Lauren Scruggs speaks publicly for first time since plane accident - Aviat Husky A-1C, N62WY, Accident occurred December 03, 2011 in McKinney, Texas

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In her first interview since she walked into a spinning plane propeller eight months ago, Lauren Scruggs showed that her vibrant spirit remains intact. 

The 24-year-old fashion blogger and model from Plano, Texas, spoke to Savannah Guthrie in London on TODAY Thursday. Since her December accident at a private airport in McKinney, Texas, she has made a remarkable recovery. She has received a prosthetic eye and hand, and told Guthrie she is off of pain medication.

“Spiritually, I’ve just learned to live by faith and not by sight,’’ Scruggs said. “Even though I’ve lost my left eye, I’ve just realized that the Lord has a strong purpose in it, and I need to use that.’’

A devout Christian, Scruggs, nicknamed “Lolo,” has relied on her faith, her parents and her twin sister, Brittany, to persevere. Her story received worldwide attention, and her parents posted regular updates on her progress posted on the site CaringBridge.org. Those posts received more than 1.5 million visits.

“I’m feeling good,’’ Scruggs said. “I think physically, it’s good that I’m off all my pain meds and all medication and haven’t had pain since January, so that’s a blessing. Emotionally, days are hard sometimes, just accepting the loss of my eye and hand, but it just gets better and I realize God’s in control of my life and there’s a purpose to this story.’’

Read more, photos and video:   http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/48586089/ns/today-today_news/#.UCRo2pb3u70

NTSB Identification: CEN12LA125
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, December 03, 2011 in McKinney, TX
Aircraft: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1C-180, registration: N62WY
Injuries: 1 Serious.

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.

On December 3, 2011, about 2050 central daylight time, a passenger of a parked Aviat Aircraft Inc., Husky A-1C, N62WY, contacted its rotating propeller after exiting the airplane on the ramp of the Aero Country Airport (T31), McKinney, Texas. The airplane was registered to Shell Aviation, LLC, McKinney, Texas, and was being flown by a private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The passenger was seriously injured and the pilot, who was the only other person remaining on board, was not injured. The flight had originated from T31 and had just returned from flying in the local area to view holiday lights from the air.

According to the pilot (as he recalls the event), after landing from the planned 20-minute flight, he stopped the airplane on the ramp with the engine running in anticipation of taking another passenger to view the holiday lights. He opened the door on the right side of the airplane expecting a friend to come out and assist his passenger in deplaning. After he opened the door, the passenger started to get out of the airplane. Upon noticing that she was exiting in front of the strut, the pilot leaned out of his seat and placed his right hand and arm in front of her to divert her away from the front of the airplane and the propeller. He continued to keep his arm extended and told the passenger that she should walk behind the airplane. Once he saw that the passenger was at least beyond where the strut was attached to the wing, and walking away, he dropped his right arm and returned to his normal seat position. The pilot then looked to the left side of the airplane and opened his window to ask who was next to go for a ride.

The pilot then heard someone yell, "STOP STOP," and he immediately shut down the engine and saw the passenger lying in front of the airplane.

Regulation, Age of Aircraft and Air Safety in Nigeria

Domestic air traffic is at the lowest ebb because many Nigerians are afraid of traveling by air after the crash of Dana Air flight. Chinedu Eze appraises issues raked up by the tragic accident 

There are fears that the domestic air transport in Nigeria may become moribund. And this is happening at the time international air travel in the country is enjoying a boost, but unfortunately, while 21 foreign airlines operate into the country, three Nigerian airlines are involved in international operations. And they have about one per cent of that market.

The situation has become worrisome now that the domestic air market is shrinking because of the ill-fated Dana Air flight 0992, which crashed on June 3, 2012, killing 163 persons.

Industry experts say that domestic traffic has crumbled below 35 per cent and if it does not pick up in the foreseeable future, the few existing airlines may dissipate their operation funds and go into liquidation as revenue has significantly plummeted

In a knee-jack situation, the crash prompted a lot of reactions, including the controversial question on age of aircraft, the allegation of laxity on the regulatory body, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and alleged poor compliance on the side of the airlines.
 
At the height of uncertainty and confusion, the report of the Technical and Administrative Review Panel on Domestic Airlines (TARPA) released recently started a blame game, which was out of tune with the standard in the industry.

The report exacerbated the already tensed situation and gave angry Nigerians the organisations to blame for the crash even before the result of the investigation of the crash is released by the concerned authority that has the legal obligation to do so.

The consequences of the crash is adversely affecting the airlines as THISDAY gathered last Monday that both the airlines that operate modern and old aircraft are feeling the reaction of the passengers in the ugly place - their revenue coffers. Many passengers have abandoned the airports. They have also abandoned Nigerian airlines because whether old or new they believe that as long as Nigerians are in charge, the situation is foreboding.

This is the effect of so much ventilation of pent-up fury after the accident, which like the action of a mob lacked rationality as so much  was said that ought not to be said and all that were said have imbued potential passengers with the fear to fly.
 
The frightening factors include the allegation by TARPA that Dana Air’s, “certain maintenance practices by Dana Airline particularly the use of Technical Logbook were not in conformity with standard and recommended practices.”

