation we can submit written recommendations as to the proper findings and conclusions to be drawn from the evidence produced during the course of the investigation.

The final step in a major investigation would be a Board Meeting. At the Board Meeting the final report into the investigation of US Airways #1549 is presented to the public. The report contains the Board's conclusions, probable cause and safety recommendations relative to the accident investigation.

Mike Flores, President
The US Airways Master Executive Council
AFA-CWA

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AFA Local Numbers
 
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325

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