Thursday, November 24, 2011

Piper Cherokee: Emergency landing leads to marijuana charges.

When a McLeanarea farmer saw the downed aircraft and two men walking down a grid road, he did what anyone would do in neighbourly Saskatchewan. He stopped to lend a hand.

It was some time later, when he heard about the small plane's illicit cargo, that he began to have second thoughts.

"It's rural Saskatchewan. Everybody helps everybody," said the farmer, who asked not be identified. "You start asking yourself questions now."

The farmer said he wouldn't hesitate to stop and help someone in need again, but he might start with a call on his cellphone to authorities.

On Wednesday, RCMP revealed that the single-engine Piper Cherokee, which made an emergency landing on July 29, is believed to have carried 83 pounds of marijuana, neatly packed into three brand new suitcases.

A 27-year-old West Kelowna, B.C., man, accused of being a passenger in the plane, appeared Wednesday in Regina Provincial Court on charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of breaching court orders from B.C., where he also faces a drug charge. Roy Van Nicholson is to return to court Jan. 23.

With the consent of the Crown, he was released on conditions that included maintaining his West Kelowna residence, reporting weekly to police and consenting to searches by police up to three times a month.

Indian Head RCMP Cpl. Devin Pugh said it's believed the plane, coming from the north and heading south, attempted to land on a gravel road about 10 kilometres northeast of McLean.

"It bounced off the road into a ditch, through the ditch, and he actually hit a fence post with one of his wings. He kind of bounced in the field a little ways and came to a stop," Pugh said.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is responsible for investigating the cause of the crash, but it's suspected the plane may have run out of fuel.

The farmer was travelling down a main grid road when he came upon the plane with the broken front wheel and damaged propeller around 4: 30 p.m. that day. He saw two well-dressed men toting travel bags come out of a yard about a half a kilometre away and correctly assumed they had been on the plane. The men were shaken but otherwise unhurt.

"They didn't know where they really were. They thought they were close to Moose Jaw," he recalled. "I said, 'You're 30 miles out of Regina.'"

They wanted a ride to the city, but the farmer could take them only as far as Qu'Appelle. Chatting during the drive, the farmer asked the men, who said they were from Medicine Hat, if they had come to Saskatchewan for the Rider game that weekend. They quickly admitted the game had indeed brought them out this way.

But they also said they were just out for an afternoon ride. The farmer had his doubts.

In Qu'Appelle, the farmer got them a map to show where they had left their plane because they were uncertain of the location. He also telephoned RCMP about the crash and handed the phone to the pilot. In Qu'Appelle, the men bumped into another Good Samaritan, who agreed to give them a lift to the city.

At the time investigators located the plane, its occupants were not identified. RCMP believe they had left the area for B.C.

"That's what kind of keyed our interest. Obviously if somebody crashes, or forcelands a plane, it was kind of interesting to us that they didn't stick around," Pugh said.

While investigating the crash site, officers followed a trail in the tall grass leading into the bushes, on the edge of a field a short distance from the plane, and discovered three large suitcases.

Pugh said the plane originally came from Kelowna but was unsure of its destination. No flight plan had been registered.

The pilot of the plane escaped the emergency landing unharmed. However, he has since died in an incident unrelated to the crash. Foul play is not suspected.

The investigation involved Indian Head RCMP, Mission RCMP in B.C., and the Regina integrated drug unit.

AUSTRALIA: Airline connects travellers to Europe

AUSTRALIAN holidaymakers can now fly China Southern to Europe's hottest destinations after 14 more services were added to the airline's existing codeshare agreement with Air France.

The expansion into new corners of Europe connects Australians with the continent's most beautiful cities.

For the first time this summer, China Southern will fly from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth via Guangzhou and Paris to exciting European destinations including Copenhagen, Venice, Lisbon and Nice.

Return flights from Brisbane to Barcelona start from $1549* with good connections including a two hour break between Paris and Barcelona and a four hour evening stopover in Guangzhou that allows passengers to enjoy some authentic Cantonese food before flying home.

Melbourne to Munich fares cost from $1611* with all stopovers under five hours.

Perth to Prague flights start from $1543* while Sydneysiders can fly to Copenhagen via Guangzhou and Paris from $1561*.

The 14 new destinations are in addition to China Southern's existing codeshare links with Air France to London, Madrid and Milan.

The new services are part of a worldwide expansion to better connect Australia with Europe and the rest of the world through Guangzhou, the airline's hub in southern China.

For more information visit Fly China Southern.

http://www.whitsundaytimes.com.au

Full-body scanners coming to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

MANCHESTER – A different kind of surprise is in store for holiday travelers flying out of Manchester this winter.

The Transportation Security Administration said Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is expected to receive more than one full-body scanner for its security checkpoint, and the machines are likely to be up and running before Christmas.

The scanners should arrive in the coming weeks, according to TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis.

She said they come installed with privacy-enhancing software, Davis said, which means the image displayed is the same for everyone: a generic outline of a male or female body.

“It’s not an individual-specific image,” she said. “It gives relief to any passengers that had any prior concerns.”

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport will receive at least one scanner, she said, but the airport is likely in line for more than one.

The machines were purchased with money outlined in the federal budget. Each scanner costs somewhere between $130,000 and $170,000, Davis said.

The change has been embraced by air travelers, after other full-body scanners drew complaints for the quasi-naked images produced by the machine and viewed by TSA agents.

Travelers are now able to see the same image shown to TSA authorities, Davis said, and the picture cannot be stored, transmitted or printed. The image also is deleted after each person passes through.

Davis said most passengers opted into the scanner checks even before the software was installed to address privacy concerns, so she doesn’t foresee any problems with the new scanners in Manchester.

A security officer will ask the travelers to step into the machine, hold their hands over the head for a few seconds and step out on the other side to collect their belongings from the X-ray belt, Davis said. If an anomaly is detected, the officer will conduct a targeted pat-down to resolve the alarm, she said.

The new process is optional, she added, but if one opts out, he or she will still be subjected to walk through a metal detector and receive a pat-down.

