Sunday, June 10, 2012

Flying club trainees strength cut to half

Bhopal: Student strength in prestigious Madhya Pradesh Flying Club (MPFC) has come down by half from last year--from 135 in 2010-11 to 53 in 2011-12. The drastic fall in number is reflection on recession in aviation sector and slump in demand for pilot. 

However, flying club secretary Milind Mahajan is dismissive of any such theory. He maintains that students have faith in training imparted at the club.

He pointed out that the aviation sector is going through a bad patch with major players in private and public sector such as Kingfisher and Indian Airlines facing existential crisis.

On the other hand, students are quite apprehensive. Siddharth Sahdev, a student at MPFC, said flying operations at Indore and Bhopal had been halted for nonpayment of hangar charges and absence of chief flying instructor (CFI) .

Though the problem was sorted out, it did cause serious worries among the students, he added In November 24, 2011 Sheetal Jain, a trainee pilot, had a close shave when the aircraft at the MP Flying club skidded out of the runaway. She lost control during landing at the Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar airport.

The incident delayed two Jet Airway flights. Jain was flying aircraft without instructor. Students felt jittery thereafter. MPFC captains Manoj Chabaria and AK Singh say the club has set numerous records among the flying clubs in India since launch of its operation in 1955. The club offers courses for pilot training for various durations.

Source:  http://daily.bhaskar.com

Use of chartered planes successful, costly for Florida State

By Ira Schoffel, Tallahassee Democrat 

 In the final days before they nailed down their 2011 recruiting class, which eventually would be ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the country by a variety of recruiting services, Florida State's football coaches were frantically trying to tie up loose ends.

Through the extensive use of chartered planes and jets, Jimbo Fisher and his assistant coaches scurried back and forth across the Southeast and into Texas, Oklahoma and New Jersey.

In those crucial two weeks before signing day, from Jan. 14 through Jan. 29, Fisher and his staff chartered 13 flights. They all were for just one day — simple in-home visits to make sure the prospects' commitments were solid — but they came at a price.

According to documents obtained by the Democrat through a public records request, nearly one-quarter of Florida State's annual football recruiting budget — roughly $115,000 — was spent on those private flights. That's four times what the Seminoles' annual recruiting budget is for sports like baseball, golf and volleyball.

According to athletic department policy, three Florida State coaches — Fisher, men's basketball coach Leonard Hamilton and women's basketball coach Sue Semrau— can ask athletic director Randy Spetman for permission to fly via chartered plane for recruiting purposes, so long as it fits within their overall budget.

Because basketball coaches sign only a handful of players each year, it stands to reason they have far fewer requests. Hamilton took advantage of that privilege just three times in 2010-11, and Semrau abstained completely. Fisher and his staff, meanwhile, took 30 chartered flights at a total cost of more than $200,000.

"We don't like to charter," Spetman said. "But sometimes you have to because he (Fisher) has requirements for practice — and he's got to get there and get back."

The flights have not been limited to Fisher, however. The Seminoles also have chartered planes to ferry multiple assistant coaches around the state at the same time.

In mid-December 2010, during the height of recruiting season, four assistant coaches hopped on a chartered plane from Tallahassee to St. Augustine. One assistant stayed there while the other three headed south to West Palm Beach. Then two of the assistants stayed in West Palm while the remaining assistant made a quick trip down to Miami and back. Then those three returned from West Palm to Tallahassee.

The total trip cost $6,985 for less than five hours of actual flying time, but Fisher says the convenience of getting several coaches to different parts of the state in one day is worth the expense.

One day later, assistant coaches D.J. Eliot, Odell Haggins, Mark Stoops and James Coley took a chartered flight to West Palm Beach at a rate of $4,895. And on the very same day, quarterbacks coach Dameyune Craig was on a separate chartered flight to Mobile, Ala.; that trip cost $3,413.

Those were among the least expensive trips during the time in question. In mid-January 2011, Fisher and offensive line coach Rick Trickett flew together on a chartered jet, a Cessna CJ2, to Pensacola and Mobile, Ala. The entire trip took 1.9 hours of flight time — it might have taken eight hours round trip by car — but it cost the athletic department $13,016.34.

Fisher, who has overseen a total makeover of Florida State's recruiting efforts in his three years as head coach, makes no apologies for relying so heavily on the expensive, private flights. Because they provide flexibility with schedules and destinations, Fisher said they are invaluable during the six-week winter contact period, when he and other head coaches are allowed to make in-home visits with prospects and their families.

"With the time constraints, you physically can't do them (without chartered flights)," Fisher said.

While it might not seem all that cumbersome to either fly commercial or drive occasionally, he said neither is a viable option in most cases. Because the NCAA allows a head coach only one opportunity to visit any particular recruit and his family, Fisher said the entire trip has to be built around the recruit's family members' schedules.

"First, you have to find out when can the kid meet with you," Fisher said. "Now, when does the mom get off work? When's the dad get off work? And what if it's a split family, which a lot of them are. … And if I make contact with any one of them, I'm done with that group. I can never go back (per NCAA rules). So I have to have them all at one time."

