Virginia State Police showcase new medevac helicopter.

ANDRE TEAGUE/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER 

The Virginia State Police's new Eurocopter EC145 gets ready to lift off Friday afternoon from it's landing pad in Abingdon, Va.

ABINGDON, Va. --  It’s more of a flying intensive care unit than an ambulance, with room for two patients and three medical attendants.

The new Virginia State Police helicopter that took to the skies this summer will help save lives across the region, said Sgt. John Ratliff, with the Virginia State Police’s Med-Flight program.

“It will be able to get from here to Grundy in about 18 minutes,” he said Friday, standing in the police hangar at Virginia Highlands Airport. “We’re here to provide the [Med-Flight] service. Medevac is the primary mission and reason for being here.”

The $7 million, silver and navy aircraft was unveiled Friday afternoon, and although it has been in the hangar since May, has just started to be used, after the staff was trained and the helicopter stocked with supplies, Ratliff said.

The helicopter boasts several new state-of-the-art features, including night vision goggle capability, several global positioning units, terrain avoidance technology, onboard weather systems and a glass cockpit that Ratliff said was the “latest and best technology.”

It also features a hoist capable of holding 600 pounds, which is twice the capacity of its current hoist.

“Now we can send someone down to rescue someone and pull them up,” Ratliff said.

This helicopter is the first bought for the area since 1993, which is mostly used today for law enforcement and searching for people. The primary purpose of the new chopper will be medical evacuations, Ratliff said, and an identical helicopter was bought to assist another Med-Flight team in Richmond, Va.

A paramedic is on duty at all times, and the medical team is staffed through a partnership with Wellmont Health System.

Anita Ashby, the system’s director of flight services, said her staff was excited about the new aircraft, because its increased space allows for better healthcare.

“In the smaller aircraft, nurses can only reach from the waist up,” she said. “In this one, we can provide care from head to toe.”

She said the roomier aircraft allows medical staff to start care sooner, because they have room to work within the aircraft. And that, she said, decreases the amount of time it takes to get wounded people to the hospital.

Several local politicians were on hand for the aircraft’s unveiling, and all said they were proud to now have the equipment in the region.

“Over 24 years there are probably few events where I’m as proud of the equipment we’re putting into the hands of our personnel,” said retiring Sen. William Wampler, R-Bristol. “I’m very proud Virginia is able to deploy an aircraft of this nature.”

Delegate Phillip Puckett, D-Lebanon, said the helicopter will provide what is most needed in critical situations – time.

“When you’re in Buchanan County, or Dickenson or Wise and you need transport immediately, this gets the job done,” he said.

The aircraft also features a 30 million candlepower spotlight, which can be used in search-and-rescue missions or to apprehend people on the run.

“Coming from a state police background, there’s nothing more reassuring than when you’re chasing someone through the woods, and you need backup, and one of these helicopters comes flying over,” said Delegate Bill Carrico, R-Independence. “It’s the eye in the sky.”

Virginia State Police offer all services – including medevac – free of charge to the public, Ratliff said.

And, said Pokey Harris, Washington County, Va.’s emergency management director, a police helicopter was instrumental in assessing the tornado damage caused by the April storms.

“They gave us that visual we needed,” she said of the photos taken of the storm’s path from the air. “And, with the major interstates that run through the area, it’s beneficial to all our global citizens who travel through every day.”

Delegate Joe Johnson, D-Abingdon, said that as a Korean War veteran who flew in the Air Force choppers of the early 1950s, he is impressed by the new police helicopter.

“I’m proud of Virginia State Police and Med-Flight and what you do for the citizens of this area,” he told medical attendants and pilots. “You’re entitled to have the very best, and you have the very best. That means a lot, speed – it saves lives or tracks down the person you’re trying to find or makes the rescue.”

Original article and photo gallery: http://www2.tricities.com

Kenner's mayor excited about airport expansion plans. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (KMSY), New Orleans, Louisiana.

Watch Video: http://www.fox8live.com
A surprising new plan to spend $1 billion to expand Armstrong International Airport could have a profound impact on the city of Kenner. The plan could totally revamp an industrial area north of the airport and, so far, it's being well received at Kenner City Hall.

It's a quantum shift from the past. Previously, airport expansion plans met with resistance in Kenner.

Now, in an area where lease signs are all too common, Kenner's mayor is embracing change.

"Let's get our airport back to international status, says Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni. "And that's where [New Orleans Mayor Mitch] Landrieu is going."

The New Orleans Aviation Board is now studying two proposals. One calls for an entirely new terminal, on the north side of the airport; the other envisions an expansion of the current facility.

"Hopefully we will come back with something that will dazzle our community," says Iftikhar Ahmad of the Aviation Board.

A new terminal on the north side could cost a billion dollars, and would have a profound impact on a floundering industrial area between the airport and Veterans Highway.

"That whole area could use a face lift," says Mayor Yenni. "The property values could skyrocket, having airport access over there."

"With the economy, business is slow," says Kenner restaurant owner Jack Manasco. "We welcome all the workers and the economic boon that would bring."

Interstate access will be key for any move of the terminal closer to Veterans Highway -- and that could mean a whole new corridor, at Loyola, which could drastically alter the interchange.

"I think it would be good for us," says Manasco. "The more traffic, the more exposure we would get."

The proposal appears to be the death knell for other plans calling for new airports, from New Orleans East to Donaldsonville.

"I can't see the airport moving," says Mayor Yenni. "That's multi-millions of dollars. You've got a great footprint there, there's not enough money to contemplate another one."

The mayor's proposal is also being well-received by Kenner's tourism industry, though it's still in its infancy.

"We will try and get to him in two years, but we will see," says Ahmad.

While optimistic, Kenner's mayor plans to work closely with the Aviation Board to avoid negative impacts. As the plans move along, Mayor Yenni hopes that either the Aviation Board or Mayor Landrieu will update the Kenner council on expansion plans.

Watch Video: http://www.fox8live.com

Resolute Bay crash rescue effort hailed. Airline CEO says captain from Edmonton, crew from Yellowknife.

(Hat tip to Evan)

First Air and Nunavut's premier are praising the Canadian military's rapid response to this weekend's plane crash near Resolute Bay, which killed 12 people and seriously injured three others.

Flight 6560 was travelling from Yellowknife to Resolute with 15 people on board, including four crew members, when the Boeing 737-200 went down mid-Saturday near the remote Arctic community.

