Humboldt County, California: Airport Manager Goes Back to Work Monday

After nearly four months on unexplained — and fully paid — administrative leave, Humboldt County Airport Manager Jacquelyn Hulsey will resume her job duties Monday morning.

As the Journal reported last month, no one with the county has been willing to address the reasons for Hulsey’s extended leave. Public Works Director Tom Mattson and Humboldt County Supervisor Mark Lovelace again declined to elaborate Friday morning. Both repeated that Hulsey’s leave is “a personnel issue” and thus confidential.

Though Hulsey has no employment contract, neither is she an “at-will” employee — someone who can be fired without cause. As a public employee, her job is considered her property; therefore she cannot be fired, demoted or transferred without due process. (This has been the case for non-contract public employees in the state since the 1975 California Supreme Court ruling in Skelly vs. State Personnel Board.)

Hulsey’s job performance has been repeatedly scrutinized and criticized in recent years, with members of the public, the county’s Aviation Advisory Committee and former employees accusing her of mismanagement, verbal abuse and jeopardizing the safety of both employees and the public. (See previous stories here, here and here.)

Asked if he has any concerns about Hulsey’s competence, Lovelace responded, “That would get into an issue that would not be appropriate for me to discuss here.”

Addendum: Local business leaders have also been among Hulsey’s most vocal critics, particularly following a series of flight delays and cancellations in the fall of 2010 (see the second of the three linked stories above).

Jonathan Speaker, chief operating officer of Arcata-based streaming media company StreamGuys, said he was disappointed to learn that Hulsey will be returning to her position.

“I would like to know why the leaders of Humboldt County are not looking at the track record of Ms. Hulsey and seeing the same thing that the business community is seeing,” he said.

Like others, Speaker believes many of the recent problems at the airport could have been avoided with proper communication and project management. He also cited the fatal plane crash on the night of March 1, 2009, which went unreported to search and rescue personnel for more than 12 hours due to a miscommunication between Hulsey and an airport employee (see the first linked story above).

“With this kind of track record it is beyond me why [county officials] are not looking to improve our critical infrastructure by staffing the appropriate key personel,” Speaker said. He added that he and others are currently seeking answers from county officials.

Source:  http://www.northcoastjournal.com

Barnstable Municipal Airport-Boardman/Polando Field (KHYA), Hyannis, Massachusetts.

"Is the Barnstable Airport Manager recklessly gambling away the integrity of Mid-Cape and Lower Cape's water supply by using illegal 50-year-old diesel fuel Underground Storage Tanks?"

Read more: http://www.capecog.com

Friends make old Piper Cub soar for Clearwater owner who will never fly it

By Terri Bryce Reeves,Tampa Bay Times

CLEARWATER — This past Friday the 13th was a cool and blustery one. Not an ideal time to test a lightweight Piper Cub that hadn't been flown in decades.

But Gino DiNucci was on an important mission: that of friendship.

He completed the final inspection and certified the plane as airworthy. Then he hopped in the pilot's seat, cruised down the runway at the Clearwater Airpark and took the bright yellow bird up into the sky. It would be the first time since the 1950s that the plane was airborne.

It rocked back and forth gently with each gust of wind, then circled over the treetops near the neighborhood at the end of the runway.

Down below, Walter Crosby sat propped up next to his bedroom window — watching, for the very first time, his plane soar through the heavens.

Though he'd never be able to fly the Cub, or even ride in it, he was a proud papa bear that day.

For the past five decades he'd planned to fully restore the plane, all the while dreaming of the day he'd take to the sky and wave to his friends on the ground from the open cockpit.

But now, at 74, Walter is dying from colon cancer that has metastasized to his lungs and liver. Doctors say he has little time left.

At this stage, he fades in and out of consciousness and has a hard time speaking. This past week, however, he was able to summon up three words about watching that flight on Friday the 13th.

"Enjoyed it immensely," he said.

• • •

In the early 1960s, Geri and Walter Crosby entertained their two small children by taking them to the local airpark near Lakeville, Mass.

"We didn't have much money, so we'd go over there and watch the planes take off and land," said Geri, 74.

After the whole family went up for a $10 ride in a four-seater one day, Walter, who spent his career working in the trades and law enforcement, was bitten by the aviation bug.

In 1962, the Crosbys bought the Piper J-3 Cub, a classic yellow two-seater plane.

Pipers are cherished for their simplicity, affordability and their nostalgic role in teaching Americans — and most World War II pilots — to fly.

"They were the cheap get-in-and-go airplane," said John Shepard, a 64-year-old friend of Walter's.

Traditionally, these planes have a sporty black lightning bolt on the side. From the front, they look like cute cartoon insects with big bug eyes.

But this particular Cub was worn completely out. It hadn't been flown in years and needed a total restoration inside and out. The Crosbys paid $650 for it, disassembled it and loaded it into the back of their black Chevy pickup truck.

Through the years, work and family obligations gobbled up the time and money needed to restore the plane. In the meantime, it was stowed in the house.

"We had parts in the attic, propellers under the bed. The fuselage was in the dining room," said Geri. "I put up with a lot with that plane."

In the meantime, Walter got his pilot's license as well as an Airframe and Powerplant (mechanics) license. For the past few years, he's served on the Clearwater Airpark Advisory Board.

The couple moved into a home overlooking the runway at Clearwater Airpark in 1995. When a neighbor came over to greet them one day and ask them to help fight against the airpark, Walter told her, "Lady, we moved here because of the airpark," recalled DiNucci, 70, of Clearwater.

• • •

Seven years ago, Walter began refurbishing the components of the plane in earnest.

In 2006, he was diagnosed with cancer. "He fought valiantly, trying every kind of chemo there is," said Geri.