The technology has been deployed to many of the country’s airports for the past two years, Davis said.

More than 500 units were shipped to airports last year, and another 500 are going out this year, she said.

The equipment is large and heavy and will take some time to set up, Davis said. Slight adjustments may be made to the security checkpoint area in the airport while the machines are installed, she said.

Training will begin for TSA agents once the machines arrive, Davis said. Each agent must complete about 20 hours of classroom training and eight hours of operational training before using the scanners.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com

From the archives: Jake James' plane finally lifts off after feud with city of Fort Worth

Jake James has had a full size antique airplane installed above his future convenience store/deli on Montgomery Street in Fort Worth in 2006.



Editor's note: This report was originally published in September 2006. Jake James, 72, was killed in a two-car crash on the Jacksboro Highway late Wednesday.

FORT WORTH — After a rather bumpy takeoff with the city of Fort Worth, Jake James on Wednesday finally got his plane in the air.

Mind you, the single-engine two-seater is not airworthy, especially after city code officers made James cut off the top of the cockpit and trim the vertical part of the tail.

Then there are those things on the back that look like turbine engines but actually are small trash cans.

But James, 66, an accomplished hairstylist who knows little about airplanes, never wanted to fly the turquoise-and-red-trimmed aircraft.

He just wanted to hoist it on top of a 20-foot steel pole as part of a remodeling effort to turn an old gas station on Montgomery Street near the Cultural District into a convenience store, deli and one-chair hair salon.

And there is where the problems began.

About two months ago, James parked his plane outside the long-closed Shamrock station on Montgomery Street across from the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Before then, the plane had hung from the ceiling of a theater James owns near the courthouse square in Tyler.

It was okay for the plane to hang in the lobby of a Tyler theater, but it was not okay for it to be parked on the lot, which James recently bought.

The city’s code compliance department, alerted by a man who lives near the old Shamrock station, quickly fired off two letters to James, a former salon operator in Fort Worth who moved back nearly two years ago after 21 years in Tyler.

"You can’t park a plane there," James said he was told by the Fort Worth code officers. He was cited for "improperly storing things outside," and was told he had about 10 days to cart off the aircraft or be fined $2,000 for each day that he was in violation.

James did as he was told. Then he got a city sign permit three weeks ago that allowed him to return the plane to Montgomery Street, with the understanding that he would tether the 2,000 pounds of metal and flying parts on top of the pole within 90 days.

He didn’t act fast enough.

"The city started on me again, those code boys," James said.

Before long, another city official, this time from the sign regulations division, was back at the old Shamrock. He was joined by David Berning, the resident who first complained about the plane.

Berning calls the plane "junk, salvage."

James disagrees.

"To me, it’s art, and I’m in an art-cultural district," he said.

James’ art, however, was 9 inches too tall to meet city specifications. So James sawed off part of the tail and the top of the cockpit.

Alex Southern, with the Fort Worth Code Ordinance Department, said it appears James has now satisfied all requirements to keep his plane where it is, although some neighbors are still "pretty irate" about it.

On Wednesday morning, James, with his nearly constant companion Molly, a large, well-coiffed poodle, watched a crane lift his plane to its newest resting place.

Up the street, Berning and his wife, Karen, seemed resigned to the fact that the craft with trash-can turbines will be a permanent part of their neighborhood’s landscape.

"If it meets the code requirements, so be it," David Berning said.

It might even make sense if James is hoping a conversation piece will bring in business, said Karen Berning.

"If he’s looking for a landmark to get people to come," she said, "I guess an airplane on a stick will do it."

Relief for Air India, Reserve Bank of India okays restructuring of loan

NEW DELHI: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the restructuring of the airline's working capital loan liability of Rs 22,000 crore. The remaining loan of Rs 21,000 crore taken for aircraft purchase is likely to be taken over by the government for repayment unless AI recovers its financial position to pay them off.

Of the Rs 22,000 crore working capital loan, RBI has approved conversion of Rs 7,500 crore into cumulative preference shares (redeemable after 15 years against 10 years at present); Rs 11,000 crore loan to be changed from 14% interest to 11%, payable over 11 years with a moratorium in first year and Rs 3,500 crore to remain as loan with 14% interest.

AI expects a saving of Rs 1,000 crore per annum from its yearly interest payment of Rs 2,640 crore with these moves. Stating that AI is facing "serious problems", the RBI wrote to State Bank of India - which is leading the consortium of 26 banks with exposure to AI - to ensure that that the restructuring is completed within 120 days. Now, SBI has called an urgent meeting of the 26 banks in Mumbai on Monday to meet that deadline.

The central bank has also spelt out some conditions for AI so that it is actually able to pay back banks. It has told the national airline to cut costs, rationalize routes and most importantly charge the right fares as AI has been accused of charging below-cost fares to show higher aircraft occupancies. Also, the turnaround plan worked out for AI by SBI Caps said the airline will turn around in seven years. RBI has extended this time also and given AI 10 years to show a turnaround.

Apart from the RBI lifeline, AI is now expected to get Rs 6,750 crore this fiscal from the government, which means additional Rs 5,550 crore as Rs 1,200 crore was given earlier. With this money, the airline is expected to pay the vendors like airport and oil companies, apart from other suppliers like caterers as each one of them routinely threatens to cut AI supply over mounting dues.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

New aerospace centre to study recycling aircraft parts opens near Montreal

ST, HUBERT, Que. - A new aerospace research and training centre that will help to find ways to recycle materials from old aircraft is now operating near Montreal.

Labs at the newly opened Centre technologie en aerospatiale will be responsible for the recycling efforts.

The federal and Quebec governments gave $12 million to fund the centre's new research and development program.

Canada's aerospace industry generates annual revenues of $22 billion and employs nearly 80,000 Canadians.

Some of the country's major aerospace industry companies — from pilot simulator maker CAE Inc. to aircraft manufacturer Bombardier are global leaders in their fields.

Industry Minister Christian Paradis said the $3.2 million provided by Ottawa was part of a 2009 infrastructure job-creation program designed to deal with the impact of the 2008-2009 recession.