RCMP in Nunavat confirmed on Sunday the three survivors are listed in stable condition in hospitals in Iqaluit and Ottawa.

The airline announced Sunday all of the flight's crew were among the fatalities but did not release names of the victims.

Premier Eva Aariak said the military's response was "very, very critical" to the rescue of the survivors, given the territory's often extreme conditions.

"We were lucky to have military exercise team already up in Resolute Bay to help respond to the incident," she said of the Canadian Forces personnel, who were already participating in the annual Arctic military exercise Operation Nanook and responded to the crash on Saturday.

Counsellors deployed to community

"A First Air spokesman said Sunday the airline will co-operate fully with investigators to determine what caused the crash.

"We're deeply saddened by this tragedy and offer our sincere condolences to the families," Chris Ferris, First Air's vice president of marketing, told reporters at the airline's headquarters in Kanata, Ont.

Ferris, his voice breaking with emotion during his brief statement, said field counsellors have been deployed in Resolute Bay, Yellowknife and other locations to help relatives and friends of the victims.

Ferris also thanked members of the military, saying their immediate response was "instrumental" in the rescue of the three survivors.

Nunavat's Aariak also questioned whether the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre at CFB Trenton would be able to send a response team that far north as quickly under normal circumstances.

"It takes many hours from Trenton or elsewhere to respond to situations like that, and the need to have a closer look at how we can lessen the response time is very important," she said.

First Air president and CEO Scott Bateman told reporters in Yellowknife that the flight's captain was from Edmonton and three crew members were from Yellowknife.

Bateman said he would continue to meet with relatives of victims in Yellowknife and planning to fly to Resolute Bay in the morning.

2 of 3 survivors transferred to Ottawa

A seven-year-old girl and a 48-year-old man have been transported to Ottawa General Hospital for further treatment, while a 23-year-old woman is still receiving medical care in Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit, Nunavut, RCMP Const. Angelique Dignard said in a release.

Witnesses said the aircraft crashed into a small hill as it approached Resolute's airport.

"You can see two big pieces of the plane and the tail," the CBC's Jessie Fraser reported from Resolute Bay's airport after flying over the wreckage. She described the landscape of the crash site as "little hills, rock and gravel."

'Everybody is in shock': premier

Aariak, in an interview Sunday with CBC News from Iqaluit called the crash "devastating" for the territory and its intertwined communities.

The premier said the territory's government is mobilizing its medical response and mental health teams to assist affected communities.

"We are like a close-knit family in Nunavut," she said. "There are family members in different communities as well, and the word travels fast. So everybody is in shock, and supporting one another is very important at this time."

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who is also the MP for Nunavut, said Saturday was a "very tragic day" for the territory.

"Nunavut's a very large territory, but everyone's affected," Aglukkaq told CBC News Sunday in Ottawa.

Flight recorders recovered

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it is still too early to speculate what might have caused the crash.

First Air said the plane's last reported communication was at 12:40 p.m. CT, approximately eight kilometres from the airport, and that the plane went down 10 minutes later.

TSB spokesman Chris Krepski said investigators will spend Sunday continuing to gather information at the scene of the crash while the plane's black box flight recorders are sent to Ottawa for analysis.

The flight data recorder records the aircraft's pitch, roll, bank and altitude and how it was flying, as well as crew-to-crew communications in the cockpit, Krepski told CBC News on Sunday morning.

TSB investigators will be interviewing witnesses, looking at the wreckage, talking to air traffic control, examining radar data and communications records and weather reports. The investigators will also review the crew's training records and experience, along with the aircraft's maintenance records, Krepski added.
 

'Rippling effect' throughout North

CBC reporter Patricia Bell said that Aziz (Ozzie) Kheraj, who owns the South Camp Inn in Resolute, had two granddaughters on the plane. One of the girls died, she said.

Kheraj told The Canadian Press Sunday that he chartered the flight and his other granddaughter was one of the two survivors transferred to Ottawa for treatment.

"We lost quite a few people on that plane, so it's pretty tough," Kheraj said. "We lost six staff."

Meanwhile, in Yellowknife, where the flight originated and the flight's crew were believed to be based, news of the crash had a "rippling effect" through the community, the CBC's Juanita Taylor said Sunday.

Joe McBryan, owner of Buffalo Airways, told CBC News "everyone knows everyone" in the Far North's tight-knit aviation community.

"When something like this happens, it hits home," he said, his voice choking up.

The prime minister, who is scheduled to travel to Resolute on Monday for his annual trip to the Arctic, said in a statement he was "deeply saddened by news of this tragic plane crash near Resolute Bay.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those passengers who lost their lives in this tragedy," Harper said. "We also wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured."

The Governor General, who is currently touring the Arctic, was scheduled to hold events in Resolute on Sunday, but cancelled them given the tragedy. Johnston and his wife Sharon said in a statement their "thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this tragic event."

The airline provides scheduled passenger and cargo service between 25 northern communities with connections to Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa.

The airline began in 1946 as Bradley Air Services, offering charter, surveying, passenger and cargo flights across northern Canada.

Original Article, Videos, Photos: http://www.cbc.ca/news

Survivor of mid-air collision remains in critical condition. Hammonton Municipal Airport (N81), New Jersey.

The pilot that parachuted from his plane after it collided with another aircraft near the Hammonton Municipal Airport on Saturday afternoon remained hospitalized Sunday.

Kirill Barsukov, of Jersey City, was taken to Cooper University Hospital Medical Center Saturday after his YAK-55M plane collided with a LANCAIR IV P. That plane was registered to David Mitchell of Voorhees, Camden County.

Hospital officials said Barsukov was still critical Sunday afternoon.

While Mitchell has not been identified by police as the pilot who died, Tom Beamer, an acquaintance of Mitchell's, told reporters Saturday it was Mitchell who died in the crash.

Hammonton Police are investigating the crash and did not have any information they could release Sunday.

State police from the Buena Vista station said they were informed of Saturday's crash, but are not part of the investigation.

Witnesses to the incident said the pilot of the YAK-55M parachuted out of the aircraft and called police before he required medical attention.

Federal Aviation Administration officials said the crash occurred in an "aerobatic box." That airspace is reserved for pilots practicing aerobatic maneuvers. However, it has not been determined whether the pilots were practicing tricks.

Source:  http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com

VIDEO: Missing Man Formation, In Memory Of Bryan Jensen. Kansas City Air Show.