What that means is Fisher's schedule typically is dictated by the requests and demands of the recruits' families and coaches. When he can knock out two or three of those visits in one day, he said, that's his goal.

"I've got to be at Miami at 8, I've got to be in Naples at 12, and I may have to be in Tampa at 4," Fisher said. "And I go, 'Boom. Boom. Boom.' "

But there are instances when that's not feasible. And while Fisher understands why people might question his need to fly on a chartered plane to nearby destinations like Lake City or Mobile, Ala., he said it's necessary to keep up with his hectic schedule.

If he were to drive to visit a prospect in Mobile and begin his trip home at about 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., for example, he wouldn't arrive in Tallahassee until the early morning hours.

"You say, 'Well, it's three hours away,' " Fisher said, "but the next morning, I'm leaving at 5. Do that (by driving) about four days and you can't function."

Spetman said the situation is compounded by the fact that there are few cities that offer direct commercial flights to and from Tallahassee.

"Everywhere you go, you've got to go through Atlanta," Spetman said. "If you get him (Fisher) stuck there, what do we then? When your football coach has got to be at practice the next day and break down the film, and he's stuck in Atlanta overnight?"

Still, there is no denying the tremendous cost associated with chartered trips — many of which end up costing even more because of incidentals.

When Fisher flew to Jacksonville in early January, the flight should have been about $2,500. But an additional $600 was added because the plane's two pilots needed day rooms to rest because Fisher spent more than 10 hours on the ground. That fee is determined by FAA rules.

FSU had to pay the same charge on a $5,252 trip to Fort Lauderdale and Miami in mid-January. And when he flew to Lake City in January, he was billed an extra $100 because the airport had to be kept open later than normal.

Pilot Dies as Training Plane Crashes near Czech Airport

The pilot of a training aircraft L-29 died and a passenger was seriously injured after the aircraft crashed in Czechia according to Czech news agency CTK.

The former military aircraft was owned by Aviation Technologies and Services company crashed 300 meters away from an airport in Ceradice na Lounsku.

“The aircraft L-29 was flying at low altitude, while it was falling it turned over, the tail of the plane broke off,” news agency reported.

The pilot died at the site of the crash. A 30-year old passenger was hospitalized to a burn center in Prague.

Source:  http://en.ria.ru
 

Gust of wind near Troy, Mo., causes plane to crash just after liftoff, officials say

 
A single engine plane crashed Sunday morning south of Troy, Mo., after a gust of wind pushed it back to the runway shortly after liftoff. The plane lost its front wheel and ended up in a ditch just off Myers Road.

LINCOLN COUNTY: A single engine plane that had just lifted off from Greensfield Airport was pushed back down to the runway by a gust of wind before it crashed, officials said Sunday. The pilot and two passengers from Texas were not injured. 

The crash happened about 10:40 a.m. just south of Troy. Barry Nuss, spokesman for the Lincoln County Fire Protection District, said after the plane returned to the runway, it lost its front wheel, crossed Myers Road and came to a stop in a ditch next to the roadway. 

Firefighters were able to contain a fuel leak from the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration was contacted and is investigating. 

Plane exploded before we got there, says National Emergency Management Agency. Dana Air Flight 992 Boeing McDonnell Douglas MD83, 5N-RAM, Lagos, Nigeria.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has debunked the insinuation that late arrival of rescue  led to the explosion of the Dana Air plane, which killed all its passengers and crew members.

The Southwest Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Iyiola Akande,  said:“The information on the plane crash reached us at 4.00 p.m. and we moved out instantly for rescue operations. I sent a text to our Director-General in Abuja at 4.03 p.m. to inform him of our movement.” 

Akande added: “It took us less than 20 minutes to get to Iju-Ishaga to start our rescue operation but crowd control was something else. We were there early enough with our equipment and our Dedicated Emergency Response Van. But before we got there, the plane had exploded. We were left to carry out evacuation operations. It isn’t our fault. It’s an act of God.

“In fact, we got the information immediately the plane crashed through one of our employees who lives within the vicinity of the crash. We work 24 hours every day because of the nature of our assignment.”

  On the performance of NEMA, the coordinator said it has improved in recent years and it will continue to improve.

He said: “The incumbent DG, Alhaji Sani Sidi, has given priority to the training of young professionals who can stand their ground anywhere, motivation of staff and undertaking of emergency assessment within 24 hours so that relief materials will get to victims within a week. The DG was in Lagos three hours after the Dana Air plane came down to join us in rescue operations.

 “NEMA is better equipped with an helicopter dedicated to search.

“Notwithstanding, we have to update our equipment and keep pace with technological development in emergency operations.”