In a related development, the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, one of Canada's largest engineering schools, will get a $675,000 federal grant to study the management of aircraft at the end of their life cycle.

As part of the $1.4-million project, the school will use the new research centre's labs to explore and devise procedures for dismantling, parting out and recycling materials from old aircraft.

It's estimated that, over the next 20 years, between 250 and 300 commercial planes will be taken out of service every year.

The school said in a release that research will focus on getting maximum use out of recycled aircraft parts.

It's already been offered a Bombardier CRJ200 that has reached the end of its lifespan.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com

Firefly flight stoppage creates opportunities for MASwings

KUCHING: The stoppage of FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd (Firefly) flight linkage to East Malaysia since last month has created futher growth opportunities for MASwings Sdn Bhd (MASwings), although there is no confirmation yet from its parent company, Malaysia Airlines Systems Bhd (MAS).

Market speculation was rife that MASwings would be the regional airline carrier for East Malaysia, serving Sabah and Sarawak, and at the same time, facilitating the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Area (BIMP-Eaga) regions.

However, Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Openg said it was still too early to conclude anything yet but definitely, with more shares, the state would have better say in the running of MASwings in its operations.

“As a regional airline, MASwings will have to fly to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Hong Kong. These are important hubs in the region.

“But first, it must acquire at least four jetliners before it can start operating as a regional airline,” he said recently.

MAS’s senior employee who preferred to remain anonymous said, “This is all about coping with changes in the aviation industry. The cancellation that we are seeing today is part and parcel of day to day operations. We were informed that there are still some discussions going on between the airlines.

“What matters most is not so much the frequency of the aircraft, it is about filling up the slots throughout the day. There is no point having four to five airlines operating between the same desinations and yet the slots are back to back. It is better to have lesser frequency but well spread throughout the day,” he added.

Firefly started its flight linkage to the East Malaysian market early this year on January 15, having two flights daily from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. Not reaching a year of service, after the share swap between AirAsia Bhd and MAS, Firefly halted its flight services to Sarawak and Sabah.

More question marks arose when the resignation news of Firefly chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Eddy Leong became public. It was later confirmed by MAS group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya that Leong would be replaced by Ignatius Ong Ming Choy as chief operating officer (COO) of its short-haul operations effective December 10,

Leong would remain in the MAS Group until December 31, and would be joining Destination Resorts and Hotels, a unit of Khazanah Nasional Bhd as COO, it said in a recent statement.

According to a recent news reports, there were speculations that Firefly could cease to exist by April next year.

MASwings needs bigger fleet to make international flights a reality

KUCHING: For Malaysia Airlines subsidiary MASwings to be a regional airline according to the Sarawak government’s intentions, then it will need at least four jet aircraft.

MASwings presently only has turbo propeller planes and operates the rural air services segment in Sarawak and Sabah. But last Monday, it received the green light from federal decision makers to fly international destinations.

State Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, who was addressing the lack of air connectivity to Sarawak during a press conference here yesterday, said MASwings needed a bigger fleet.

Although he was pleased MASwings would commence its Pontianak-Kuching-Brunei flights next January, he said MASwings ought to also take up routes to Singapore and Hong Kong. The two hubs, Johari said, were key to European travelers and those from the US.

“From the US, their transit points are Hong Kong and Tokyo. For Europeans, their transit is usually Singapore. We are right in the middle of all those places. We need to be connected to those hubs,” Johari told reporters.

Johari said MAS was plagued by “problems at the moment”.

“In my personal opinion, MAS should concentrate on international routes, and then leave domestic and closer regional routes to other carriers, like MASwings.”

Johari added that MAS needed to have more “lean” expenditure.

Sarawak’s air connectivity has been a perennial problem, which was made worse when another MAS subsidiary, Firefly, began canceling routes between the state and Peninsular Malaysia recently.

The move left tourism players statewide fuming with the about-turn, as Firefly had been promising continuity and further expansion in Sarawak. Firefly’s unexpected pullout was the result of a massive flight rationalization exercise between MAS and AirAsia.

That exercise was the result of a shareswap deal, announced in August, after MAS posted woeful financial results.

http://thestar.com.my

Flybe Secures $500M Financing For 20 New Embraer E175 Jet Aircraft

Budget airline Flybe has secured 500 million US dollars (£321.74m) for 20 new Embraer E175 jets which are due for delivery between now and July 2014.

Flybe, Europe's largest regional airline, said it has signed a loan facility with the Brazilian Export Development Bank which provides debt finance for 85 per cent of the aircraft price.

The carrier signed a deal with Embraer at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2010 for up to 140 aircraft, comprising 35 firm orders for E175s and options for a further 105 planes.

The 35 firm aircraft are due for delivery between this month and October 2016, with 29 of them as replacement planes and six earmarked for growth. The financing agreement with BNDES covers the first 20 of those.

Jim French, chairman and chief executive of Flybe, said the deal was a 'significant' vote of confidence in the airline and sends out a 'very clear message' that the business is in robust financial health.

"In the current challenging economic environment, I believe this very significant financing is a great testament to Flybe's recognized strength within the aviation finance community," he added.

Earlier this month the airline said underlying profits rose 74 per cent to £14.3m in the half-year to September 30 after it was boosted by higher passenger numbers in the UK and the acquisition of an airline in Finland. But it said it would reduce capacity by six per cent over the winter amid falling demand.

Wichita State University expert: Boeing uncertainty slows economy

(AP) The uncertainty surrounding the Boeing Co.'s plans for its Wichita defense facility will reverse two or three months of economic progress and recovery, according to an expert at Wichita State University.

Jeremy Hill, the director of the university's Center for Economic Development and Business Research, said Boeing's announcement that options being reviewed as part of a study include "the potential closure of the Wichita site" will spook consumers and businesses. He said the area's labor market was starting to improve after losing more than half of its aviation employees in the recent recession.

"We are going to be uncertain until we get a solution to this," Hill said. "I think that is the reality that hit us, not necessarily what they are talking about with Boeing. That is a long-term thing that will hopefully be fixed. But the reality is that businesses will change their practices right now."