Aug 21, 2011 by kmbctv

Planes at the Kansas City Air Show pass overhead in "missing man formation" in memory of Bryan Jensen, the pilot killed in Saturday's crash.

Watch Video: http://youtu.be/Rh-SAnakfBc

Prime Minister Stephen Harper delays Arctic trip after fatal plane crash

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has delayed his annual Arctic tour until Tuesday morning after a plane crash claimed the lives of 12 people in a small northern community, his office said on Sunday.

Harper also scrapped his plans of a two night stay in the tiny hamlet of Resolute Bay, Nunavut and will instead fly into the town for a brief visit to pay his respects to the people and families affected by the tragedy.

Three people survived when a First Air Boeing 737 crashed into a hill while trying to land at the airport at about 12:50 p.m. local time on Saturday.

After his short visit in Resolute, Harper will continue on to Baker Lake, Yellowknife, Whitehorse and Haines Junction.

Duane Froese, the Canada research chair in northern environmental change at the University of Alberta, told CTV News Channel on Sunday that the North is undergoing rapid environmental transformations, a major cause for concern.

"The North is warming at a rate faster and greater than any other part of the planet," he said. "The transformation is being felt by northerners, by the natural environment and by the communities."

He said Canadians need to be doing more to understand the impact of these changes. Froese said that having Harper visiting these communities will give the prime minister a chance to speak to people directly affected by the changes.

"People who have traditional lifestyles, who spend a lot of time on the land, are telling us about the changes in the vegetation, changes in the animal communities, the changes in the nature of the snowfall," he said.

"People who live further to the south are telling us about changes and impacts on roads and runways and airports."

This will be Harper's sixth consecutive summer visit to the Arctic.

With files from The Canadian Press

Source: http://www.ctv.ca

Coming to 360 North: “The Aviators” weekly magazine-style TV series.

Coming in September on 360 North, “The Aviators” is a new weekly magazine-style TV series featuring interesting people, the latest aircraft, the coolest technology and the best fly-in destinations. The show will take you behind the scenes to show you how airline pilots train, how planes are built, and how ATC works. ”The Aviators” will profile aviation businesses and showcase aviation products and will provide safety tips for private and recreational pilots and career tips for professional pilots.

Source: http://www.ktoo.org

Quad City Ultralight Corp. Challenger II, experimental amateur-built airplane, N6613Z: Accident occurred August 17, 2011 in Ransom Township, Pennsulvania

NTSB Identification: ERA11FA463
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, August 17, 2011 in Ransom Township, PA
Aircraft: QUAD CITY ULTRALIGHT CORP CHALLENGER II, registration: N6613Z
Injuries: 1 Fatal.HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 17, 2011, about 1805 eastern daylight time, a Quad City Ultralight Corp. Challenger II, experimental amateur-built airplane, N6613Z, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering in Ransom Township, Pennsylvania. The non-certificated pilot/owner was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. 

Full narrative available

Carolann Spear said her husband was meticulous about everything he worked on, including the Challenger 2 Ultralight amateur aircraft he was flying shortly before it crashed and he died.

"He went over that plane with a fine-tooth comb," Mrs. Spear said. "I don't know what happened."

Her husband of 44 years, William Spear, died Wednesday after his plane crashed into the peak of a ravine in Ransom Twp. An autopsy Friday afternoon revealed that Mr. Spear died of multiple traumatic injuries, Lackawanna County Coroner Tim Rowland said.

According to Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Arlene Salac, the plane Mr. Spear was flying was an amateur-built experimental aircraft. Unlike ultralights, another type of small plane, experimental planes are built from a kit that the individual purchases. These planes must be registered with the FAA and inspected annually by an FAA official.

Information about safety inspections on Mr. Spear's plane, which was certified in 1992, was unavailable, Mrs. Salac said, because all records of a plane's inspections are kept with the pilot.

According to his wife, Mr. Spear bought the plane from a New Jersey man and kept it on a neighbor's property.

"He loved that plane," she said. "I still can't get it through my head."

Born and raised in Scranton, Mr. Spear loved to work with his hands, crafting furniture in the couple's home and the hangar where he stored his airplane.

"Everything he knows, he taught himself," Mrs. Spear said. "And he loved to help people."

Mr. Spear gained experience flying three decades ago and had only recently returned to Seamans Airport in Factoryville to brush up on takeoffs and landings, his wife said. Wednesday's fatal flight was the first time he had flown the Challenger 2.

"I didn't know he was going up," she said.

Mrs. Spear said a neighbor came to the house Wednesday evening to tell her that there had been a crash and she needed to get to the hospital. When her husband's doctor told her that the medical staff had done everything possible to save him, Mrs. Spear said she couldn't believe what he was saying.

"I never, never, never thought this," Mrs. Spear said. "You never know what life will bring."

A preliminary report will be made public in a week to 10 days, Mrs. Salac said, but the cause of the crash will not be determined until the FAA completes an investigation, which could take months.

Mrs. Spear said her husband had talked about being cremated so he could return to their Ransom Road home.

"He always said this is ... heaven," she said.

Source: http://thetimes-tribune.com

Transport Canada issues a statement on aircraft accident in Resolute Bay, Nunavut

 OTTAWA, Aug. 20, 2011 /CNW/ - The Department of Transport issued the following statement today:

At approximately 13:30 EDT, First Air Flight 6560 from Yellowknife to Resolute Bay crashed on approach to Resolute Bay. There were 15 passengers on board. At this time, 12 people are thought to be dead and three injured. Our thoughts go out to those affected by this tragic accident.

Transport Canada has appointed a Minister's Observer, who will keep TC informed of the investigation's progress. We will cooperate fully with the Transportation Safety Board who is currently on site investigating this accident.

The Canadian Armed Forces are in Resolute Bay for Exercise Operation Nanook 2011 and are responding in support of emergency operations to the situation.

For further information:

Media Relations

Transport Canada, Ottawa

613-993-0055

http://www.newswire.ca

2 reported dead at Titusville Airport (6G1), Titusville, Pennsylvania.

State police are investigating a fatal accident this morning at Titusville Airport in Crawford County.

A police investigator at the state police Franklin barracks said details were not available about the cause of the accident or the aircraft involved, but officials from the Titusville Fire Department confirmed at least two people dead at the scene shortly before 10 a.m.