Around Christmastime, he took a turn for the worse.

Up until then, his friend Bob Henry, 67, of Clearwater and Ohio, had been working alongside Walter helping him with the plane. Now it was time to call in the reinforcements and make an intensive push to finish the plane before Walter died.

For the past few weeks, DiNucci, Shepard, Henry and Mike Canter, 54, of Clearwater and Ohio, toiled five or six days a week to get the plane flight-ready.

"He's our friend," said Shepard. "This is a very tight-knit community and when someone needs help, we are there."

On Tuesday, the flyboys got together once again to check on Walter and take Geri for her inaugural ride in the plane. In a sense, she took her husband along for the ride too, wearing his Piper Cub hat and name tag.

"Remember, no loops, no spins," she told pilot DiNucci before takeoff.

They circled around the house for what would be, perhaps, Walter's last look.

Finally they returned. As they glided to a stop, Geri flashed a smile and gave a thumbs-up.

"It was a beautiful ride, simply beautiful," she said.

When asked about Walter's beliefs about an afterlife, she thought for a moment and then replied: "He knows Jesus will be there to greet him. I think he figures that will be the ultimate flight."

Source:  http://www.tampabay.com

Allen Golson, Coliseum Health System CEO, Dies in Plane Crash. Cessna 340A, N340HF. Ocala International Airport-Jim Taylor Field (KOCF) Ocala, Florida.

A Cessna 340A piloted by P.Allen Golson (inset) crashes near Ocala International Airport, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012

(Photo: Robert Reynolds).

OCALA — A small plane crashed midday Friday in an open field near the Ocala International Airport. The pilot — P. Allen Golson, the recently named CEO of Ocala Health System — was killed, and his wife was injured.

Golson, 55, was from Macon, Ga., where he had been CEO of Coliseum Health System for seven years.

Marion County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jenifer Lowe said Carol Golson, also 55, was taken to West Marion Community Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The hospital is part of Ocala Health System.

The Golsons were the only people aboard the twin-engine Cessna 340.

The website www.flightaware.com indicates the plane left the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon at 10:30 a.m. Friday for a flight expected to last one hour and 10 minutes, with a destination of Ocala International Airport.

The plane crashed in a field south of Southwest 38th Street, which is just south of the airport.

Lowe said Golson's last contact with the airport tower was at 12:26 p.m. There was no indication of distress.

According to sheriff's officials, the plane was headed east and turning north to make its approach for landing "when something obviously went wrong."

Jo and Judy Ciufo, visiting from Canada, were driving on Southwest 38th Street, bound for Beall's on State Road 200. They saw a small passenger plane coming from the south that looked like it was about to cross 38th Street, heading toward the airport.

Then the pilot abruptly turned west and the plane plowed into the ground. Jo Ciufo said it looked like the pilot turned because he knew he was going down and didn't want to hit buildings.

"I never saw anything like this before," Judy Ciufo said.

Airport director Matthew Grow said it's premature to speculate on a cause of the crash. As of 3:42 p.m., the crash site had been turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration.

•••

Michael Osbourne, 28, of Beverly Hills, works at FirePrograms across from the crash site. He ran to the scene, was overcome by smoke, and then was taken to a local hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Other rescuers also were evaluated for smoke inhalation.

Workers from OxyLife Respiratory Services LLC, 6405 SW 38th St., heard a loud "boom" and then grabbed fire extinguishers and ran to the burning plane.

The workers said they managed to get the woman out of the wreckage but couldn't get to the man because of the heavy smoke.

Some of the workers used the fire extinguishers to fight the blaze. Others began to pull luggage from the plane.

Ocala Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Brian Stoothoff said his agency received a call at 12:30 p.m. from the airport tower. He said personnel were on scene at 12:34 p.m. with the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting truck, which is specially equipped for such emergencies.

On scene were officials with Ocala Fire Rescue, the Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Medical Examiner's Office. Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn was there, as well, conferring with police Chief Greg Graham.

•••

According to the FAA website, the plane is registered to Flying G Aviation LLC in Wilmington, Del.

The Flight Aware website indicates that the plane, tail No. N340HF, flew on Jan. 19 from Macon to Ocala in a trip covering one hour and 11 minutes. It returned from Ocala to Macon on Jan. 21 in one hour and 14 minutes. It was not clear if Golson was the pilot on those flights.

"He's very well respected and has been flying for many, many years," said Henry Lowe, president of Lowe Aviation Co.

Golson's plane was based with the company, which operates at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport.

"It's a real tragedy. He was a great guy," Lowe said.

Also saddened were Golson's colleagues at HCA.

"This is tragic news for our HCA family, and it will take time and the support of each other to deal with this loss," said Michael Joyce, president of HCA's North Florida Division, which includes Coliseum Health System.

"Allen was a true friend and a great leader who enjoyed life and dedicated himself to his work. He will be deeply missed," said Joyce, whose remarks were provided by Ocala Health.

Golson had more than 30 years of experience in public and private hospital administration. Before taking his post in Macon, he spent nine years as CEO of Palmyra Medical Centers in Albany, Ga.

Golson earned a bachelor's degree in health care management in 1981 from the University of Alabama and an MBA from the Southeastern Institute of Technology in Huntsville, Ala.

Ocala Health includes Ocala Regional Medical Center, West Marion Community Hospital, and outpatient facilities including Family Care Specialists and Advanced Imaging Centers.

Golson's appointment as new CEO was announced earlier this month. The leadership transition was set to be complete on Feb. 20.

Source:  http://www.ocala.com

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N340HF

Videos

Photos
.