Source:  http://www.thenationonlineng.net

FAA IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: DANA992        Make/Model: MD80      Description: MD-81/82/83/87/88
  Date: 06/03/2012     Time: 1530

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION

DESCRIPTION
  DANA AIR FLIGHT 992 BOEING MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD83 AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A 
  2-STORY BUILDING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA,153 PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY 
  INJURED, UNKNOWN GROUND INJURIES, LAGOS, NIGERIA

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal: 153
                 # Crew:   6     Fat:   6     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Pass: 147     Fat: 147     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   U


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Business      Phase: Unknown      Operation: Air Carrier


  FAA FSDO: WASHINGTON, DC  (WA45)                Entry date: 06/04/2012 #

Beechcraft BE77 Skipper, N18012: Aircraft was forced to land off airport - Clark, South Dakota - Accident occurred on June 7, 2012

Federal authorities will be investigating a plane crash in northeastern South Dakota that sent two people to a Watertown hospital.

Clark County Airport Manager Doug Hansen tells The Associated Press the male pilot suffered an apparent minor head injury and a female passenger was taken to the hospital as a precaution. He says both were alert and talking after the crash about 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

The sheriff's office identified the two people as 53-year-old Alan Johnson of Morris, Minn., and his 32-year-old niece, Nicole Heinrich (HYN'-rik). It was not clear where she is from.

Hansen says the two-seat Beechcraft propeller plane apparently experienced a fuel problem while traveling from Pierre to Morris and then stalled while trying to land, hitting the ground and cartwheeling. Hansen says the plane was destroyed.


FAA IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 18012        Make/Model: BE77      Description: 77 Skipper
  Date: 06/07/2012     Time: 2305

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: CLARK   State: SD   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT WAS FORCED TO LAND OFF AIRPORT. CLARK, SD

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   1
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   1
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Landing      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: RAPID CITY, SD  (GL27)                Entry date: 06/08/2012 

New Jersey: Teterboro Airport showcases best of private, corporate aircrafts

 
Steve Hockstein/Star-Ledger
Jim Simpson, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, makes remarks while surveying corporate aircraft at the National Business Aviation Association's annual conference and forum at Teterboro Airport on June 7.


  
Attendees survey the offerings such as the Citation C13, at the National Business Aviation Association's annual conference and forum at Teterboro Airport on June 7. 


  
Sue and Hugh Rooney of Air Bound Aviation in Fairfield get a gander at a shiny new Cirrus SR22 at the National Business Aviation Association's annual conference and forum at Teterboro Airport on June 7.

Published: Sunday, June 10, 2012, 12:50 PM 

 By Steve Strunsky/The Star-Ledger


TETERBORO — State Transportation Commissioner and jet-rated pilot Jim Simpson was like a kid in a candy store.

Simpson, who used to fly his own planes on business trips, was at a National Business Aviation Association conference at Teterboro Airport June 7, roaming the tarmac amid dozens of gleaming new corporate and personal aircraft.

"No pictures of me boarding a private jet with a woman who's not my wife," joked Simpson, who followed a high-heeled aviation executive up the stairs of a $56 million Gulfstream G550, before ducking into the plane's roomy wood and leather-trimmed cabin.

Ah, that new-jet smell.

The state Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over 44 small airports and 4,700 private aircraft in New Jersey, and Simpson was among several government and industry officials who addressed the June 7 gathering, emphasizing the key role of general aviation in the broader economy.

"It really helped me build my business," said Simpson, who learned to fly and bought a prop plane and a twin-engine jet to shuttle between United Van Lines franchises he ran before getting into government. "I gave up golf for flying, I love flying that much."

"Flying is hours of boredom, punctuated by moments of stark terror," said Simpson, who counts comedy as yet another passion. "For those of you who don't fly, it's better to be down here and wishing you were up there, than up there and wishing you were down here."

Teterboro alone supports 15,000 jobs and $1.8 billion in annual economic activity in the region, according to the NBAA. Dassault Falcon, whose $52 million 7X competes with the G550, has its Western Hemisphere headquarters at Teterboro and employs 450 sales and service workers in New Jersey, said Paul Florek, a company vice president.

Just 10 miles from Manhattan, Teterboro is a favorite landing strip for business executives, dignitaries and wealthy individuals traveling in and out of the New York region.

"It's a high concentration of wealthy individuals," Florek said.

Teterboro is one of five airports operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in addition to the agency's three major hubs, Newark Liberty, John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and a fourth commercial airport in Rockland County, Stewart Airport. Teterboro is the Port Authority's only "general aviation reliever," helping the major airports avoid the gridlock that would occur if more private jets had to use them, said the Port Authority's aviation director, Susan Baer, who also addressed the conference.

Nationwide, Baer said, each general aviation aircraft in service generates $1 million in economic activity and five jobs.

Yesterday's event drew 2,400 aviation professionals and jet shoppers, a record number of attendees for a regional NBAA conference, the group said. Copies of Business Aviation Insider, Professional Pilot and other trade publications were laid out near the registration desk inside a sprawling hangar. The conference's 130 exhibitors included PNC Aviation Finance, FlightDocs ("Exceptionally Efficient. Extra Secure."), and Winslow Liferaft Co. A large banner hung over the area where Simpson and other officials spoke read, "No plane, no gain."