While Dana Air was accused of that misdemeanor in that report, Nigerians would see it as a general malaise with all Nigerian airlines and tracing that allegation to the past, THISDAY investigations revealed that the alleged shortcoming has been there in the industry.

A circular from the Federal Republic of Nigeria Federal Civil Aviation Authority Aeronautical Information Services, dated February 12, 1992, titled: “Use of Aircraft Technical Log” stated: “It has been observed and confirmed that some pilots are not recording defects experienced during flights. In an attempt to make  quick turnaround or prevent uninterrupted operation of aircraft, pilots, in collusion with management and maintenance personnel, have in some cases decided to pay no attention to, or cover up the existence of such defects which otherwise would have been rectified before further flight.”

The circular accused pilots of not making entries in the tech log, deferring them to a convenient time or sometimes “scribble something on a piece of paper for maintenance engineers to rectify.” The circular, which ironically was signed by the Director General of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, who was then the Managing Director of the aforementioned agency, said that such action of the pilots “has grave consequences for the safety of flight.”

This showed that the allegation of the committee was not new in the industry; it was an age old tradition, unfortunately.

In spite of all the hoopla, the international aviation community still rates Nigeria in terms of air safety as one of the highest in Africa and Indian Region (AFI) and that explains why in the European Union (EU) blacklisted airlines which are 284 in number from 24 countries of the world none was blacklisted in Nigeria. These airlines are banned from flying to anywhere in Europe.

The Secretary General of African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Dr Elijah Chingosho at the recent African Ministerial Meeting on Aviation Safety held in Abuja, lamented how the EU unjustifiably treats African airlines.

“Out of the 24 countries worldwide with airlines on the banned list, 17 of them or over 70 per cent are in Africa. This means that about a third of all African countries are on the banned list. Currently, no African country has ever been removed from the list even though we have witnessed general improvement of aviation safety on the continent and a number of countries on the blacklist have rectified several safety deficiencies identified through ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) audit,” Chingosho complained.

Aviation is international because it follows the same standard worldwide and if the international aviation community does not have confidence in Nigeria since after the accident, ICAO would have made that known, the same with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States, which gave Nigeria Category one. Yet Nigerians have lost confidence in their airlines.

At the Ministerial Conference in Abuja it was made public that some African countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Sierra Leone and Liberia are understudying the safety standard achieved by Nigeria in the aviation sector as international organisations, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ICAO rated Nigeria’s air safety high at the event.
 
On age of aircraft which has become highly controversial in Nigeria, ICAO listed all the countries and their aircraft age and exposed the fact that most advanced countries have the most aged aircraft.

Currently, there are 26, 508 aircraft captured across the various continents with 59 per cent of aircraft above 15 years of age. Oceanic tops the list with 82 per cent of the aircraft above 15 years. North America is ranked second among Category One countries that that have aircraft above 15 years.

In Africa, Nigeria is ranked second as the largest country with aircraft fleet above 15 years of age, while Ethiopia, Morocco and Egypt seem to have smaller number of aircraft above 15 years and these countries have also benefitted from strong national/flag carriers and also government support. These countries also have significantly smaller domestic traffic compared to Nigeria.

It is generally believed that whether old or new if aircraft is not well maintained it would be prone to accidents. At the same it is also known that older aircraft demand more money from its operator for effective maintenance.

The Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Akin George, in a recent presentation in Lagos said that the age of an aircraft had no direct correlation to operational safety, but that “focus should be that adequate maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer and the NCAA is carried out.”

George referred to the age of aircraft owned by prominent personalities in the world and disclosed that US President’s aircraft, Air Force One is over 23 years old; that of the Queen of England is over 25 years, while the average fleet of American airlines include Delta Airline,  A320 Fleet – 19 years; Alaska Airlines , United Airlines,  British Airways B 737  17 years.

“All airlines should put in place an effective Safety Management System (SMS). This will ensure a quality system is in place to monitor all aspects of airline operations.  (This is already a requirement by the NCAA and other CAAs’)”, the Aero Contractor’s boss advised.

The challenge really is that in Nigeria it is alleged that when they consider the huge cost of carrying out major maintenance checks, many Nigerian airlines may want to defer such checks and also cut corners to maximise the utilisation of their aircraft.

But industry experts, including operators said that no airline would like to be involved in a crash because that means the end of that airline, in Nigeria. Besides, who would like to incur the huge loses engendered by air crash or damage his or her reputation, just to earn a few millions of Naira?

http://www.thisdaylive.com

SPOKANE TELEVISION FIRST! Matt Rogers & The 'Mobile 6' Takes Flight LIVE On KHQ Local News Today!