Hero controller puts spotlight on aviation "saves"

Charlie Rohrer (NATCA)

As Charlie Rohrer sat in a class on how to recognize the symptoms of hypoxia last May, he had no way of knowing that what he was learning that day would soon be put to the test along with the rest of his 22 years of experience as an air traffic controller.

While working his shift at the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center a week after taking the hypoxia class, Rohrer believed the pilot of a plane in his airspace was suffering from the incapacitating condition -- also known as altitude sickness -- which occurs when the body is deprived of oxygen.

"November One Whiskey Alpha, I think you might be experiencing some hypoxia," Rohrer said over the radio after noticing that a man flying a Cirrus SR22, a small, single-engine plane, was slurring his speech. The 70-year-old pilot was flying from San Bernadino, Calif., to Colorado Springs with his wife.

"One Whiskey Alpha," he replied faintly.

"You're barely readable. Would you like lower?" Rohrer asked, suggesting that the pilot, who was flying at 17,000 feet, descend to a lower altitude where there's more oxygen.

"At his altitude, he's not going to make it. Not without oxygen, not that high," warned Ian Norris, the pilot of a nearby Great Lakes Airlines Beechcraft 1900, a twin-turboprop commuter plane, en route from Denver to Farmington, N.M.

"Hang on, hang on," said another voice over the radio. It was the pilot's wife. Her husband was indeed suffering from hypoxia as Rohrer suspected and was in and out of consciousness. "I'm trying to get him to put auto, autopilot. I don't know how to do this."

"Have you ever flown an aircraft before? Do you have experience?" asked Norris.

"No," she answered.

Over the next several minutes, Rohrer and Norris helped the woman descend the aircraft and steer clear of potentially dangerous mountains.

"Is the pilot able to fly it or are you doing it yourself?" Rohrer asked.

"He's getting there," she said.

"Okay, if you continue on that heading, it's a much lower altitude and you can, you're able to stay at a lower altitude, it'll be easier to breathe," Rohrer told her.

The pilot eventually regained consciousness at the lower altitude, but he was still woozy.

"November One Whiskey Alpha, have you got the pilot getting better or are you able to breathe?" Rohrer asked.

"Yes I am," the man replied. "But I've got autopilot on to disable - I don't, I don't understand,"

"You need to get below 10,000 feet and you'll feel better," Norris told him. "You're too hypoxic to think straight."

Rohrer then advised the man to land at the nearby Four Corners Regional Airport in Farmington, but the pilot resisted, telling Rohrer that he wanted to continue on to his original destination.

"I think I'm better off going to Colorado Springs. I'm better off going to Colorado Springs," the pilot said. "I'm not ready to land at the airport."

"The problem with going to Colorado Springs is you got to go all the way up to 17,000 feet and then we're in hypoxia again," explained the veteran controller. "Your best bet is to maneuver around the Farmington area where it's nice and low, even if you're not ready to land."

Fortunately, the pilot took Rohrer's advice.

"One Whisky Alpha, are you ready to land or do you want to fly around?" Rohrer asked as the plane approached the airport in Farmington.

"I'd like to see what I can do," the pilot replied as he lined up on the runway. "Set it up to land."

A few minutes later, the Cirrus touched down safely.

Charlie Rohrer had just performed what those in the air traffic control profession refer to as a "save."

When one of the nation's 15,000 air traffic controllers does something wrong, you often hear about it. When one of them does something right, even something extraordinarily right, you usually don't.

Rohrer's is one of these stories. And next month, he and 14 of his fellow controllers will be honored for their saves by their union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, with an Archie League Medal of Safety at an annual ceremony in Atlanta.

Carter Yang is a Washington, D.C.-based producer for the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley. He covers aviation and transportation.

Source:  http://www.cbsnews.com

Woodbine Municipal Airport (KOBI) Awards Contract for Maintenance Project. (Woodbine, New Jersey)

Mayor William Pikolycky is pleased to announce that the Woodbine Municipal Port Authority at its Jan. 24 meeting awarded a contract to GWP Enterprises Inc., Franklinville, NJ, for Apron & Taxiway Crack repair—Phase II. The contract was for $22,359.25

The project is for construction work to repair over 5,000 feet of cracks and remove isolated areas of pavement heaving along Taxiway A and B. Work will involve removal of the damaged pavement, clean and seal the existing cracks, apply airfield pavement markings with reflective media, as well as patching of pavement where necessary.

This project has been funded by a New Jersey Department of Transportation grant.

“We again thank NJDOT for making this funding available,” added Mayor Pikolycky. “This work will enhance the safety of our runways as we continue to position Woodbine as a destination for business enterprises.”

Source:  http://www.capemaycountyherald.com

Committee formed to study Adirondack Regional Airport (KSLK), Saranac Lake, New York.

SARANAC LAKE - A new committee has been formed to study the operations and costs of the lately maligned Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear.

Saranac Lake resident Ray Scollin brought the idea to the town of Harrietstown town board Thursday night. The airport is owned and operated by the town.

"The purpose of the committee is to look at the airport from a prospective other than from within the town government," said Scollin, who's been involved in similar committee work in the past, including the Saranac Lake Area Government Restructuring Committee. "We believe an outside look may yield some new ideas."

While the airport has always had its share of critics who say its a luxury town taxpayers can't afford, that criticism has intensified because of what's happened in the last few months.

Last fall, fluctuations in fuel sales at the airport sparked a double-digit property tax hike for town residents for the second time in three years. Earlier this month, the state comptroller's office released an audit that found the town didn't provide effective oversight of the airport's capital projects, couldn't account for more than 4,000 gallons of airplane fuel and overpaid state sales at the airport by more than $160,000.

Scollin said the committee's main focus would be to review the airport's operations and costs.