Outside, 35 prototype and demonstration aircraft were on display, accompanied by test pilots and other company representatives smiling behind aviator sunglasses. Models ranged from the Cirrus SR-22T, a four-seater with its own parachute that the Duluth, Minn., company sells for about $350,000, to the big Embraer Lineage 1000, a private version of the Brazilian manufacturer's Embraer 190 regional airliner, which, like the Gulfstream and the Dassault, is also priced in the $50 million-plus range.

Mark Bennett, a regional sales rep for Eclipse Aerospace, stood by a sleek-looking Total Eclipse, an updated version of the twin-engine, five or six-seat Eclipse 500, painted in metallic silver and priced at $2.15 million. The Albuquerque, N.M.-based company markets its product as a new class of aircraft known as a VLJ, or very light jet, designed for maximum fuel efficiency. Bennett said the Total Eclipse weighs in at a mere 6,000 pounds, not quite lighter than air, but not much heavier than some SUVs.

"My Chevy Suburban's probably darn close to that," he said.

Source:   http://www.nj.com

Idaho: Caldwell man dies in plane crash northeast of Mountain Home; searchers work through night to bring him home

Pilot Gary Martin Stoller, 65, died from injuries he suffered in a plane crash on House Mountain, northeast of Mountain Home, according to Elmore County Sheriff's Office.

Stoller's last known address was in Caldwell. His family has been notified.

Stoller was flying a single-engine 1969 Piper Cherokee. The cause of the crash is unknown, and investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are on their way to the scene.

Elmore County Sheriff's Deputy Garret Kinnan said Stoller's family notified authorities when his plane was overdue Saturday. Kinnan didn't know where Stoller was flying from, but he said the pilot's last known stop was in Wyoming, where he fueled up his plane at about 9 a.m. Saturday.

While sheriff's deputies searched airports in Elmore and Camas counties Saturday afternoon, the Civil Air Patrol conducted a search for the plane from the air. They located what appeared to be plane wreckage on House Mountain, more than an hour's drive northeast of Mountain Home.

Elmore County Sheriff's deputies and the county's Search & Rescue Unit were dispatched to find the plane at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday. The group of about 20 people met with members of the Prairie Quick Response Unit at a staging area.

At about 11:30 p.m., an Air St. Luke's air ambulance that had been provided with the coordinates of the suspected crash site confirmed seeing wreckage.

Searchers used ATVs to reach the crash site, which Kinnan estimated was above 7,000 feet on the mountain and about 3 to 4 miles from the back-country road where they parked their vehicles. They got there between 2:30 a.m.-3 a.m. Sunday.

The plane wreckage was dispersed over a large area. Neither wings were attached to the plane, and the fuselage had disintegrated, Kinnan said.

"It wasn't just a crash landing. It looked like full impact," Kinnan said Sunday morning, after more than 24 hours on duty. Stoller's body was found outside the plane.

Sheriff's officials bundled Stoller's body in a rescue stretcher and carried him off the mountain on an ATV. Elmore County Sheriff's personnel left the crash site around 4 a.m.

Source: http://www.idahostatesman.com



ELMORE County -- A Caldwell man is dead after his plane crashed in a remote area of Elmore County. 

On Saturday at about 9:45 p.m., Elmore County Sheriff Rick Layher says his deputies responded to a report of a plane crash on House Mountain.

He says crews from the Prairie Quick Response Unit, Elmore County Search and Rescue, and Air Saint Luke's also responded.

They found a 1969 Piper Cherokee, single-engine aircraft, which crashed for (at this time) unknown reasons. The pilot was identified as 65-year-old Gary Martin Stoller. Stoller died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. His family has been notified.

The NTSB is responding to the scene.

The investigation is continuing.

Source:   http://www.ktvb.com

The Average Wage for an Airplane Mechanic

Keeping aircraft in good working condition is vital to safe and efficient air travel. Airplane pilots, crew and passengers put their lives in the hands of the aircraft that they fly and it is up to airplane mechanics to make sure that planes are flight-ready. Becoming an aircraft mechanic usually requires completion of an 18- to 24-month technical program at a facility approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Average Wage

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the average wage of aircraft mechanics and service technicians was $26.20 an hour in May 2011. Assuming 2,080 hours of work per year, mechanics earned $54,500 a year on average. The top 10 percent of mechanics earned more than $35.68 an hour, while the bottom 10 percent made less than $16.65. Fifty percent of workers in the occupation had wages between $21.63 and $30.79 an hour.

 Top States

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Tennessee was the highest-paying state for aircraft mechanics in May 2011 and that workers in the state earned $31.96 an hour on average. Mechanics in Connecticut, Alaska, Kentucky, and Hawaii earned $29.30 an hour or more on average. Texas employed the most aircraft mechanics of any state and those workers made $25.20 an hour on average.