He said it could take several months — perhaps as many as six — before the economy gets on solid ground again.

Should Boeing leave, the stakes are high: Boeing's Wichita facility employs 2,100 workers and that number was expected to grow after the aircraft manufacturer won Pentagon approval to build 179 refueling tankers worth at least $35 billion. The project has long been touted as having an impact of 7,500 direct and indirect jobs in Kansas.

The company has said that the problem is that the tanker work doesn't begin immediately and other work is drying up in the meantime.

Hill used a multiplier formula from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and determined the loss of 2,100 Boeing jobs could lead to 8,223 job losses overall in the Wichita-area. That's because losing Boeing could cause other companies, particularly suppliers, to trim their work forces in response.

As a result, the state, city and county would collect a combined $111 million less in retail taxes over a 10-year period. The state also would lose about $116 million in personal income tax over that same period.

But Hill said the numbers may be high, in part because the calculation doesn't figure in another employer using the Boeing facility should the company leave. He also said Boeing's biggest supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, has been thriving in the Wichita market and would be unlikely to reduce its work force radically in response to a potential Boeing departure.

Hill said that relationship with Spirit is one reason to believe Boeing will stay in Wichita. Spirit, which was formed in 2005 when Boeing spun off its commercial aircraft operations in Wichita and Oklahoma, was to do some of the work for the tanker project.

"There would be costs associated with getting up and leaving even if it's just transportation costs," Hill said. "We are a cluster for a reason. We have a supply chain within this very tight physical circle. That structure is there. So getting up and leaving is going to be difficult."

Hill said it's possible the company is posturing and plans to make its case to the Department of Defense for more money or the state for tax breaks.

"I'm not necessarily sure that that's their position and that that's why they are doing it," Hill said. "But that's always a potential. That's how I'm thinking about it."

Janet Miller, a Wichita city councilwoman, said she wants talk with Boeing to find out how "we as a community and aviation cluster can work with them."

"Certainly I think Boeing understands the quality of aviation employees here," she said.

http://www.cbsnews.com

Air Berlin scouts around for strong partner -paper

FRANKFURT Nov 24 (Reuters) - Air Berlin, Germany's second largest airline behind Lufthansa is looking for a partner, with its new chief executive holding talks with several potential interested parties, a German daily said on Thursday, citing sources.

United Arab Emirates' Etihad Airways and China's HNA Group were among those Chief Executive Hartmut Mehdorn has approached for discussions, Sueddeutsche Zeitung said in a prerelease of its Friday edition.

A sale of a substantial stake in Air Berlin cannot be ruled out, it added.

Air Berlin declined to comment.

Air Berlin had already pre-released third quarter results at the end of October, showing a 44 percent drop in operating profit to 96.8 million euros ($130.97 million), hurt by an air travel tax in Germany and high fuel prices. The airline made a 9.3 million euro operating loss in 2010.

Upscale on the fly at Detroit Metro Airport: Swarovski, L'Occitane en Provence open stores

Gift shopping on the fly just got more tempting at Detroit Metro Airport with the weekend openings of Swarovski and L'Occitane en Provence.

The upscale shops, both with locations at the Somerset Collection in Troy and other local malls, opened side-by-side at the airport's McNamara Terminal near the Westin Hotel entrance into Concourse A.

The 430-square-foot Swarovski crystal store sells fashion jewelry, watches and home accessories. It is one of 17 licensed boutiques in the U.S., including four airport locations. Swarovski has nearly 300 in North America.

Retailers find airport stores attractive because they attract millions of people a year who have long waits at the terminal. The airport stores are often smaller than mall stores, but produce higher sales per square foot.

Detroit Metro Airport draws 32 million travelers a year.

John Heidt, vice president of retail for Swarovski and a Farmington native, said the Detroit market has been strong for the brand. And the Detroit airport is one of the primary gateways to Asia, where the brand has strong recognition.

He said the Somerset Collection store in Troy is one of the retailer's top 10 stores in the country. And in the past 2 1/2 years, when the local economy has been at its worst, the Somerset store has ranked first in terms of comparable sales increases, he said.

"That store is on fire for us," he said.

The Swarovski-licensed airport stores can register sales of $1,500 to $5,000 per square foot. That's 25% to 30% higher than a similarly sized mall location, Heidt said.

"That's why we're so bullish on airports right now," Heidt said.

Top sellers for the retailer include a crystal pen that sells for $34, and its annual ornament that sells for $75.

Airport spokesman Scott Wintner said the L'Occitane store also attracts "a surge of Asian customers." One of the retailer's largest markets is in Asia and with exchange rates making the products three times as expensive there, travelers from Asia often buy a year's supply of the product to take home, he said.

Wintner said the airport's 120 retail and restaurant locations are in such demand that it rarely has vacant space. It has 140,000 square feet of concession space, making it one of the largest airport programs in the country.

Four Borders locations changed hands this summer, for example, as the Ann Arbor bookseller liquidated after attempting Chapter 11 reorganization. The four spots at the McNamara and North terminals are operated under the Heritage Books name.

The airport mall also features Brooks Brothers, Brighton Collectibles and the PGA Tour Shop.

It's an impressive roster of tenants, said Birmingham-based retail consultant Ed Nakfoor.

"You have a captive audience. You have a lot of business travelers and it is a hub to Asia, so it's a good demographic for those stores," he said. "Gone are the days when it was just T-shirt shops and newsstands."

The Swarovski and L'Occitane stores are licensed boutiques owned and operated by Corliss Stone-Littles, a company that specializes in airport retail.

http://www.freep.com

Lufthansa Halts Investment

FRANKFURT—German air carrier Deutsche Lufthansa AG said Thursday it is taking the drastic step of halting investment in its business for six months to counter rising financing costs, the latest sign of how economic uncertainty is hurting the airline industry.

Lufthansa said the move affects all the group's divisions but will exclude investment in its aircraft fleet and necessary operational goods, a spokeswoman said. She didn't say how much the company aimed to save.