"The primary objective is to develop ideas that may lead to a cost-neutral airport or significantly lowering the impact on our town budget," he said. "We want to consider everything."

Scollin said the group has envisioned a seven-member committee that would include himself, Dennis Dwyer, Joe Pickreign, Joe Spadaro, Airport Manager Corey Hurwitch and representatives of the Harrietstown and North Elba town boards. Scollin said a North Elba official was sought because the town, along with the village of Lake Placid, benefits economically from the airport.

"We feel this needs to be an authorized committee," Scollin told council members Thursday night. "It can't be a freelance committee. Why? Because we need the resources. We need to look at operational information, the budget and have access to key staff members."

Scollin said the committee doesn't want to "drag out" the project and plans to complete its work in six months.

Town officials were receptive to the idea.

"We welcome it," said Councilman Barry DeFuria. "We need help, and we've been asking for it."

"We don't pretend to have all the answers, and we never have," said Supervisor Larry Miller.

Councilman Bob Bevilacqua volunteered to represent the town board on the committee, which the board endorsed unanimously.

FAA visit

Town officials plan to travel to the Federal Aviation Administration office in Jamaica, Queens next month for a meeting on the airport with FAA officials. The board's agenda said the intent of the meeting is to discuss the airport's current status and "to gather help, support and ideas as to how to sustain" the facility.

Town officials invited a member of the new committee to attend the meeting.

Audit

The board has scheduled a work session on Feb. 6 to discuss the corrective action plan the town is required to submit to the comptroller's office in response to the audit. The plan has to be provided within 90 days of the date the audit was released to the public, Jan. 10.

Source:  http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com

Red Checker forced landing near Waiouru

An Air Force Red Checker has made a forced landing near Waiouru due to engine trouble.

The aircraft was flying from Ohakea Air Base in the Manawatu, and was en route to the Tauranga Air Show.

The aircraft sustained some damage but there was no reported injury to the pilot, who was the only person on board.

The Defence Force says the site is being secured and the incident is under investigation.

As a precaution the Red Checkers will not be flying this weekend.

Cessna 340A, N340HF: Plane crashes near Ocala International Airport (KOCF), one fatality

Alan Youngblood/Ocala Star-Banner

Officials work near the scene of a plane crash in a field near the Ocala International Airport on Friday.

Cessna 340A, N340HF crashes near Ocala International Airport, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012

(Photo: Robert Reynolds).

~

Cessna 340A, N340HF crashes near Ocala International Airport, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 

(Photo: Robert Reynolds).

~

Alan Youngblood/Ocala Star-Banner

Ocala Fire Rescue and Marion County Sheriff's Office officials work at the scene of a plane crash near the Ocala International Airport on Friday.

OCALA -– A small plane crashed midday Friday near the Ocala International Airport.

A Marion County Sheriff's Office deputy said one man died and a woman was taken to a local hospital.

The plane was a twin-engine Cessna 340.

Workers from OxpLife Respiratory Services LLC at 6405 SW 38th St. told a Star-Banner reporter they heard a loud “boom” and the sound of a crash.

They said they grabbed all the fire extinguishers they could from their workplace and ran into the open lot where the plane had crashed.

The front of the plane was on fire.

The workers said they managed to get the woman out of the wreckage, but couldn't get to the man because of the volume of smoke.

Some of the workers used the fire extinguishers to fight the blaze, while others began to pull luggage from the plane.

Near the scene, Jo and Judy Ciufo, visiting from Canada, said they were headed west on Southwest 38th Street, bound for Beall's on State Road 200, when they saw what appeared to be a small passenger plane coming from the south that looked like it was about to cross 38th Street, heading toward the airport to land, when the pilot abruptly turned to the west and the plane plowed into the ground.

Jo Ciufo said it looked to him like the pilot made the turn because he knew he was going down and did so to avoid hitting some buildings.

The plane could be seen in the open field, with a mass of fire rescue officials and law enforcement officials swarming the area.

Judy Ciufo said, “I never saw anything like this before.”

 The charred plane could be clearly seen sitting in the open field, its framework exposed. It was surrounded by yellow crime scene tape.

On scene were officials with Ocala Fire Rescue, the Ocala Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn was seen conferring with Police Chief Greg Graham.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration website, the plane is registered to Flying G Aviation LLC in Wilmington, Delaware.

Information on www.flightaware.com indicates the plane left Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon, Ga., at 10:30 a.m. Friday for a flight expected to last one hour and 10 minutes.

http://registry.faa.gov/N340HF

http://www.cfnews13.com

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N340HF

http://www.ocala.com

Weekend leisure: Pilot for a day. (New Zealand)

Always wanted to get 'behind the wheel' of a plane? Frances Morton went for an introductory flight with the Auckland Aero Club to see if she liked flying high.

The Auckland Aero Club's introductory flight will put you in control of a Cessna for half an hour with an experienced instructor like Paul Wyborn (right).

Photo / Supplied

By Frances Morton

Driving down Auckland's Southern Motorway to Ardmore Airport, I suddenly wonder if aeroplanes have keys. This is how little I know about operating an aircraft. Yet, thanks to the Auckland Aero Club's introductory flight, I'll soon be at the controls of a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, soaring at 460m above the Hauraki Gulf.

An introductory flight is a good way to sample flying without forking out $20,000 on training for a private pilot's licence. For $135, prospective pilots can discover what it is like to be in command of an aircraft, with the reassuring presence of an experienced instructor at your side.

I've long fancied the idea of subscribing to the glamorous aviatrix club, alongside the likes of Amelia Earhart, Jean Batten and Angelina Jolie. Auckland Aero Club's first-time flyers are split between the hopefuls, like me, who are dabbling with the idea getting a licence, and day-trippers seeking a one-off, exhilarating ride.