Avionics Technicians

Avionics technicians are specialized aircraft maintenance workers who diagnose and repair problems with electronic equipment on airplanes like radios, radar and navigation systems. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that avionics technicians earned an average wage of $26.15 in May 2011. The top 10 percent of workers made over $34.70 an hour and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $18.13. Half of workers in the field had wages between $22.30 and $30.61 an hour.

Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that total jobs for airplane mechanics will grow by 6 percent from 2010 to 2020. Competition for new jobs in the field is likely to be strong since airlines are increasingly outsourcing maintenance work to mechanics in other countries to limit costs. Attaining a bachelor's degree in aircraft maintenance, obtaining professional certification and keeping on top of the latest advances in aircraft design can improve the chances of employment.

Source:  http://work.chron.com/average-wage-airplane-mechanic-2683.html

Dana Air Crash: Ex-Fire Service Chief Seeks Ban On Old Aircraft

A former Comptroller General of Federal Fire Service, Mr Fidelis Ogbogoh, on Sunday called on the Federal Government to stop all  aircraft above 15 years from operating in the country.

Ogbogoh made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on the recent Dana airline crash in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, which killed 153 people on board and many others on the ground.

He also urged the Federal Government to urgently consolidate the aviation sector in the same manner banks in the country were restructured.

In the wake of the disaster, the Federal Government suspended the licence of the airline pending the outcome of investigations into the crash.

Ogbogoh said: ``I do not think we need experts to tell us when aircraft are airworthy. Why should we allow 'coffins to ply the airways of the nation?

``Most of the aircraft in Nigeria are more than 20 years old and grounding Dana might not be the answer.

``I think with immediate effect all aircraft operating in Nigeria airspace that are more than 15 years old should be grounded.’’

On the consolidation in the Aviation Sector, Ogbogoh said only capable firms should be licensed to operate airlines in Nigeria.

``People who are not able to run airlines in our airspace should not be encouraged to bring 'flying coffins into the nation.

``They should merge and provide this nation the deserved services.’’

Ogbogoh attributed various major plane crashes in the last decade in the country to neglect and pointed out that no fewer than 620 people had perished in air disasters in Nigeria during the period.

He said there was a need for stakeholders to collectively look inward to solve the problems in the aviation sector.

``The wanton neglect of air disasters in this country cannot be accepted. We must think of where we are and sanction those not meeting the expectations,'' he said.

Ogbogoh said the Dana airline crash had brought to the fore that ``Nigerians are perpetually being denied the basic tenets of human rights.

``Nigeria deliberately in 1990 along with other member countries of the UN set up a national committee for international decade for disaster reduction.

``Instead of air disaster reduction, we have been experiencing an increase in disasters.’’

Ogbogoh also called on the National Orientation Agency to step up campaigns on sensitising Nigerians about disaster management.

He said the agency in partnership with the fire service and the police should fashion out a policy on educating people on disaster management.  

He said it was disturbing to see thousands of Nigerians troop to the scene of the crash shortly after the plane came down.

Ogbogoh, who is a member of a Presidential Committee on the Restructuring of the Fire Service, decried low budgetary allocations to the fire service by the federal, state and local governments. 

He urged the three tiers of government to increase budgetary allocations to agencies charged with disaster management.

He said priority attention should be given to fire services in the present administration’s transformation agenda. (NAN)

Source:  http://leadership.ng

Cessna 172S, N953SP: Accident occurred May 26, 2012 in St. George, Utah

NTSB Identification: WPR12FA230
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, May 26, 2012 in St. George, UT
Aircraft: CESSNA 172S, registration: N953SP
Injuries: 4 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 May 26, 2012, about 0120 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N953SP, collided with terrain shortly after departing from St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah. Diamond Flying LLC was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot and three passenger sustained fatal injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight was departing from St. George with a planned destination of Mesquite, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

A review of the recorded security camera footage at the airport revealed that the airplane could be seen in the nighttime conditions by the blinking left-wing strobe light and the navigation light mounted on the tail. The airplane appeared to depart from runway 19 and maneuver at a low altitude for the length of the runway while increasing its airspeed. Near the end of the runway, the airplane began a rapid ascent and continued out of the view of the camera. After about 7 seconds, the airplane reappears further down the frame in a rapid descent.

The accident site was located in the hard dirt area (the southerly primary surface) adjacent to the departure end of runway 19. Situated on the level terrain, the airplane came to rest in an inverted attitude and was oriented on a 315-degree magnetic bearing. The main wreckage, which consisted of a majority of the airframe and engine, was located about 525 feet from the edge of the runway's center point.

The first identified point of impact was a ground scar impression about 40 feet from the main wreckage that dimensionally and geometrically resembled the wings with a crater-like impression in between. The span of the ground disturbance was about 36.5 feet, with red lens fragments located near the east side and green fragments on the westerly side; the airplane's wingspan was 36.1 feet. Imbedded in the center crater was a portion of a propeller blade and the nose wheel. In the debris field from the ground scar to the main wreckage was the oil sump, the propeller, and engine accessories.