Lufthansa has ordered 202 aircraft through 2018 with a list-price value of €19 billion. These are unaffected by the stalled investment.

The company warned at the end of October that persistent economic uncertainty is clouding the aviation industry's growth prospects and that cost-cutting measures introduced so far won't be enough to offset weakening demand.

Last week, its German low-cost airline Air Berlin Plc also gave a downbeat earnings update, saying it no longer expects to post an operating profit in 2011 and gave a more pessimistic outlook for next year due to persistently high oil prices and increasingly uncertain economic prospects.

It reported a sharp drop in third-quarter profit, which it blamed mainly on Germany's aviation tax and weak demand for air travel to North African holiday destinations due to the political upheaval in that region.

Pressure on airlines is being felt elsewhere in Europe too. Air France-KLM is preparing an "action plan" that will be announced in the first quarter of 2012 after the company issued a profit warning on Nov. 9. It said that current cost-savings efforts won't be enough to offset the steep rise in fuel costs, volatile currency movements and the prospect of waning airline traffic in Europe.

It expects to post an operating loss in the three months through Dec. 31 and for all of 2011. However, in September the company decided to go ahead with plans to buy 100 wide-bodied airliners, split evenly between Airbus and Boeing Co. The airline had €3.4 billion of cash at the end of September, as well as credit lines for a total of €1.85 billion.

Despite the problems faced by its own sector, Lufthansa's announcement comes on the heels of positive macroeconomic data from Germany, and doesn't represent sentiment within other sectors of the economy.

Germany's Ifo research institute showed that German business confidence ticked up in November, reversing a four-month decline and offsetting rising concerns that Germany is being infected by the debt and banking crisis.

The closely watched business climate index rose to 106.6 as firms said they were less skeptical than before and that Germany's economy is doing well relative to its peers.

Other large German companies have no plans to cut investments.

Chemical giant BASF SE isn't planning any measures to halt investments. Lanxess AG, meanwhile, plans to keep its investments at a "high level" of €600 million in 2012.

German automakers also continue to spend. Daimler AG, for example, plans to increase its research and development investments in 2012 after spending more than €5 billion this year, its research chief Thomas Weber told local media Thursday.


http://online.wsj.com

Ontario International Airport Unusually Empty During Busy Travel Week



ONTARIO (CBS) — Ontario International Airport has been unusually quiet during the busiest travel week of the year.

Republican Reps. Jerry Lewis of Redlands and Ken Calvert of Corona, who are concerned about the airport’s future, sent a letter to both U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

They claim flights have been cut in half over the last four years, causing the airport to lose a third of its passengers.

They also say 8,000 airport-related jobs have been lost and blame LAX World Airports for higher fees and more expensive fares in Ontario.

LIAT pilot charged for drugs

(Barbados Nation) The LIAT pilot who was taken into custody earlier today has been charged.

Keith Allen, 34, of Arnos Vale, St Vincent, who also resides at Coverley, Christ Church was allegedly caught with eight packages of marijuana while passing through the Grantley Adams International Airport on Wednesday night.

Allen will appear at the District “B” Magistrates Court to answer several drug-related charges.

Air Transat pilots say airline laying off domestic workers, outsourcing pilots

MONTREAL - Unionized pilots at Air Transat say a company subcontracting strategy is to hire foreign workers while Canadian pilots are laid off.

The pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association issued a statement on Thursday saying the airline sent layoff notices to 17 pilots last week.

The pilots also said the airline's holding company, Transat A.T., has an agreement with CanJet Airlines to operate some flights to southern destinations this winter.

The pilots say CanJet would be hiring foreign pilots to meet staffing needs.

Air Transat could not be reached for comment Thursday evening.

But the head of the airline's pilot master executive council called the domestic layoffs a "major blow" for all Canadian pilots.

"The fact that Transat A.T., through CanJet, is using foreign pilots when its own pilots are out of work is reprehensible," said Capt. Sylvain Aubin.

Meanwhile, the president of the pilots association said some airlines are abusing Canada's temporary foreign worker program by using it for competitive advantages instead of for filing a labour shortage.

The association says it will lobby the government for changes to the foreign worker program before a Senate committee on Transport and Communication next Wednesday.

Tour operator Transat A.T. (TSX:TRZ.B) — which includes Air Transat, Transat Distribution Canada and Transat Tours Canada. — had already said last month that it was trying to restore its profitability by eliminating 143 non-union positions across Canada in a bid to save $10 million a year.

It has also said it's preparing a corporate restructuring to simplify its decision making, reduce operating costs and to respond more nimbly to changes in the market.

Transat lost $2.9 million or eight cents per share for its third quarter, down from a profit of $20.9 million, or 55 cents per share a year earlier. Revenue rose to $937 million from $867.3 million.

Transat is an integrated international tour operator and holiday specialist with more than 60 destination countries, mainly in Canada and Europe as well as the Caribbean, Mexico and the Mediterranean Basin.

Its shares closed up 15 cents at $6.30 on the Toronto Stock Exchange Thursday.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com

Flight to Africa delayed 2 days

A direct flight to the African nation of Mauritius from Pudong International Airport was delayed for almost two days due to mechanical problems, affecting about 200 passengers.

The flight finally took off last night, with about 190 of the original passengers onboard. Some 10 others had already taken other flights. Passengers said the company, Air Mauritius, promised to cover the loss by putting them on other carriers if they wanted and paying for two nights' accommodation in Mauritius.

The delay happened on Tuesday night as Flight MK681, scheduled to leave at 9:25pm, reported mechanical glitches. Passengers were already on the Airbus A-330-200 when the problem was detected.

"The pilot tried several times to get the plane to fly but failed," said passengers, who reported that the plane never actually left the gate. Passengers finally got off the plane about 1am.

The tired travelers, many of them newlywed couples on their honeymoon trips, were taken to a hotel near the airport.

The glitches could not be fixed until new plane parts arrived from France. Travel agency sources said a computer control board and other key parts broke down, causing the problem. Air Mauritius officials in Shanghai could not be reached for comment.