This is my second attempt at conquering the skies. The first was grounded by Auckland's fickle summer downpours but today's conditions, high cloud and a light breeze, are perfect for a nervous novice.

My aircraft's registration is JRA, which sounds so romantic in pilot speak - "Juliet, Romeo, Alfa".

Flying instructor Paul Wyborn takes me on a walk around to check no bits are falling off or any other safety hazards before we climb aboard. I get the pilot's seat, which is always on the left-hand side of an aircraft, and slip on a set of nifty earphones with a microphone attached.

Before me is a baffling array of instruments and, yes, a key in the ignition. Wyborn turns it to start the engine. His fingers flurry around the flight deck, flicking switches and checking gauges, monitoring wind speed and other essential data then, with the throttle on full, Juliet-Romeo-Alfa is taxiing down the runway. Lift-off seems to happen by magic. I've got my hands on the control yoke and feet on the rudder pedals, shadowing the flight instructor's movements like a marionette puppet, but it's a mystery how we go from hurtling along the runway to gliding through the air.

The plane climbs to 460m as we follow the Clevedon Valley to the mouth of Wairoa River and out over Kawakawa Bay.

As my nerves subside, I allow myself glances of the beautiful view across Auckland. In fact, it's vital to keep an eye out. Ardmore Airport does not have air traffic control and the Cessna isn't kitted out with radar, so it is the pilot's responsibility to scope aircraft in the vicinity.

Being on guard for a looming mid-air collision while trying to grasp Paul's tutorial on flight dynamics gives me an idea of the mental gymnastics pilots must perform. New concepts mean new vocabulary. The yaw - sideways movement of the aircraft - is controlled by foot pedals. The extendable flaps on the edge of the wings are called ailerons. By turning the hand yoke like a steering wheel the ailerons move, tipping the aircraft to the side. I tilt the nose by pushing in or pulling out with my hands.

Eventually I get all elements steady and point towards the Coromandel Peninsula. It's time to take her for a spin. I turn the hand control to the left until the plane banks at a 30-degree angle to the horizon and hold on to my stomach as we glide around in a sweeping circle.

There is just enough to do the same in the other direction before we bring her in land.

At this stage, I'm happy to relinquish control to Paul. I'll leave it up to the real aviator, for now.

Essential info

What: Introductory Flight

Where: Auckland Aero Club, Ardmore Airport, Papakura

How much: $135 for 30 minutes in a two-seater, $170 for a four-seater.

Who: Anyone. No age restriction or medical required

When: Anytime. The club operates seven days

Bookings: Ph (09) 220 8590

Source:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz

Two Air India Express pilots taken off duty for aborting take off at Singapore

New Delhi: Aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday said it is looking into an incident of aborted take-off involving an Air India Express flight from Singapore to Trichy carrying around 90 passengers.

Meanwhile, Air India Express officials said that both the pilots have been grounded and de-rostered until an investigation into the matter is concluded. Singapore ATC is also said to be conducting its own investigation.

The incident took place on Monday, when the pilots of Air India's low-cost international subsidiary went in for take-off procedures without receiving prior clearance from Singapore Air Traffic Control (ATC) at Changi airport.

The pilot was hauled up by the ATC, following which he aborted the take-off at very high speed, thus risking the lives of the passengers.

"We have started an investigation into the incident and we have to see in what circumstances the pilots aborted the take-off," senior DGCA official said.

According to the official, the aviation regulator is examining technical data to ascertain what all safety aspects were flouted in the process of the abortive take-off.

Aviation experts said that aborting take-off is very risky, as the aircraft reaches critically high speeds, also known as V1 speed of around 270 km per hour, just before it takes off. Aborting a take-off can lead the pilot to either lose control of the aircraft or over shoot the runway.

"We are conducting the investigation into the matter, all technical data is being seen. Both the pilots have been questioned and we have also grounded them until the investigation is completed," an Air India Express official said.

DGCA in its latest financial audit report had rapped the airline for shoddy training and shortage of pilots, instructors, examiners and cabin crew.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com

CURRY KING'S VOOM-DALOO: Indian eatery owner buys jet to deliver food

London: The owner of a popular Indian eatery joint in Kent has bought an unusual vehicle to ferry his curries around the world - an Iraqi fighter jet. Rob Abdul, who owns Cafe Taj in Gravesend, Kent has started taking flying lessons.

Abdul came up with the idea with a pilot friend, has earmarked about 35,000 pounds ($55,000)  for buying and restoring the plane, which Abdul says is needed because his food is requested from all around the world by top celebrities.

Abdul, 40, told The Reporter, a local daily: "It's a novel idea. I'm learning to fly and my pilot friend is a partner. We are really excited.

"When it is ready we will seek permission to fly it. One thing you cannot do as a businessman is disappoint your customers and I still regularly get requests from around the world, many are celebrities and you can't turn business away".

In 2006, Abdul sent a rare takeaway to Germany during the World Cup at the request of dance band 'Opposite Worlds'.

He is currently the only chef in England capable of cooking vowl, a 3ft fresh water fish only found in East Bengal, which the band requested from their luxury hotel room.

The same year he was taken to the Dartford Festival by helicopter when Lee Ryan, formerly of record breaking boy-band Blue, requested a meal for 40.

He also teamed up with an Indian restaurant in Bath called Bombay Nights and sent over a meal to the England cricket team during the Ashes.

He said: "We sent over a meal to Australia for them because they couldn't get a decent curry anywhere over there. I prepared the meal, the now famous World Cup Boal".

It was packed in special containers and seen by health inspectors before it was sent on the 8,998 mile journey.