A routine aviation weather report (METAR) generated by an Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) at the airport, indicated that about 5 minutes prior to the accident the conditions were as follows: wind was from 260 degrees at 9 knots; temperature 66 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 28 degrees Fahrenheit; and altimeter 29.60 inHg.


 ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) - The National Transportation Safety Board says security camera footage captured the "rapid descent" of a small plane just before it crashed at St. George's airport on May 26, killing all four young men aboard.

The NTSB, in its preliminary report on the accident investigation, says the video captured the plane making a "rapid ascent" as it took off from the airport.

After disappearing from the camera's view, the single-engine Cessna 172S reappears farther away about seven seconds later in a "rapid descent."

According to the report, the plane crashed about 525 feet from the edge of the runway, and its reported destination was Mesquite.

The victims were Colby Hafen and Christopher Chapman, both of Santa Clara; Tanner Holt of Washington City; and Alexander Metzger of St. George.
 

100 Mile House, British Columbia: Three suffer slight injuries as plane crashes into building

Witnesses say the plane crashed shortly after takeoff.
 (Submitted by Jamie Bentien)


 A small plane crashed shortly after takeoff in 100 Mile House, B.C., Saturday afternoon. 

 Witnesses said the Cessna crashed near Blue Sky Restaurant, located at 477 Alder.

RCMP Const. Lesley Smith said the incident took place at 3:45 p.m.

The pilot and two passengers on board the aircraft were taken to hospital, but were released after treatment for minor injuries, she said.

A witness said she saw the plane hit some wires across a highway, smash into a sign, lose a wing and skid across a parking lot. The wreckage could be seen against the side of a building.

Source:  http://www.cbc.ca

 
A small Cessna plane crashed into a restaurant in 100 Mile House during the afternoon of June 9. The plane was landing at the city's airport when it apparently lost power. Although the plane was severely damaged, all three aboard escaped with minor injuries Photograph by: CTV , Submitted 


Three people are lucky to be alive after a Cessna 172 crashed into a building in the community of 100 Mile House B.C., say police. RCMP Const.

 Lesley Smith said the incident took place around 3:45 p.m. Saturday, and the occupants have now been treated in hospital for non-life threatening injuries and been released.

 "This could have been a tragic event, but at this time we only have the three people on board that suffered injuries and they were minor in nature," said Smith.

Jackie McDonald told a Kamloops radio station that she was outside her place of work when she saw the plane hit some wires across the highway, smash into a sign, lose a wing and skid across a parking lot into a building.

 She said one of the occupants was covered in blood.

 Smith said she doesn't know the ages of the occupants and the wreckage is now being cleaned up.

Smith said the Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

Source:  http://www.theprovince.com

Sonex Rotax Turbo: Ground run with the new "AirMaster AP430-SN64ZN" CS propeller

 

 June 4, 2012 by impultion

 "Ground run with the new "AirMaster AP430-SN64ZN" CS propeller. What a fantastic work of art ! Nice wide blades. Good for 180HP. First running Manual pitch at WOT, 6000RPM, then switching to AUTO (CS), T.O 5800rpm, then Climb 5400rpm and then into Cruise 5000rpm. What a masterpiece!"

Eurocopter AS 350B3e Ecureuil, Kenya Police Air Wing, 5Y-CDT: Fatal accident occurred June 10, 2012 in Ngong Hills, near Nairobi, Kenya

 
Pilot Nancy Gituanja who was among those killed in the accident.

 

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 10 – Tributes poured in on Sunday after Cabinet Minister George Saitoti his assistant Joshua Ojode, two bodyguards and two pilots died in a helicopter crash.

The homage was led by President Mwai Kibaki who described his internal security minister as eloquent and passionate about the reforms he was undertaking within the department.

He said Saitoti left behind a rich legacy of service to the country and described him a hard working minister.

“Saitoti will forever be remembered as a hardworking and determined public servant who dedicated his time to the service of the Kenyan people,” President Kibaki said.

He also stated that Ojode was focused while undertaking his duties with great zeal and determination.

The Head of State pointed out that the pilots and bodyguards (all members of the Kenyan police force) would be remembered for their patriotism during the dispensation of their duties.

“My prayers are with the families of those who perished. Pilots Luke Oyugi, Nancy Gituanja and bodyguards Inspector Joshua Tonkei and Sergeant Thomas Murimi,” he stated.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on his part described the incident as a great tragedy and sent condolences to the family, relatives and friends of the departed ministers and the other victims.

He pointed out that the performance of the two ministers was outstanding and recalled his last moments with both Saitoti and Ojode at the peace conference in Mombasa where Saitoti spoke passionately about the measures his ministry had put in place to ensure the forthcoming general election was peaceful.

In his message of condolence, House Speaker Kenneth Marende recounted how the two Members of Parliament articulated matters diligently and responded to issues under their docket from other members with outmost zeal and dedication.