Local travel agencies arranged for some travelers to take other flights to Mauritius, by indirect means. Eight passengers first took a flight to Singapore and then to Mauritius by yesterday morning. Another two left for Mauritius by yesterday afternoon.

The flight is a new one, having just begun weekly operation in July this year. The flight is the only direct trip to Mauritius from Shanghai, and the first Africa route operated by a foreign airline company.

MK681 is scheduled to travel at 9:25pm each Tuesday, arriving at Mauritius at 7:20am the following day. The flight is used mostly by businessmen and Mauritius students studying in China, city airport authorities said.

http://english.eastday.com

Boss of Malaysian budget airline Firefly resigns

The boss of Malaysian budget airline Firefly has resigned, reports the BBC's Jennifer Pak.

Eddy Leong's surprise departure comes at a time when parent group Malaysia Airlines says it does not expect to make a profit for the remainder of the year.

Malaysia blames higher fuel costs, and less demand for flights to and from Europe.

While Firefly has been making a profit, aviation analysts say it may find itself squeezed by Malaysia's deal with seperate budget airline Air Asia.

Although details have yet to be released, Malaysia and Air Asia are expected to eliminate any overlapping routes.

Pilot Bobby Hill and his Cessna 172: Sweet as pie for Lanai, Hawaii. Fresh desserts a treat for island residents, a boost for girls softball.

Bobby Hill, a pilot and Maui Police Department lieutenant, has his Cessna 172 packed with custard pies that he flew Tuesday from Maui to Lanai for Thanksgiving.
Photo Credit:  BOBBY HILL 
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With help from a Maui pilot, a Lanai boat captain and a Wailuku bakery, many Lanai residents are giving thanks for pies on their Thanksgiving tables today.

And the Lanai PONO Girls Softball organization will be selling those pies as a fundraiser and expect to bring in more than $5,000 to help pay for league and registration fees and transportation costs.

"It's going to be a sellout," said Lanai resident Rochelle Kalehuawehe, the teams' financial officer. Her husband, Scott, is head coach for the organization, which has grown to include 62 players and five teams since the couple started it three years ago.

After selling about about 500 pumpkin, custard and apple pies in its first pie fundraiser last Thanksgiving, the group more than doubled its order to 1,100 this year. Four Sisters Bakery donated extra pies, which Kalehuawehe expected would be quickly sold.

"Up until yesterday, my husband was getting phone calls," she said Wednesday, just hours before the pie distribution was to begin in Lanai City. "Even today, the emails are flying through. People are still asking. It's so lucky we have those extra pies."

With just two main grocery stores and a Four Seasons Resort bakery on the island, it's not easy to buy a freshly baked Thanksgiving pie on Lanai, Kalehuawehe said. In the past, most residents have made their own pies or bought frozen ones, she said.

But after getting a taste of the pies last Thanksgiving, residents began asking in August whether the fundraiser would be repeated this year.

Last year, pilot Bobby Hill volunteered to deliver the pies, making three trips in a Cessna 172 single-engine plane. He is one of three members of the Maui Skyhawks corporation, which owns the plane.

Hill said he was happy to volunteer again this year, flying two round trips from Kahului to Lanai on Tuesday afternoon to deliver 450 pies that were packed into reusable shopping bags filling the plane. Each flight segment took 12 to 25 minutes.

"It was a little windy," Hill said. "I was a little worried that the pies would get thrown around, but it went really well.

"It's a nice way to serve, to give to your community," said Hill, who spent little more than a year on Lanai as its police lieutenant. "I was just one piece in this thing."

The other 650-plus pies went by charter boat from Lahaina to Lanai, thanks to Lanai resident and boat captain Jason Allen.

Six Lanai residents started packing the pies at 8 a.m. Tuesday at Four Sisters Bakery before they were delivered to Lahaina Harbor in a truck donated by Akina Aloha Tours. The bakery owners donated 30 to 40 extra pies of each type, helping fill the last-minute demand, Kalehuawehe said.

"It is such a huge effort," she said.

Early on, she began saving boxes that the pies could be packed into.

Both Allen and Hill donated their services, with Hill only asking for some deer meat, Kalehuawehe said.

"He's such a blessing," she said. "He already told us he wants to do it again next year."

The Thanksgiving pie sale and a softball tournament held in October are the biggest fundraisers for Lanai PONO Girls Softball, which was started under Maui-based nonprofit All Pono Organization. Jon and Maile Viela started the Maui organization in honor of their son, Pono, who died in an all-terrain vehicle accident in 2004.

The teams play eight games on Maui, with annual expenses estimated at $15,000 to $18,000, Kalehuawehe said.

"We got so big so fast," she said. "We need the funding."

Scott Kalehuawehe thanked parents and coaches for their hard work in making Lanai PONO Softball successful. "Also to the Lanai community for their continued support and contribution to the girls," he said. "Without the community, businesses and other nonprofit organizations on Lanai, Lanai PONO Girls Softball will not have the success that they have today."
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Article and photo:
http://www.mauinews.com

Beechcraft 23 Musketeer, N8700M: Accident occurred November 23, 2011 in West Milton, Ohio

http://registry.faa.gov/N8700M

NTSB Identification: CEN12FA082
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, November 23, 2011 in West Milton, OH
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/10/2013
Aircraft: BEECH 23, registration: N8700M
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The non-instrument-rated pilot was conducting the accident flight under visual flight rules without a flight plan in dark, night, instrument meteorological conditions. Radar data depicted that shortly after departure, the airplane performed a series of multi-directional turns at varying altitudes. Several witnesses observed or heard the airplane over their residences complete several turns at a low altitude. Based on the erratic flight of the airplane, the wreckage distribution, which was consistent with a high-speed impact, and the low visibility present at the time of the accident, it is likely that the pilot experienced spatial disorientation and lost control of the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Local law enforcement officers who responded to the accident site reported the clouds were about 700 feet above ground level when they arrived at the accident site. There is no record of the accident pilot receiving an official or "unofficial" weather briefing before departure. Federal Aviation Administration guidance indicated that spatial disorientation can occur when there is no natural horizon or surface reference, such as night flight in sparsely populated areas similar to that of the accident area and conditions.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to attempt a flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control of the airplane.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On November 23, 2011, at 2043 eastern standard time, a Beech 23 single-engine airplane, N8700M, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near West Milton, Ohio. The non instrument-rated private pilot, who was the co-owner and operator of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Phillipsburg Airport (3I7), Phillipsburg, Ohio, at 2038, and was en route to Marion, Ohio.