Source: http://www.post-gazette.com

PLANES: Watch The New Trailer. Feature Film From Disneytoon Studios.

http://youtu.be/oLyTzIslEQk

BURBANK, Calif. - August 20, 2011 – Dusty, the small-town crop-duster from DisneyToon Studios’ upcoming feature “Planes,” has found his voice: Emmy Award®-winning actor Jon Cryer, lands the role of the daring dreamer who takes on the most notoriously grueling air race in history, and in the process gives a spellbound world the inspiration to soar. “Planes,” an all-new, CG-animated comedy action adventure, flies into homes on Blu-ray™ and DVD in Spring 2013.

“We are incredibly excited to have Jon Cryer on board as the voice of Dusty,” said John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. “Jon brings so much comedy and believability to this character who dreams of soaring alongside his heroes in the ‘Wings Around the Globe’ Rally. ‘Planes’ is a wonderful story that takes audiences on a great ride and Jon brings so much heart to the film.”

Cryer has starred in the hit CBS series “Two and a Half Men” for seven years, winning an Emmy® in 2003 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. His credits also include films like “Due Date,” “Hot Shots” and “Pretty in Pink.”

Dusty lives in the small town of Propwash Junction, and the single-prop agriculture plane could not be further from the lean, mean, trophy-winning machines he idolizes – and his co-workers remind him constantly. His mentor Skipper is convinced that Dusty has the engine to compete with the best, and helps encourage him to pursue his lifelong dreams. But if Dusty wants to make his dreams a reality, he?ll need to push himself further than he ever imagined. With the help and support of a crew of all-new and hilarious characters, Dusty wings his way into the biggest challenge of his life.

“Planes,” set to introduce audiences to an entirely new and hilarious crew of daredevils from every corner of the globe, draws inspiration from the immensely popular world of Disney•Pixar’s “Cars.” Created, written and produced by DisneyToon Studios under the creative leadership of John Lasseter and directed by Emmy® nominated Klay Hall,

“Planes” takes off with an international cast of the fastest air racers around, in a comedy packed with action and adventure.

Fasten your seatbelt and secure your carry-on items, more information on “Planes” will be arriving shortly.

VIDEO: Gp Capt Simon Blake: 'Great regret' over Red Arrows death.

An RAF Red Arrows pilot died when his plane crashed following a display at the Bournemouth Air Festival in Dorset.

Flt Lt Jon Egging, 33, from Rutland, was killed when his Hawk T1 aircraft - Red 4 - crashed about 1km south east of Bournemouth Airport at 13:50 BST.

Gp Capt Simon Blake from the RAF Central Flying School said an inquiry was under way to establish the cause of the crash.

He added the Red Arrows would not be performing in public in the short-term.

Watch Video: http://www.bbc.co.uk

Flt Lt Jon Egging

Duncan remembered as ‘great friend and great pilot’. Cessna 310Q, N444YM. Near Tupelo Regional Airport (KTUP), Mississippi.

David Duncan

http://www.faa.gov/Accident_incident

http://registry.faa.gov/N444YM

Photos of crash site.

TUPELO – In the Shelton home, the man they lost in Wednesday’s fatal plane crash was known as “Double D.”

Attorneys Jimmy Doug Shelton and his son, Jason Shelton, were still in disbelief on Thursday, a day after 69-year-old David Duncan of Tupelo was killed in the Cessna 310 aircraft he was piloting. They’d just seen Duncan the day before at a funeral home, paying his respects to the family after the death of Jason’s uncle.

The elder Shelton had talked to his friend of more than 50 years just before bed Tuesday night, not knowing it would be their last conversation.

“This hit our family hard,” said Jimmy Doug Shelton, who said Duncan had taught him how to fly. “It just shocked us because he is a great pilot, the best. So I know it’s not pilot error that caused this. He has flown Jason all over the country without a problem. David was one of my oldest and closet friends, so this is just a difficult time for our family.”

Duncan’s plane crashed into a pine tree shortly after taking off from the Tupelo Regional Airport on Wednesday morning. The crash is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board and it could take up to 18 months before a cause is determined.

Jason Shelton started flying with Double D when he was a boy. Duncan was his pilot of choice since the first time he climbed in the plane with him.

“He loved to fly and we loved to fly with him,” he said. “There was never a time when he was needed that he said he was too busy to come and help us, and that’s not just talking about flying. He’d help you move or anything else you needed done. He was just a selfless person. Like I said, he was an excellent pilot.”

Allen Sudduth was a fellow pilot and friend of Duncan’s. Both men graduated from Tupelo High School in 1960 and were friends all their lives. When he’d heard someone had died in a plane crash, Sudduth said he called Duncan to see who it was, but after seven calls went unanswered, he had a feeling he knew.

“He was just a great friend and a great pilot,” Sudduth said. “And I had flown that plane six months ago and it was a good plane. It’s just tragic. David was a great man; we lost a great man.”

An autopsy report has been ordered for Duncan, according to Lee County Coroner Carolyn Gillentine-Green. The results are expected within a couple of days, she said.

Source:  http://www.nems360.com

Veterans welcome 'royal' return... No major changes to 19 Wing image yet to mark air force name change.

There will be no major changes to 19 Wing's appearance or operations following the federal government's decision to change the name of Canada's army, navy and air force back to its original name.

Henceforth, the army, navy and air force will be known as the 'Royal Canadian Air Force,' 'Royal Canadian Navy' and 'Canadian Army,' titles which were discontinued by the federal government in 1968.

The change was announced in Halifax this week by Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who called the decision, "an important way of reconnecting today's men and women in uniform with the proud history and traditions they carry with them as members of the Canadian Forces."

Spokesman Lt. Trevor Reid said despite the change, it will be business-as-usual at CFB Comox in the short-term.

"As things go down the road, there will be committees set up to look into how this change will be implemented, in terms of new buttons, new badges, things like that," Reid said. "But for the immediate term right now, there's not going to be a whole lot that's going on with 19 Wing here."

Reid said it was possible that a new display at the base's front gate could be considered as a change to reflect the new designation of 'Royal Canadian Air Force.'

However, Reid said he was not in a position to announce any specific changes at this time.

Vancouver Island North MP John Duncan also threw his support behind the change.

"I am very proud that our government has restored this important link between our serving military members and the veterans who served in defence of Canada so courageously in the past," said Duncan in a statement. "Through today's announcement, we are celebrating the rich history, the incredible dedication, and the selfless sacrifice of Canadian Forces members past and present."

Comox Valley veterans at 888 Wing of the Canadian Air Force Association were celebrating the change this week at their headquarters on Military Row.