When not in the air he says the plane, which is currently stored at Manston Airport, will be used at events such as air shows to promote Cafe Taj and give children the chance to sit inside.

Source:  http://ibnlive.in.com

No one hurt in hard landing of Cessna at Honolulu Airport

COURTESY TERRANCE YOUNG

Rescue crews are at the scene of a "hard landing" of a single-engine Cessna at Honolulu Airport yesterday.

A single-engine Cessna experienced a hard landing yesterday morning at Honolulu Airport when its landing gear collapsed, the state Department of Transportation said.

The incident happened on the runway near Lagoon Drive at 12:12 p.m. The incident did not disrupt airport operations, DOT spokesman Dan Meisenzahl reported. The aircraft is registered to Hawaii Aircraft Leasing and operated by Moore Air Flight School at 90 Nakolo Place.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident, said the Cessna 172 veered off the left side of runway 4L, crossed a grassy area and came to rest on runway 8L.

The female student pilot, 20, was not injured. The airplane suffered major damage, the FAA said.

No one else was in the aircraft, Meisenzahl said.

Source:  http://www.staradvertiser.com

Diamond DA40 the best Aircraft for safety?

We fly a Diamond DA40  (I guess we're pretty smart) -K.

Interesting exchange of dialogue:

http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?p=834744

Video by Yapludenom on January 22, 2012

 

IFR flight with Diamond DA40 Glass Cockpit.

Some rain, few at 400ft, overcast at 1200 ft.

Flight Level 70 (7000ft~2km).

Approche: Guidage radar pour ILS en 27 à LFBH.

Aéroclub de La Rochelle.

Musique: Ludovico Einaudi - Divinire

Charter and airport bantered by council: Blasting, trash cans also debated

The city charter regarding conflict of interest issues on boards and commissions was yet again a topic of discussion at Thursday afternoon’s Clarksville City Council meeting.

Mayor Kim McMillan said she brought it forward to the council again because she thinks the problem is too important to delay action.

“I have talked to the legislative delegation,” she said. “They are amenable to us submitting this single issue to them. They will introduce it at the legislature. They believe that it will receive the full approval of the General Assembly fairly quickly. They can send it back to us and we can solve this problem once and for all.”

The charter amendment would remove a provision that strictly limits members of boards and commissions from doing any sort of business with the city even indirectly, said City Attorney Lance Baker.

With the provision gone, board and committee members would then rely upon the city ethics code which contains a state-required law that would allow those members to abstain from voting on items they are financially related to, similar to how City Council members abstain.

Ward 2 Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin pointed out that there is never any guarantee that the state legislature will pass an item. The mayor agreed.

“You are right, there is never any guarantee that the Tennessee General Assembly will do anything ... trust me, I know,” McMillan said. “But having served up there as long as I did and still knowing a number of people that are up there, I can tell you that I have had conversations with a number of legislators beyond our legislative delegation and have not had anyone raise any objection to his particular issue.”

Another topic of discussion was a request for $200,000 in additional funding from the Airport Authority, about which a few council members were wary.

Finance commissioner Ben Griffin said while he’s not the accountant for the Airport Authority, he believes the reason for the need of more funding was caused by change orders and disrupted cash flow from a past fraud case.

“There was a fraud out there and the fraud cost $100,000, and then when the state comes in and audits you, they don’t do it for free, they charge you,” he said. “I’ve heard numbers of $30,000 to $40,000 that it cost the airport to do that audit. It didn’t necessarily turn up all of the losses because there were some cash items that could not be done. I think, realistically, there could have been a $200,000 loss out there and that would hurt your cash flow, because there’s no way to get that back.”

Ward 9 Councilman Joel Wallace said he thinks the reason the council members are uncomfortable with the budget issue is that majority of the council members are on board with the airport, but a slice of the constituency is not.

“It makes us look bad when we try to sell it to the people who are skeptical of us when we go out and promote it,” he said. “I think in the future, for projects like this, I think it’ll be better to know upfront what could happen so we could sell people on that and get them prepared.”

The Smart Growth Commission was also discussed at great length. The commission would create a body that would combine the voices of the city, county, Austin Peay State University and other entities in the community, according Jeff Bibb, who spoke on behalf of the group.

“It’s important to be clear, the vision of this commission has not a thing to do with reshuffling the deck of city or county priorities,” he said. “It’s looking at the ones where the lines do cross that need more of a push, more of a cooperation and raising those up and championing those that will ultimately affect our livability, our quality and our transportation issues.”

Ward 4 Councilman Wallace Redd brought forward an amendment to the noise ordinance which would prohibit local quarries from blasting between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., making it easier for people living nearby to sleep during the night.

Ward 11 Councilwoman Kaye Jones raised a concern with limiting the noise to quarries that had been there first and said those who move into a home near a quarry should expect noise. She also suggested an attempt at a compromise with the company be made before establishing a requirement.

However, Romona Reese, who lives near the quarry, said she and her neighbors have approached the company and that this is their last effort to try to fix it.

“We’ve come to you as our leaders and those that have the ability to help us,” she said. “We’re not trying to shut down any business. We’re not trying to keep anybody’s profits down. All we’re saying is ‘let’s work together and just make it where it’s conducted at a reasonable hour.’ And that’s all we’re really asking.”

Ward 10 Councilman Bill Summers proposed an ordinance that would limit the amount of time a resident can leave a garbage can out after collection before it becomes a nuisance.

The ordinance was brought forward at the last City Council meeting, but because of lack of language addressing corner houses and commercial buildings, it was postponed until Thursday’s meeting.

Summers said those issues have been addressed now, and the ordinance will go forward for a vote at the Feb. 2 regular session meeting.