“May the Almighty God grant comfort to their families and friends during this trying period of pain and sorrow. May the Lord give strength to their families to bear the great burden left behind by their demise. May God rest their soul in eternal peace,” he said.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague also sent his condolences following the death of the two ministers.

“I was extremely saddened to learn of the death of Kenya’s Minister for Provincial Administration and Internal Security, Professor George Saitoti, along with his Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode and other Kenyans travelling with them this morning. On behalf of the British Government, I wish to extend my deepest condolences. My thoughts are with their families and friends, and the people of Kenya, as they come to terms with this tragedy,” he said.

The chairman of the AU Panel of Eminent African Personalities Kofi Annan also expressed shock and disbelief over the helicopter crash and described Saitoti as a dedicated public servant.

“As the minister responsible for spearheading police reform his demise at such a crucial time in Kenya’s political history is a great loss to the nation. On behalf of the Panel of Eminent African Personalities, I wish to express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Government and people of Kenya at this very sad time,” he said.

Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa also gave his condolences to the families who had been affected by the incident.

“It is with profound shock and sadness that I learnt of the death of Prof Saitoti and Orwa Ojode. I first wish to condole with their families and pray that God gives them the grace, strength and hope to endure this tragic loss,” he said.
“My condolences also go out to the officers and crew. May they rest in eternal peace.”

Consoling the families when he visited the scene of accident, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said he was extremely saddened by the sudden demise of the six.

“It’s painful, unbelievable and a great loss to the nation. This country has lost dedicated public servants,” he said.

Gatanga Member of Parliament Peter Kenneth said that the internal security minister was a treasured personal friend and colleague in government.

He said that as a senior politician, he was always keen to listen and help when requested.

“His passing will leave a void in Kenya’s political scene, especially for the people of Kajiado and in the hearts of everyone who knew him. George’s memory will always remain deep in my heart and I mourn his death with a heavy heart,” he stated in his message of condolence.

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi said the accident was horrendous and shocking.

He cancelled all planned political campaign engagements that would have seen him address supporters at Ziwa, Chepkoilel, Iten, Tambach, Kabarnet and Mogotio.

The DPM urged Kenyans to remain calm at this time of sorrow when the nation is mourning the great loss.

“The two were nationalists and devoted public servants who have lend great service to Kenyans,” he said.

Eldoret North Member of Parliament William Ruto, Gichugu legislator Martha Karua and Mvita MP Najib Balala also send their messages of condolences through their Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Kenya’s Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti, his deputy Orwa Ojode and four others were killed when a Police chopper crashed in Kibiku area in Ngong forest reportedly at 9am on Sunday. (For live stream, follow the link (www.ntv.co.ke/live)

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has confirmed six people including two pilots perished in the police chopper crash tragedy in Ngong Nairobi. 

 The pilots were identified as Captain Nancy Gituanja and Captain Luke Oyugi.

Internal Security minister Professor George Saitoti and his assistant minister Joshua Orwa Ojodeh, their bodyguards identified as  inspector Joshua Tonkei and  sergeant Thomas Murimi all died in the accident. There was no survivor in the 8.30am crash.

The bodies of the deceased have moved to the Lee Funeral Home.

Speaker Kenneth Marende was among the first leaders who rushed to the scene of crash moments after the news of the accident broke.

As details emerged leaders including  Prime Minister Raila Odinga cancelled his planned rally in Nakuru and flew back to Nairobi to the scene of the accident to join in mourning one Kenya's worst tragedies.

Deputy Prime minister Musalia Mudavadi similarly called off his  Sunday functions to join the country in mourning the fallen leaders and police officers.

Nyatike MP  Omondi Anyanga who resides in Karen said residents of the area were forced out of their houses as the chopper flew very low just over the roof tops and the sound it produced was a sure way that the aircraft had technical challenges.

“I was forced to come out of the house  to see what was happening because it was flying very low and moments later I heard the sad news of the crash, “ Anyanga said at the scene.


div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Following the helicopter tragedy which killed Internal security minister Prof George Saitoti, Assistant minister Joshua Orwa Ojodeh, two pilots Captain Nancy Gituanja and Captain Luke Oyugi, two police officers Inspector Joshua Tonkei and sergeant Thomas Murumi, The Standard Digital gives you a chance you can send you message of condolence to their families, relatives, friends and Kenyans. Kindly include your name and location.
 

Let L-410: 5 dead, 13 injured as plane crashes in bad weather near Ukrainian capital

Five people have died and 13 injured when a plane carrying parachute students crash-landed near the Ukrainian capital Kiev. ­

Survivors have been rushed to hospital from the airfield near the town of Borodyanka in the north of the country.

The Let L-410 failed to land properly due to heavy rain and stormy winds, Ukraine’s emergency service reported.

An investigation into the incident has been launched.

The L-410 is a twin-engine short-range transport aircraft developed in the 1960s in Czechoslovakia. About half of the more than 1,100 planes built remain in service. The aircraft can carry up to 19 people on board depending on the version.