Many enlisted in the Canadian Forces in the mid '40s and '50s, and still remember the resentment many in the military felt when the 'Royal' reference was dropped from the air force and navy.

"I thought it was the stupidest thing that ever happened in the world," said Bruce Inrig, a retired flight lieutenant with 22 years of service under his belt. "I'm tickled to death," he said in response to the switch back to 'Royal' status, "if we can get this association back to its original [title] of RCAF association."

Former 19 Wing commander Ted Gibbon recalled the mood among his colleagues in the navy and air force at the time of the change.

"You really had to be there to experience how bad the morale was, and how it affected people's performance and their attitudes and whatnot," said Gibbon, who, like his father, served in the Royal Canadian Navy. "And it was a long, long recovery period to get everyone on the same page and start working together again."

While the servicemen and servicewomen eventually got past the initial shock, Gibbon said the decision caused deep wounds within the military.

"There was always that underlying feeling that we were a little bit more than just Texaco gas pumpers [in] green suits," he said.

Gibbon said current and younger members of the military may not fully appreciate the significance of the change right away, but predicted that in time, they would.

"To be the Royal Canadian Navy or the Royal Canadian Air Force is important," he said. "And you can't say 'air command' and [or] 'maritime command' and have that kind of gut feeling that you really belong to something important."

Retired master warrant officer Gus Baudais joined the RCAF in 1942, initially serving as an engine mechanic. He stayed in the Forces for 32 years, and applauded the name change.

"Excellent, excellent," he said. "Now if we could get all the ranks back to where they were ." he added.
 

Source:  http://www.canada.com

FirstAir Boeing 737: Passenger jet crashed near Resolute Bay, Nunavut, in Canada's High Arctic, killing 12 people.

http://www.firstair.ca

 Twelve people are dead and three others are injured after a First Air Boeing 737 crashed near Resolute Bay, Nunavut early Saturday afternoon.

Charter Flight 6560 en route from Yellowknife to Resolute Bay crashed at about 12:50 p.m. local time, according to a statement from the airline.

The last communication from the plane was at 12:40 p.m. local time, when the aircraft was about eight kilometres from the Resolute Bay airport, the statement said.

According to the airline, 11 passengers and four crew members were on board the aircraft when it went down. The nature of the three survivors' injuries is not known.

A weather report for travellers on First Air's website reported "shallow fog" with a temperature of 7 Celsius at mid-afternoon local time.

RCMP Const. Angelique Dignard told The Canadian Press the plane went down less than two kilometres west of the tiny hamlet. The site is accessible by ATV, she said, but the terrain is rough.

Maj. Gerald Favre, of the northern search and rescue centre at CFB Trenton, told the newswire that aircraft from the base, which are in Resolute Bay as part of the military exercise Operation Nanook, are assisting with rescue and recovery efforts.

First Air services 30 northern communities from cities such as Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg and Edmonton. The airline says it transports more than 225,000 passengers and 25 million kilograms of cargo every year.

The airline is entirely owned by the 9,000 Inuit of northern Quebec through Makivik Corp., which was created to invest the proceeds of the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. The non-profit company purchased the airline in 1990.

According to the airline, the Boeing 737-200 is one of six types of planes in its fleet. It can carry a maximum of 99 passengers.

The Transportation Safety Board has been notified of the crash.

Source: http://www.ctv.ca

A 737 passenger jet crashed Saturday near Resolute Bay, Nunavut, in Canada's High Arctic, killing 12 people and injuring three others on board, CBC News has confirmed.

Nunavut RCMP said First Air charter flight 6560 was travelling from Yellowknife to Resolute Bay with 15 people on board, including four crew members, the CBC's Patricia Bell reported from Iqaluit.

The RCMP said in a release it "was made aware of the possibility of some survivors." A flight list was not immediately available.

First Air provides scheduled passenger and cargo service between 25 northern communities with connections to Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. First Air provides scheduled passenger and cargo service between 25 northern communities with connections to Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. CBC

The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in CFB Trenton said helicopters and medical personnel are now at the site.

Hundreds of military personnel are currently in the area for the massive military excerise Operation Nanook. But the co-ordination centre says that the incident was not a part of a simulation planned for the operation.

The plane had been scheduled to continue on to Ellesmere Island.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is scheduled to travel to Resolute Bay on Monday for his annual trip to the Arctic while Gov.-Gen. David Johnston, who is currently touring the Arctic, was scheduled to hold events in Resolute Bay this weekend.

Kanata, Ont.-based First Air provides scheduled passenger and cargo service between 25 northern communities with connections to Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa.

The airline began in 1946 as Bradley Air Services, offering charter, surveying, passenger and cargo flights across northern Canada.

Source:  http://www.cbc.ca/news

Purchase of land and zone change on agenda for Greenville special town meeting. Greenville Municipal Airport (3B1), Maine.

GREENVILLE, Maine — Residents will act on a proposed purchase of land next to the airport to allow future hangar construction at a special town meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 23, in the municipal building.

Other agenda items that will need action at the meeting include the sale of a piece of equipment, amendments to the Shaw Public Library Governance Ordinance that include expanding the board, a zoning matter and an easement.

Town officials have been working with Eric and Jenny Ward for more than a year for the purchase of 7.64 acres of a 21-acre lot the couple own adjacent to the airport. After considerable negotiations and three appraisals, a purchase price of $65,000 has been offered which will be shared by the town, the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The land acquisition, which is adjacent to Runway 32, is part of the airport’s long-term plan, Greenville Town Manager Gary Lamb said recently. He said the local 2.5 percent share, or $1,625, is included in the fiscal year 2011-12 budget.

“We have run out of land for hangars,” Lamb said this week. He said hangers bring in property taxes and the town receives fees for the lease of the lots.

The zoning change affects the Lily Bay Road. One side of the road is currently zoned Village District and 12 property owners on the opposite side have requested that their side also be rezoned to Village District to allow home businesses, according to Lamb.

Town officials also are seeking approval from residents to sell a 2001 side dump body and to confirm an easement and grant a new easement across town property to land owned by Kirby Lee Turner and Judith Ann Turner. The Turners are willing to pay the town $2,000 and provide the town an easement across their land to benefit town land.

Source: http://bangordailynews.com

A pilot was killed after crashing during the Kansas City Air Expo Air Show at the Kansas City Wheeler Downtown Airport.

RICH SUGG

A pilot was killed after crashing during the Kansas City Air Expo Air Show at the Kansas City Wheeler Downtown Airport. The plane nose dived into the grass adjacent to one of the runways.