According to friend of the pilot, the pilot arrived at 3I7 approximately 1400. The pilot and friend spent a few hours together and the pilot prepared to depart 3I7 approximately 2030 to return home. Prior to the flight, the pilot mentioned that the cloud layer was very low and he was going to stay under the controlled airspace near 3I7. The friend noted the pilot departed 3I7 at 2038 according to the time set in her vehicle and had no further communication with the pilot.

A review of the radar data showed the airplane shortly after departure from 3I7 traveling on a northeasterly heading. Approximately 1 mile from 3I7, the data depicted the airplane make a left 360-degree turn and then continue to the northeast. Shortly thereafter, the airplane entered another left 360-degree turn and then a series of sudden left and right turns. During the turns, the airplane's altitude fluctuated between 1,000 and 2,200 feet mean sea level. At 2043, radar contact was lost.

A pilot-rated witness, who was located near the accident site, reported that the airplane sounded like it was very low and made 2 to 3 tight radius circles. During each turn, the engine sounded as it was running at a very high RPM as if the airplane was in a dive, then the airplane would level off before sounding like it was in another dive. On the final turn, the engine was running at a high RPM like it was in a steep dive, and then he heard an impact. The witness described the engine operation as "healthy" until the impact.

Several witnesses located near the accident site heard or observed the airplane near their residences. The witnesses described the airplane as flying low near the tree tops and the engine sound was loud. The witnesses heard the engine and then it suddenly stopped. Several witnesses then called 911 and assisted rescue personnel in locating the airplane.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He was issued a third class medical certificate on March 11, 2001, with the limitation for corrective lenses.

According to the pilot's logbook, he accumulated 306 total flight hours, 224 flight hours in the accident airplane, and 4.6 hours of simulated instrument flight time. The pilot's most recent flight review was conducted on July 3, 2011, in the accident airplane.

A family member of the pilot reported the pilot was healthy and had no medical issues.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a Beech 23, serial number M-484, and manufactured in 1963. It was powered by a 160-horsepower Lycoming O-320-D2B engine and equipped with a Sensenich fixed pitch propeller. The airplane was registered to the pilot on January 9, 2006.

A review of the maintenance records revealed the most recent annual inspection was completed on June 20, 2011, at a total airframe time of 1,854.6 hours.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1956, the Dayton International Airport (DAY), Dayton, Ohio, automated surface observing system (ASOS), located 8 nautical miles southeast of the accident site, reported the wind from 270 degrees at 7 knots, 8 miles visibility, sky clear, temperature 4 degrees Celsius, dew point 3 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.26 inches of Mercury.

At 2042, the DAY ASOS reported the wind from 250 degrees at 7 knots, 6 miles visibility, mist, sky broken at 700 feet, temperature 3 degrees Celsius, dew point 3 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.26 inches of Mercury.

Local law enforcement officers who responded to the accident site reported the clouds were approximately 700 feet above ground level when they arrived at the accident site.

There is no record of the accident pilot receiving an official or "unofficial" weather briefing before departure.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Postaccident examination of the airplane showed the airplane impacted in a freshly harvested corn field near a tree line. No evidence of tree strikes were noted in the accident area. Impact ground scars were noted directly underneath the leading edges of both wings and the underside of the fuselage. The engine and two-blade propeller were found embedded in the terrain approximately 3 feet in depth. Fragmented sections of the fuselage and wings were located about 25 feet forward of the main wreckage. The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, both wings, engine, and empennage.

The left wing leading edge was crushed aft and the wing skins were separated from the wing ribs and spars. The aileron and flap remained attached to the wing. The fuel tank was ruptured and fragmented. The wing tip fairing was fragmented. The landing gear was attached and bent aft.

The right wing leading edge was crushed aft and the wing skins were separated from the wing ribs and spars. The aileron and flap remained attached to the wing. The fuel tank was ruptured and fragmented. The wing tip fairing was fragmented. The landing gear was attached and bent aft.

The lower forward fuselage was crushed aft and partially embedded in the terrain. The upper fuselage was bent up and crushed aft. The instrument panel was fragmented and destroyed. The attitude indicator and directional gyro were disassembled to examine the gyro wheels and housings. The gyro wheels were free to move within the housings and radial scoring was noted inside the housings and on the gyro wheels.

The empennage was crushed and bent. The vertical stabilizer was partially bent and the rudder remained attached. The horizontal stabilator was intact and no damage was noted.

Aileron and flap control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit control yoke to the control surfaces. Stabilator and rudder control continuity was confirmed from each control surface to the control yoke and the rudder pedals, respectively.

Internal engine continuity was confirmed and compression was obtained at each cylinder during crankshaft rotation. The spark plugs exhibited signatures consistent with normal operation. The vacuum pump was disassembled; the rotor and vanes were fractured. Both propeller blades displayed s-type bending, and chordwise scratches and polishing were noted on the chambered side of the blades.

MEDICAL AND PATHEOLOGICAL INFROMATION

The Montgomery County Coroner's Office performed the autopsy on the pilot on November 25, 2011. The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma and the report listed the specific injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological tests on specimens that were collected during the autopsy. Tests for carbon monoxide and cyanide were not performed. Results were negative for volatiles, and unspecified level of Diphenhydramine was detected in the liver and kidney.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAA's AC (Advisory Circular) 60-4A, entitled “Pilot’s Spatial Disorientation,” states that disorientation is caused by a lack of visual reference to the natural horizon, and can be brought about by low visibility, night conditions, and reflected light from the anticollision rotating beacon. Disorientation can cause the pilot to inadvertently place the airplane in a dangerous attitude. To avoid becoming disoriented, the Advisory recommends that pilots obtain training and maintain proficiency in aircraft control by reference to instruments, to rely solely on those instrument indications, and to avoid flying in poor or deteriorating weather conditions.