Source: http://www.theleafchronicle.com

Belfast City Airport was on brink of closure after Ryanair exit

Ryanair's decision to withdraw from Northern Ireland nearly sounded the death-knell for George Best Belfast City Airport and 1,500 jobs, its boss has said.

Brian Ambrose’s comments came during an interview with the Belfast Telegraph in which he stressed the importance of the budget carrier to the local economy.

Ryanair pulled out of the province 14 months ago after a public inquiry into the proposed runway extension suffered a further delay.

“Last year was a tough challenge because when you lose a third of your business overnight, you could have put the lights out here and paid off 1,500 people,” said Mr Ambrose.

“At one stage it was as serious as that.”

Belfast City has plans to build an extension that would increase the current length of the runway by 470m to 2,299m for take-off and 2,059m for landing — but those plans have been in limbo for three-and-a-half years.

Ryanair finally ran out of patience, and its decision to withdraw its planes saw the company take 900,000 passengers with it.

“A third of our business went overnight,” recalled Mr Ambrose.

“City centre businesses even said they noticed a marked downturn when Ryanair pulled out.

“They said it had a massive impact (on the economy). They said you literally knew the weekend that it stopped.”

Ryanair has, however, promised to do business in Northern Ireland again, pending the runway issue being resolved.

“They said there are 10 destinations we will bring in — the day we get a green paper for the runway,” said Mr Ambrose, whose airport has been striving hard to make up the lost business since Ryanair departed.

“That’s what’s sitting there as a lost opportunity to us in Northern Ireland and that’s what comes back onto the table.

“Ryanair have made a commitment that they will come back, and we’re losing out as a|province until the decision is made.”

Opposition to the proposed runway extension and seats for sale issue — which has restricted the number of passengers using the airport to two million per annum — has come from Belfast City Airport Watch, an umbrella residents’ group which campaigns for tougher noise controls at the east Belfast airport.

But Mr Ambrose refutes the suggestion that all local people are against such proposals, which are designed to expand the airport.

“I’ve worked 35 years in aviation and I’ve spent most of it working in east Belfast — and I can’t remember the last a time any resident from east Belfast was in touch with this office to complain,” he added.

“We have excellent relationships with the local community, and there are between one and two noise complaints a month.”

New blame game over runway extension deadlock

Stormont is being blamed for thwarting a potential £10m investment at George Best Belfast City Airport, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.

Airport boss Brian Ambrose claimed a failure by the Department of the Environment’s (DoE) Planning Service to clear the way for a runway extension has been stemming economic growth for over three years now.

But Environment Minister Alex Attwood hit back at the claims, stating that it was the airport itself that had been dragging its feet with regard to providing information vital to a public inquiry into the runway extension.

The ongoing saga has already cost Belfast City its biggest customer — Ryanair.

“I’m now dealing with my sixth (Environment) minister, which just beggars belief in a region where the Executive talks about the economy as being a top priority,” said Mr Ambrose.

“They are holding back millions in investment because we can’t get things through planning.”

He added: “There’s £10m linked to the work we’re trying to do with the runway extension.”

But the Environment Minister challenged that view, claiming that Belfast City Airport bosses themselves have been delaying the process by failing to provide environmental and other crucial information to the Planning Appeals Commission, which will facilitate a public inquiry.

Mr Attwood said planning permission must be subject to a “thorough, proper process”.

He added: “The ball is in the airport's control and if they want the game to start, they must provide the further information and then let's have the public inquiry.”

Mr Attwood also said he has instigated an independent consultation into aircraft noise levels at Belfast City, the results of which are due in early summer and could be pivotal in the runway extension argument.

Belfast City Airport Factfile 2011:

Flights (in & out) 39,025

Passengers 2.2m

Destinations 33

Main airlines 4

Tour operators 3

Source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Artist seeks to bury jetliner in Mojave Desert location

You've probably heard of the underground railroad. Now try to wrap your mind around an underground jetliner.

Swiss artist Christoph Buchel has applied for a conditional-use permit in Kern County that, if approved tonight, will allow him to bury an intact Boeing 727 commercial jetliner 38 feet below the surface of the Mojave Desert near Boron.

Yes, you read that right. The artist wants to dig a huge hole, place a 153-foot-long aircraft in it and carefully cover it with desert sand and soil.

Known as the "Terminal," the curious project would allow a limited number of visitors to experience the subterranean art project via a long underground tunnel connecting the plane to a parking area.

"At this point in time, we've received no letters in opposition to it," said Scott Denney, operations division chief for the county Planning Department. "But we have received a lot of inquiries."

The project site is about 2.5 miles north of Highway 58, west of Boron. The 5.3 acres were purchased by Terminal Project LLC in two adjoining parcels in 2010 and 2011, according to real estate records. The organization paid $21,000 for the undeveloped desert land.

Buchel was said to be out of the country. He didn't reply to an email Wednesday.

Greg Otto, a consulting engineer on the project, said his job is to make sure the 727 remains stable, intact and safe for visitors. Otto's company, Los Angeles-based Buro Happold, does a lot of work with artists creating large projects, he said.

All jetliners are built to withstand tremendous pressures that come with multiple take-offs and landings, Otto said. But he will be looking at details like "soil load on a window" and pressure on the aircraft's wings.

"It's a pretty cool idea," Otto said, "to place an airplane in a different context than we're used to seeing it. It could be surreal in many ways, and profound in others."

All engines, jet fuel and potentially hazardous materials will be removed from the plane prior to installation. The interior will retain the appearance of a commercial passenger plane, but new electrical, plumbing and ventilation systems will be installed.

Visitors will be able to use the plane's restrooms, which will be connected to an on-site septic system.

According to the project description, visitors will experience the geological strata through the jetliner's windows -- though it doesn't explain how that can be accomplished after first digging up the natural strata.