One person died today when a small aircraft crashed at the Kansas City Aviation Expo Air Show at the Wheeler Downtown Airport.

The accident was reported just after 1:30 p.m.

A witness said a small red biplane was at the end of aerobatic maneuver and was tailing downward and could not pull out of the dive. The plane crashed into the ground and burst into flames, according to witnesses.

Authorities scheduled a press conference for 3 p.m.

Witnesses said there was a hush over the ground moments after the crash.

Cain and Jason Cook of Blue Springs said they saw the crash occur.

Cain Cook said as the plane nosedived toward the ground, it looked as though it was scripted.

“It was looking cool at first like he knew what he was doing,” said Jason Cook.

As the plane was about the make impact, it looked as if the pilot was going to gain control and pull out but the plane crashed.

Jan Marcason, who represents the 4th District on the Kansas City council, also witnessed the crash.

“It crashed right in front of the crowd,” Marcason said.

Earlier in the day, air demonstrations were delayed during a moderate rain. Hundreds who gathered for the show retreated for cover inside terminal buildings and beneath display aircrafts.

Source:  http://www.kansascity.com

One Reported Dead In Mid-Air Collision over Hammonton Municipal Airport (N81), New Jersey.

HAMMONTON, N.J. - A mid-air collision between two planes over the Hammonton Municipal Airport has resulted in at least one death, according to officials.

Two planes had reportedly collided over the airport around 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Numerous rescue agencies responded to the incident, but few details were available immediately after the crash. One official said the crash involved two small planes.

Debris from one of the downed small planes was found scattered throughout a wooded area adjacent to a farm.

A law enforcement official with knowledge of the incident said one of the pilots had died.

HAMMONTON — An FAA spokesperson confirmed reports of a midair collision between two planes performing aerobatic maneuvers over Hammonton Municipal Airport today.

Arlene Salac said two general aviation planes hit each other after 1 p.m. while performing maneuvers in a designated airspace for such maneuvers.

Police reports indicated one pilot was killed in the collision and was found in a nearby wooded area, but Salac would not confirm those reports. A pilot from another plane was able to safely eject, Salac said.

The identities of the two pilots have not yet been made available. Hammonton fire and police are continuing their investigation this afternoon.

Sources: 
http://www.nj.com
http://www.myfoxphilly.com

Winnipeg: Man arrested after shining laser pointer at police helicopter

A 30-year-old man was arrested early Saturday morning after shining a green laser beam into the Winnipeg Police helicopter, hitting the pilot.

Police say the incident happened in the 500 block of Magnus Avenue at around 2:30 a.m.

After being by the laser beam, the pilot began searching for the suspect. Police say Air 1 was hit a total of four times.

Officers say the suspect was caught within 10 minutes of beginning the search. He was arrested at residence in the 1700 block of Arlington Street.

The suspect was released on a promise to appear and is facing two charges: assault with a weapon and projection of a directed bright light source at an aircraft.

Source:  http://winnipeg.ctv.ca

Red Arrows pilot killed in crash. Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging's Hawk T1 plunged to the ground near Bournemouth Airport in Dorset.

A Red Arrows pilot died today when his stricken jet crashed after he made a dramatic attempt to steer it away from nearby houses.

Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging

Photo: MoD/PA

Flt Lt Jon Egging, 33, is believed to have tried to eject only after guiding the RAF jet towards a field as it apparently suffered a failure following an aerobatic display.

But he was killed when the jet plunged into a field near the river Stour, just outside Bournemouth.

Flt Lt Egging, who lived in Rutland, Lincs, with his wife Emma, was the first Red Arrows pilot to die in a crash for 33 years.

Flying under the call sign RED 4 he had suddenly peeled away from the other eight Red Arrows as they headed back to Bournemouth international airport after performing at the town's air festival.

The jet flew low over houses and other buildings before crashing into a field near the village of Throop, Dorset, bouncing several times and splitting into two mangled pieces.

Local people who rushed to the scene pulled his body out of the river about a mile from Bournemouth airport.

The tragedy happened after the RAF Aerobatic Team, better known as the Red Arrows, had given what one spectator described as a "dazzling" performance" at the Bournemouth air festival.

The RAF Hawks had painted pictures of love hearts in the sky with trails of pink smoke, between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

The nine aircraft then left the area to fly over nearby Christchurch before returning to the airport. But only eight of them returned.

Nick Woods, 36, told how he discovered the pilot's body in the Stour.

Mr Woods was enjoying a barbecue with his family about 300 yards from the river. The dozen or so family and friends, including his parents and his three-year old son Archie, heard the roar of the jet at about 1.50pm.

"It came in so low across the field. I could see it was in trouble," he said.

"I just shouted "Everybody inside!" because I didn't know how far it would spread when it crashed.

"The next moment my friend Finlay shouted 'He's down!'

"It just sounded like an explosion when it hit – no flames but a huge ripping sound. I saw debris flying in the air.

"Finlay and I ran across the field. The Red Arrow was on the bank. We jumped into the water, found the ejector seat, pulled it up, but it was clean – no-one in it.

"I swam across the river and saw the parachute, and that's where I found him.

"He was near a steep bank, in deep water. He was very badly injured, dead. I was pretty shaken.

"Then a female police officer and a search and rescue guy appeared."

Peter Male, whose brother owns the farmland where the jet crashed, said: "The jet was so low over the houses that the pilot must have been trying to crash land in the fields so he did not hit any of the buildings.

"He suffered terrible, terrible injuries."

Shaun Spencer-Perkins, who witnessed the crash from Throop Mill, where he was walking with his wife, said: "I heard a rushing sound and I saw a plane about 50ft above the ground racing across the fields.

"It impacted and bounced across the field, made it across the river about 100 yards away from where we were.

"We ran into the field following the debris trail to the point of impact," he said. "There were huge black marks and the horrendous smell of aviation fuel."

Darren Blakeman, who was watching the Red Arrows display, said: "When only eight of the airplanes landed after the display a big siren went off at the airport. A big yellow fire truck parked in the viewing area rushed off with its blue lights going.

"A police helicopter and a coastguard helicopter were hovering in the air above the site."

Susie Churchill, who lives less than 100 yards from where the aircraft crashed, said: "We see the Red Arrows fly over here every years, so we are all in quite a state of shock," she said.

The Red Arrows were due to fly on every day of the four-day Bournemouth Air Festival, which attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators, and finishes today.