Source:  http://www.rt.com

Air India plane makes emergency landing after losing a wheel

A TV grab of Air India flight AI-9760 after it made an emergency landing at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International airport in Guwahati on Sunday. It lost one of its front-wheels during takeoff from Silchar. At right is Captain Urmila Yadav, who landed the plane safely. 
Photos: PTI and Ritu Raj Konwar 

A woman pilot averted an air tragedy on Sunday by her deft handling of a Guwahati-bound aircraft after it lost one of its nosewheels during takeoff from the Kumbhirgram airport in Silchar. 

The ATR aircraft had 48 passengers. Its five-member crew comprised three women, including the pilot. 

Captain Urmila Yadav, circled the Air India flight AI-9760 over the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International (LGBI) airport here for about one hour before she made a skilful emergency landing. 

Earlier she asked the crew to shift some goods from the cockpit to the rear to reduce the load on the front, to facilitate safe landing. 

The passengers thanked the pilot for saving their lives. 

Gogoi's pat for pilot
 
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi congratulated Captain Urmila and co-pilot Yashu. “Hats off to you and your co-pilot for your daring and courageous act which saved the precious lives of passengers,” he told her over the phone, an official release said. 

Narrating his experience, noted Assamese linguist and a senior official of the Assam Agricultural University Sumanta Chaliha told The Hindu the passengers got wind of the emergency situation only when the crew gave flight safety demonstration for the second time after flying for about 30 minutes. 

“When we asked the crew if anything had gone wrong, we were told that there was a minor technical snag and it was being taken care of. However, after some time they made a formal announcement of an emergency landing. We came to know that the aircraft lost one of its nose wheels. A woman passenger seated in front of me fainted and several passengers started crying. I was calm and composed, leaving everything to God. 

“We came to know that the aircraft flew extra time to burn fuel midair and as soon as the aircraft landed the engine was switched off. It came to a halt quickly. While getting down I noticed that one of the nose wheels was missing.”
It was the Air Traffic Control (ATC) of the Indian Air Force at Kumbhirgram which noticed that something had fallen off the aircraft after it took off. It then alerted the LGBI ATC. 

“We knew that the aircraft was coming with a wheel of nose assembly missing. The pilot was informed and asked if she would land or fly off. When she said she would land, she was asked to do a mandatory low pass so that the ground staff could inspect the nose assembly. We requested her to hold over Guwahati for sometime till we cleared the runway. A Kolkata-bound Spicejet flight was allowed to take off and an in-coming Air India flight from Delhi allowed to land. After the runway was cleared, the aircraft was allowed to land. The pilot really did a skilful landing and handled the entire situation very well. If the aircraft had made a normal landing without knowing that one of its nose wheels was missing then anything could have happened,” said an ATC official. 

The scheduled departure of the flight from Silchar was 7.20 a.m. but it was delayed due to inclement weather. The flight took off at 9 a.m.


Forty-eight passengers and crew members on board an Air India ATR aircraft (AI 9760 ATR) had a miraculous escape on Sunday because of deft handling of an emergency landing situation by the pilot of the aircraft. There were two cockpit crew, two cabin crew and an engineer on board the flight. 

 Passengers travelling in the aircraft from Silchar (in South Assam) to Guwahati were staring at a dreadful situation before landing at Guwahati airport when one of the nose wheels of their aircraft fell off after take-off.

The aircraft then hovered over Guwahati airport for about an hour, while preparing for emergency landing with just one nose wheel. The flight took off from Silchar airport at 9 am though it was scheduled to take off at 7-20 am. The delay was because of bad weather.

"We were alarmed that something was seriously wrong when one of the cabin crew started give safety demonstration for the second time after were into hour of flight. On being asked, she said some emergency situation was anticipated," said Sumanta Chaliha, noted litterateur and an engineer who was sitting at the seat number 4B in the aircraft.

"The passengers got really panicked when they saw a cabin crew evacuating heavy things such as suitcases from the cockpit of the aircraft. The cabin crew told some of the passengers that one of the nose wheels of the aircraft has fallen off triggering the panic button. Some of the women passengers including a professor from Assam University in Silchar, Dr Meghali Goswami, even fainted out of panic," Chaliha said.

A source in the airline said that after burning the fuel in the tank during hovering over Guwahati airport, the pilot, Urmila Yadav managed to land the plane safe without any damage. The fuel was burnt to reduce the weight of the plane as well as to chances of fire during emergency landing. All the passengers were deplaned safe at around 11 am.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi congratulated Urmila and co-pilot Yashu for saving the the lives of the 52 people. Gogoi spoke to Urmila over phone and conveyed his thanks to her and the co-pilot for showing alacrity, courage and dexterity by landing the flight safely.

"Hats off to you and your co-pilot for your daring and courageous act which saved the precious lives of the passengers," he added.

With inputs from PTI
K Anurag in Guwahati

http://www.rediff.com