Nearby Mojave Airport has several decommissioned airliners in its "airplane boneyard," so it seemed possible that Buchel might buy a used 727 from Mojave. But airport General Manager Stu Witt said he's never heard of Buchel.And there's no out-of-commission 727s on the lot.

"I'm told a non-flyer with serviceable parts removed may be worth $30,000," Witt said in an email. "But that is a wild guess of a genetic craft."

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles was expected to organize shuttle trips to the site as part of a major exhibition scheduled later this year. But in a development that brings added uncertainty to the project, a MOCA spokeswoman said Wednesday the museum is no longer connected to Buchel's project.

Eccentric? Extraordinary? Fantastic? Bizarre? All of these adjectives and some that are less generous may apply to such an unusual, off-beat idea. But when the artist Christo announced he would install more than 1,000 large yellow umbrellas along the Tejon Pass in 1991, criticism and wisecracks turned to praise among many area residents when the massive project was completed.

Bakersfield artist Art Sherwyn said there's something interesting about Buchel's choice of untouched, virgin land as the site of his subterranean installation. Sure, it may seem weird at first glance, Sherwyn said, but maybe it's a symptom of the post-modern dilemma many artists face.

"Maybe one of the problems is that art history has gone so long, people have to go so far outside the box to find something unique and different," he said.

"Art is about emotion, creating something that will inspire some kind of emotional response," Sherwyn continued. "People who step onto that underground 727 will experience something they will remember for a long time.

"Artists want to be remembered," he said. "It's hard to be remembered as a landscape artist."

The Kern County Planning Commission will consider the conditional-use permit 7 p.m. today in the supervisors' chambers of the County Administrative Building, 1115 Truxtun Ave.

Planning department staff have recommended conditional approval. 

Source:  http://www.bakersfield.com

Hometown Hero Rescues Canines in Peril

Left to right: Leslie Gross, Jerry Perelman, Greg Perelman, Jerry’s son, and Juliette Madden.

A retired music teacher in the New York City public school system, Roslyn Heights resident Jerry Perelman has found plenty to keep him busy. Namely, he describes his volunteer work as “saving one soul at a time,” the souls of canines, that is. Jerry is a licensed pilot who does work for Animal Rescue Flights. When a certain canine is being abandoned by its owner, when it is scheduled to be put to sleep, the organization will alert pilots like Jerry to make a flight, pick up the animal and fly it to a counselor who then places it with a new family.

For such work, Jerry has been named by the Town of North Hempstead as a Hometown Hero.

The ceremony took place last Thursday in Manhasset with Village Clerk Leslie Gross providing the honors.

“If this inspires just one person to get involved to help rescue dogs, then we’re really doing our job by reaching out to the community,” Ms. Gross said, hailing Perelman’s volunteer work.

Jerry especially remembered his first mission with Animal Rescue Flights. He flew from Republic Airport in Farmingdale to a destination in North Philadelphia. The dog was named Aggie, described by Jerry “as a very sweet, 7-year-old partially paralyzed long-haired red dachshund.” Aggie moved with the use of a brace cart. “When I picked up Aggie from the relay in North Philadelphia, she was shy and whimpering,” Jerry recalled. “I placed her brace near her cage in the luggage compartment, petted her a little and spoke to her. She settled down, knowing that I believed the brace was the key to her mobility.”

The success of that rescue operation got Jerry hooked on rescuing canines in peril. For the past three-and-a-half years, he has performed seven such missions knowing that each time he does so, he is giving a canine a new home and possibly saving it from extinction as well.

Jerry got involved with Animal Rescue Flights after reading about people who do that same work. A licensed pilot since 1970, Jerry knew this was a service that he too could perform and he is only glad to continue working with the rescue movement.

“It’s a rush you only get a few times in your life,” Jerry told The Roslyn News at the town hall ceremony.

Love of Animals Since Childhood

A native of Brooklyn who previously lived in Port Washington before moving to Roslyn in 1985, Jerry has always had a love for animals, not to mention one for both flying and music.

Growing up in an apartment building in Brooklyn, Jerry briefly had a dog for a pet before being forced to give it away on instructions from his parents. Time has not permitted him yet to care for a pet, but until it does, he remains glad to assist in the rescue mission. While attending college, Jerry’s love of flying became serious as he managed to travel out to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey one day a week to take flying lessons.

As a music teacher, Jerry searched for ways to inspire the love of music in his young students. He noticed that students quickly got bored with classical music and so he thought of instruments that might get their attention. He settled on the harmonica and soon found that when students could learn to play even the simplest of tunes such as “Happy Birthday” on that instrument, then they would soon begin to appreciate such classics as Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Moreover, a publishing house in California began to take notice of Jerry’s habit of ordering so many harmonicas. That company soon asked Jerry to write a textbook on harmonica playing. He obliged and today, The Perfect Harmonica Method is now in its fourth printing and is being taught in classrooms all over the country.

Jerry also plays keyboard and percussion instruments and over the years, has performed at more than 3,000 functions, currently with the music company, NY Rhythm Entertainment. Like many a New York youngster, he got his start playing at hotels in the Catskills Mountain. There, he witnessed, up close, such legends as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and O.C. Smith in action. It was Smith, known for his hit song, God Didn’t Make Little Green Apples one that won an Emmy for Song of the Year in 1969. It was Smith who mentored Perelman, advising him not to drink, how to dress and in general, how to present himself as an entertainer and musician. “He was a great human being,” Jerry recalled.

For now, it is his work with Animal Rescue Flights that occupies much of Jerry’s time. And the service that work provides makes him more than eligible to be the latest Hometown Hero from Roslyn.

 http://www.antonnews.com