Organisers had been forced to cancel daytime flying displays on Thursday due to bad weather which had caused flash flooding earlier in the week. They said events would continue as scheduled.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We can confirm that we are aware of an incident involving one of the Red Arrows and we are investigating."

The son of an airline pilot, Flt Lt Egging joined the Royal Air Force in 2000 and flew Harrier jump jets before joining the Red Arrows.

During his time on the front line, he flew operational missions in Afghanistan in support of ground forces. His wife, Emma, is a museum consultant.

The Lincolnshire-based Red Arrows, formed in 1965, have completed over 4,000 displays in 53 countries.

Although Red Arrows jets have been involved in a number of crashes the last fatality was in 1978 when two pilots died after their aircraft struck the ground whilst practising aerobatics

In 1971 four pilots died after two planes collided during the cross-over manoeuvre. Two years earlier, a pilot was killed when his jet hit a tree during a practice flight.

All nine display pilots are fast jet pilots from frontline Royal Air Force squadrons.

Since 1979, the Red Arrows have used the dual control BAE Systems Hawk T1 aircraft.

Source:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Air India: Plane makes emergency landing after bird strike. Chaudhary Charan Singh Amausi airport.

Minutes after take-off, an Air India plane made an emergency landing at Lucknow airport in Uttar Pradesh Saturday after suffering a bird hit, an official said. All passengers are safe.

The Lucknow-Varanasi-Mumbai flight-AI 695 landed back at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Amausi airport.

Though the incident took place in the afternoon, it was confirmed by airport authorities only Saturday evening.

"Earlier we were told that the pilot landed the plane after he felt there was some problem in the aircraft. However, later Air India said that it was a bird hit," Lucknow airport Director Atul Dixit told IANS.

According to airport sources, there were around 80 passengers and four crew members on board.

“Nearly 15-20 minutes after take-off, the plane landed at the Lucknow airport," Abhinav Srivastava, a passenger, told reporters.

“There was some sound. However, we were not told about the bird hit at that time. We came to know about it only after we landed at the airport," he added.

Source:  http://www.prokerala.com

Choppin' the heat: Air ambulance service provides emergency response, education. Collin County Regional Airport at Mc Kinney (KTKI), Dallas, Texas.

Chris Beattie/Staff Photo

Flight nurse Keith Ashley, right, double checks the helicopter's supplies with flight medic, Andrew Peters, on Thursday afternoon at the PHI Air Medical base at Collin County Regional Airport in McKinney.

Drinking fluids and wearing sunscreen are the best ways to beat the heat, but when the heat beats you enough for a medical emergency, the fastest path to recovery is on a helicopter.

And as heat-related emergencies increase along with the number of 100-degree days, McKinney has a life-saving service in its own backyard -- PHI Air Medical at Collin County Regional Airport (CCRA).

The global full-service air ambulance provider operates one of its 70 national bases at CCRA, with pilots and flight paramedics on call every hour of the day. The PHI Air Medical crew answers emergency calls and transports patients in critical condition to area hospitals.

Chris Beattie/Staff Photo - Flight nurse Keith Ashley, right, double checks the helicopter's supplies with flight medic, Andrew Peters, on Thursday afternoon at the PHI Air Medical base at Collin County Regional Airport in McKinney.

"When they call us, we always have the same goals," said Keith Ashley, flight nurse with PHI Air Medical in McKinney. "To cause no pain, no harm and a positive, healthy outcome."

While it takes ground ambulances close to 45 minutes to get a patient from the North Collin County area to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where many must receive treatment, the PHI Air helicopter make the same trip in less than half the time. A flight medic and flight nurse accompany the pilot on the flight and provide crucial care before even arriving at a hospital.

"The only difference between us and a regular ambulance is the speed," said Andrew Peters, flight medic with PHI Air Medical. "We provide excellent care, fast."

Any time there is continuous, extreme heat, the number of heat-related injuries tends to multiply. Patient confidentiality criteria disallows medical helicopter services from disclosing the numbers and nature of their calls, but Ashley and Peters both said that the heat generally precludes more emergencies every summer.

"It's an obvious thing that the heat-related emergencies have increased due to these 112-degree days," Peters said.

Ashley emphasized, though, that many injuries may be spurned on by heat but were not necessarily caused by the high temperatures. The degree of injuries often depends on the patients' age, medical history and even what medications they take.

"A heat-related injury for one person might be heat exhaustion," Ashley said, "but for another, it could be a heat stroke. Different people's bodies function differently from others, so some aren't always as critical. But, heat-related injuries have definitely gone up."

The PHI Air Medical crew works with area fire and police departments and first responders, yet cover a radius of about 150 miles. They provide emergency, scene-to-hospital flights for about 30 miles of that radius and transports from hospital to hospital for the remaining area. The McKinney staff has picked up patients from hospitals as far as Galveston and Shreveport.

But PHI Air Medical's service -- particularly during hot summers -- goes beyond emergency response. The crew facilitates outreach campaigns throughout the year, giving health tips at school health fairs and public safety buildings.

About a month before the 100-degree temperatures hit this year, PHI Air Medical handed out water bottle-sunscreen packages that listed ways to stay safe during the heat, all underneath a helicopter insignia.

"Instead of being reactive, we're proactive," Ashley said. "We are all about doing what we can to help prevent what could occur, so when the summer comes, we're already talking to people about how to handle the heat."

The crew keeps its aircraft heat-ready, too. All medications and supplies needed on a call remain in the helicopter at CCRA at all times, thus, the aircraft must stay cooled. When the helicopter is on the ground, air conditioning units that are hooked up to it constantly funnel in cool air.

The helicopter is also equipped with built-in air conditioning that powers on once the rotors start for a flight.

"When it sits on the ground, the point is to keep it cool for medications and everything we have on it," Peters said. "If we get a call, we pull the air conditioners off, get in and go."

Ashley, who's been with PHI Air Medical since it came to McKinney in 2004, said that making a difference every day is the job's biggest reward. Peters, on the crew for six years, referred to the company's new t-shirts as the reason for their service.

"Our shirts say, 'The best part,' on the front and the back says, 'of your worst day,'" he said. "Every patient we pick up, it's probably the worst time in their life, and they're calling you for help. You're their last ditch, the one to take care of them and get them some help."

So, while area residents may not know when the 100-degree days will end this year, they can be sure that along with their public safety responders is a nearby air ambulance -- sometimes the only way to beat the heat.