NTSB Identification: CEN12FA082 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, November 23, 2011 in West Milton, OH
Aircraft: BEECH 23, registration: N8700M
Injuries: 1 Fatal.


This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On November 23, 2011, at 2044 eastern standard time, a Beech 23 single-engine airplane, N8700M, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near West Milton, Ohio. The non-instrument rated private pilot, who was the co-owner and operator of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Phillipsburg Airport (3I7), Phillipsburg, Ohio, at 2038, and was destined for Marion, Ohio.

According to friend of the pilot, the pilot arrived at 3I7 approximately 1400. The pilot and friend spent a few hours together and the pilot prepared to depart 3I7 approximately 2030 to return home. The friend noted the pilot departed 3I7 at 2038 according to the time set in her vehicle and had no further communication with the pilot.

Several witnesses located near the accident site heard or observed the airplane near their residences. The witnesses described the airplane as flying low near the tree tops and the engine sound was loud. The witnesses heard the engine and then it suddenly stopped. Several witnesses then called 911 and assisted rescue personnel in locating the airplane.

Postaccident examination of the airplane showed the airplane impacted in a freshly harvest corn field near a tree line. No evidence of tree strikes were noted in the accident area. Impact ground scars were noted directly underneath the leading edges of both wings and the underside of the fuselage. The engine and two-blade propeller were found embedded in the terrain approximately 3 feet in depth. Fragmented sections of the fuselage and wings were located approximately 25 feet forward of the main wreckage. The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, both wings, and empennage.

At 1956, the Dayton International Airport (DAY), Dayton, Ohio, automated surface observing system (ASOS), located 8 nautical miles southeast of the accident site, reported the wind from 270 degrees at 7 knots, 8 miles visibility, sky clear, temperature 4 degrees Celsius, dew point 3 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.26 inches of Mercury.

At 2042, the DAY ASOS reported the wind from 250 degrees at 7 knots, 6 miles visibility, mist, sky broken at 700 feet, temperature 3 degrees Celsius, dew point 3 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.26 inches of Mercury.

Local law enforcement officers who responded to the accident site reported the clouds were approximately 700 feet above ground level.

Clovis Dawson
Dawson’s family has faced tragedy before: His wife, Nancy Fitzgivens, a caseworker for Franklin County Children Services, was stabbed to death in 2001 while visiting a family whose seven children had been taken away.


Watch Video


WEST MILTON -- A local man’s passion ends in tragedy. The single-engine Beechcraft Musketeer flown by 70-year-old Clovis Dawson went down in Miami County Wednesday night.

What caused the crash remains unknown.

The pilot was merely doing what so many people do this time of year: taking time to visit friends. ABC6/Fox28 News’ Dana Jay reports that Dawson took off on a day trip Wednesday.

Sadly, he would never return home.

"He loved to fly. He was quite enthused about aviation."

Dan Stover says he frequently saw Dawson at the Marion Municipal Airport, located about 45 minutes due north of Columbus. He said Dawson found joy in his life.

"He and his son would be in and out quite a bit," said Stover, who manages the Marion airport.

Dawson and his son had two planes.

"They were together quite a lot,” Stover said. “They were pretty close."

Perhaps sadder, still. This most recent tragedy -- Dawson’s fatal plane crash -- isn’t the first time ABC6/Fox28 News has encountered the Dawson family.

ABC6/Fox28 News spoke to Mr. Dawson about 10 years ago. Someone had murdered his wife during the course of her working on a case for Franklin County Children Services.

"The terror that she must have felt fighting for her life,” Dawson said. “We were gonna grow old together."

Dawson, himself, may have felt terror in the final moments of his life, too. Jay reports he flew from Marion to visit a friend in Dayton.

On his way back, Dawson crashed in a field in Miami County, just west of West Milton. Crews on the ground say the plane took a nose dive and crumpled as it ran to ground.

West Milton Fire Chief Denny Frantz says the plane did not burn upon impact and that debris was crumpled.

The crash remained under investigation as of Thursday. Federal investigators are expected to join the the effort already underway by the local fire department in Miami County.

Stover said, "It could be multiple things and really until they do the investigation and get all the details, I wouldn't be able to tell you. There's a lot of things that could cause that."

The pilot of a 1963 Beechcraft plane died in a crash around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday in the vicinity of S. Range Line Road and Emerick Road in Miami County. The victim has been identified as Clovis Dawson, 70, of Columbus.









A Columbus man died in a single-engine plane crash Wednesday night in a wooded area near West Milton.

The Miami County Sheriff’s Department identified the victim as Clovis Dawson, age 70.

Dawson was the pilot of a four-seat 1963 Beechcraft Model 23 airplane that crashed around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday at 6421 South Rangeline Road, said Deputy Mike Marion, a crash reconstructionist.

Dawson’s point of origin and destination are still unknown. At one point his plane was on the ground at Phillipsburg Airport, “but I don’t what time in relation to the crash,” Marion said. The crash site is about three miles northeast of the Phillipsburg Airport.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, Marion said. Several witnesses in the area described what they heard to sheriff’s deputies.

“One person said it sounded like the engine was cutting out. Another person who is a former pilot said it sounded like the pilot was manually revving the engine,” Marion said. “Other people said that they heard it above their house and no longer than it took them to get outside to see what was going on is when they heard it crash.”

West Milton Fire Chief Denny Frantz said the plane did not burn upon impact and that debris was crumpled as if it had possibly nose-dived into the ground.

West Milton firefighters who responded had trouble locating the crash scene initially. The plane was found by Laura fire crews nearly a mile from the road in a corn field.

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board aren’t due at the scene until Friday because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Sheriff’s deputies are securing the crash scene until the federal officials arrive.

Dawson was removed to the Montgomery County Coroner’s office in Dayton for an autopsy. The autopsy results aren’t expected until Friday, a coroner’s office spokesman said.