"There's one thing about the service that we get a lot of attention to," said Ken Wiegand, executive director of CCRA. "When they take off, they're a point A to point B service; they get there as quickly as possible. They're low and fast, so when people hear a helicopter pass over their house and it's loud, they can rest assured that these people are out saving lives."

Original article and photos:  http://www.courier-gazette.com

Aerolineas Sosa Initiates Flights to Grand Cayman.

Central American airline Aerolineas Sosa landed its inaugural flight from Honduras to the Cayman Islands on Friday, establishing a second option for commercial passengers looking to fly between the two countries. Aerolineas Sosa plans service three times a week from Goloson International Airport in La Ceiba, Honduras, to Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman. The flights are scheduled to leave Honduras at 10am on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Return flights are scheduled to depart Grand Cayman at noon each of those days.

Flight time is about one hour.

For the past two years, only Cayman Airways has flown between the two countries, offering its flights on Mondays and Fridays. In 2009, the national carrier of the Cayman Islands established service between Grand Cayman and La Ceiba after a string of other airlines had failed to maintain reliable service between the two nations.

Under overcast and drizzling skies, the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 regional jet operated by Aerolineas Sosa touched down in Grand Cayman about 12.30pm on Friday with nine passengers aboard, said Bob Connor, a representative for Aerolineas Sosa in Grand Cayman. The plane remained parked on the tarmac for a short time before departing on its return service to La Ceiba with seven passengers aboard.

Aerolineas Sosa is offering introductory roundtrip airfare of US$169 between the destinations.

“The airline has plans for this rate to be in place for about a month,” Mr. Connor said. “Tickets have been sold for flights next week. This is something the airline is looking to build up as much as it can.”

Tickets are available through the airline’s website and also through travel agencies located adjacent to Owen Roberts International Airport.

Based at Goloson International Airport in La Ceiba, Aerolineas Sosa was established in 1984 and operates domestic passenger and charter service throughout Honduras. The flights to Grand Cayman are the carrier’s first international passenger service.

Source:   http://hondurasweekly.com

Man Arrested For Feeding Birds Near Bob Hope Airport (KBUR), Burbank, California.

Police say the business owner has been cited and warned since September.

A Burbank man repeatedly warned about feeding pigeons near Bob Hope Airport could face charges for violating a court order against it.

Charles Douglas, 59, was arrested at his job in the 3000 block of North Hollywood Way, near Tulare Avenue, about 10 a.m. Friday on suspicion of violating a court order, according to Burbank police Officer Joshua Kendrick.

"Douglas had continued to disperse bird seed in an alley and in parking areas near the Bob Hope Airport despite repeated warnings and citation," Kendrick said.

Police said Douglas, a business owner, had been cited and warned since September.

Birds that get sucked into jet engines can cause catastrophic damage to the turbines.

"It is very important to address situations like this, as there has been a significant increase in incidents of these air strikes in the last few months," Victor Gill of the airport said.

Southwest Airlines reported several bird strikes at Bob Hope Airport recently, and one recent departing flight that struck birds abruptly landed at Ontario Airport, Kendrick said.

Douglas was booked for public nuisance, violation of a court order and feeding of pigeons so as to create a public nuisance.

On Jan. 15, 2009, it was a bird strike that disabled both engines of an Airbus A320 and caused U.S. Airways pilot Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger to successfully ditch the airliner on the Hudson River in New York City, with no serious injuries to the 155 people aboard.

Source:  http://northhollywood.patch.com

‘Inconsiderate’ Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad, Air Asia slammed.

Disabled community furious at Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad's decision to scrap aerobridges.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) has come under fire from the disabled community for contravening a Parliamentary Act that emphasised the importance of accessibility to the disabled.

MAHB’s decision to scrap the construction of aerobridges at the new KLIA2 airport, despite an inherent policy which made it mandatory that they build one, has left the community incensed.

Said V Murugeswaran of Damai Disabled Persons Association: “The decision by MAHB not to include aerobridges in the construction of the new airport is a step backward and taken in the wrong direction.

“If underdeveloped countries can have aerobridges at their airports, why is Malaysia which is a step away from achieving developed nation status, regressing to third world status infrastructure and service provision?”

Murugeswaran was among 20 community representatives who gathered at the Bangsar LRT station this morning to protest MAHB’s decision.

The community is also sore at low cost carrier Air Asia for being inconsiderate and deciding that an aerobridge was ‘not important.’

An aerobridge is a permanent passenger boarding bridge and the disabled community see this an essential to their airport mobility.

Five days ago MAHB disclosed that aerobridges would not be built in the KLIA 2 airport if it was not going to be used.

Constantly sidelined

According to MAHB since AirAsia was not using the aerobridges it would not be ‘worthwhile.’

“As AirAsia and Air Asia X will be the major airlines at KLIA2, it may not be worthwhile to incur the cost if the aerobridges are not going to be used.

“Discussions will be held with other LCCs as well on their requirements,” MAHB was quoted as saying in English daily, The Star.

The statement followed AirAsia’s request for an exemption from MAHB’s policy of requiring airlines to use aerobridges.

This morning Murugesan lambasted MAHB saying their decision contravened the Malaysian with Disabilities Act.

“May we also draw your attention to Malaysian with Disabilities Act.

“The Act clearly emphasises the importance of accessibility to enable persons with disabilities to fully and effectively participate in society including access to public facilities, amenities and services and buildings and public transport facilities with universal design as a key feature of such access..

“We are deeply saddened that despite provisions in the act and many assurances from the government authorities and politicians, including Ministers, disabled people continue to face barriers and difficulties in their everyday life.

“Disabled people continue to be sidelined in national development projects such as KLIA2 which involved multi-billion ringgit in construction cost,” said Murugeswaran.

Cheaper alternative

The move to protest against MAHB’s decision however did not go down well with Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) councillor Anthony Thanasayan.

Thanasayan, a disabled himself felt that aerobridges were too expensive a commitment.

He suggested instead the use of the portable ambulifts in airports.

“The ambulift is more suitable as it is portable.

“Having an aerobridge will increase cost for passengers by 20%.

“It is unfair to shift the cost to able-bodied passengers.

“I have been carried up into planes in the US because the smaller airports does not have aerobridges and ambulifts,” said Thanasayan, who is the president of Petpositiev and an activist for the disabled community.

Whilst agreeing that ambulifts are faulty, he said most of the time the problem was with poor or lack fo maintenance of this facility.

Source:  http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com