KHQ Right Now - News and Weather for Spokane and North Idaho 

MATT ROGERS: In 1946, Bill Brooks began taking people on flights over Lake Coeur d'Alene. On Thursday morning Bill's son Grant helped KHQ's Matt Rogers in a Spokane television first. With the technology of the Q6 Mobile Backpack, the two took a flight over the lake on live television. Bill owns and operates Brooks Seaplane in Coeur d'Alene, and you can find him right on the dock at Independence Point. Bill took Matt up in a Cessna 206 and the view is amazing! Watch the live shots above and you can contact Brooks Seaplane at 208-664-2842.

http://www.khq.com

Crew’s negligence caused plane crash - Witness: Dana Air, McDonnell Douglas MD-83, 5N-RAM, Lagos-Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nigeria

 

A witness in the on going inquest into the death of the 153 passengers on the Dana Air plane that crashed in Iju/Ishaga area of Lagos on June 3, Tito Omaghomi, a retired flight captain, on Thursday, told the coroner, Mr Alexander Komolafe, that negligence of  the flight crew led to the tragedy.

At the resumed hearing of the inquest before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, Omaghomi, who had over 32 years experience as a pilot with the Nigerian Airways, said his opinion of the preliminary report of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) was that the pilot and his crew neglected to keep to necessary checklists to prevent fatalities.

Omaghomi, who was led by Femi Falana, said his view of the AIB’s report was that “it was a disorganized cockpit” and that “it became a flight that nobody had control of.”

The retired captain also said from his deductions, the pilot did not call for help when he should have done, adding that he called when the plane had already lost two engines.

He stated further that the pilot flew for more than 100 hours in a month, adding that from observations, the pilot of the ill-fated plane had put in 120 hours of flight within 13 days, which, according to him, was illegal.

Tito said it was a bad development that between 1965 and 2003, only 17 air accidents occurred, adding that from 2003 till date, there had been about 21 air crashes.

Another witness, Daniel Akpokoje, an aviation operations manager with Total Nigeria Plc, had earlier testified that the last time Dana Air bought fuel from the company was in November 2011.

According to him, before fuel was supplied to an aircraft, several checks were made to ensure that there were no sediments or water mixed with it.

The magistrate consequently adjourned the inquest till August 13.

http://tribune.com.ng

Runway clear for take (your clothes) off! VietJetAir Fined for In-Flight Bikini Show

VietJet Air fined for organizing bikini show on plane 

VietJet Air, a private run economy airline, was fined VND20 million (US$950) for organizing a bikini show on its Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang flight on August 3.

The airline also allowed passengers to use cell phones and cameras to record the show, in complete breach of aviation safety regulations, which requires that all audio, video and camera equipment should be stored and not allowed for use during flights.

The bikini show, which was called ‘Hawaiian dance performance’ had not been approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, and thus breached aviation safety and security regulations.

The young girls who participated in the show are contestants for ‘Miss Ngoi Sao’, a local beauty pageant organized by Ngoi Sao online newspaper.

Photos and video clips of the ‘Hawaiian dance performance’ were posted on the Internet and stirred much controversy.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2185945/Runway-clear-clothes--Vietnamese-passenger-airliner-fined-hosting-mid-air-beauty-pageant-scantily-clad-Hawaiian-dancers.html

No airshow planned for 2013: Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (KSRB), Sparta, Tennessee

WHITE COUNTY -- There won't be an air show at the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport in 2013.

That update comes from a recommendation by the Operational Committee who forwarded the recommendation to the UCRA board.

That recommendation was approved during last night's board meeting.

"We'd like to recommend to the board that, because of the change over in the management and not having an FBO (fixed-base operator), the committee would like to recommend to the board that we don't do an air show next year," Wallace Austin, UCRA board chairman and operational committee representative, said. Austin added that the board evaluate airport operations for a period of 90 days -- evaluating the airport's revenue stream and consider a salary adjustment for the additional hours current employees are putting in.

The airport has been without an FBO for nearly two months. Since UCRA bought the assets and inventory of Region Air, Jim Kmet, airport manager, has been operating all aspects of the airport and, as a result, has been logging extra hours.

Since Region Air's split from the airport, flight students have been going "elsewhere" to continue their training.

"We have a number of flight students, of course, who have had to go elsewhere to get flight instruction due to the fact that Region Air owned the rental aircraft here and we're presently without a rental aircraft," Will Roberson, pilot committee representative, told board members. "The airport really doesn't have any way to facilitate the flying lessons. I understand there's more on that to come tonight ... and some possibilities there."

Two representatives from Crystal Air were in attendance at the meeting to make a pitch to board members about the services they could provide to the airport.

Crystal Air operates three FBOs in the region -- Sewanee, TN; Cleveland, TN and Dalton, GA.

The company also provides flight instruction and charter services in Chattanooga.

"We'd like to put our best foot forward in the flight instruction arena," Taylor Newman of Crystal Air said. "Flight instruction grows the airport because we're growing users to the airport. (With) flight instruction you don't make a tremendous amount of money as its individual business segment ... you're going to slowly wither away to not having any users at the airport outside of business folks coming in. You're going to lose the community base out of not having flight instruction at the airport."

The current SASO, or specialized aviation services operator, application is for flight training, charter services and aircraft rental.

Fuel sales and maintenance services may be provided by Crystal Air at a later time but are not a part of the current drafted agreement. Concerns about necessary insurance coverage were discussed and it was decided that the board should seek further counsel regarding the matter before committing to the agreement. The board unanimously approved the recommendation to allow Crystal Air to provide flight training, charter services and aircraft rental contingent upon the insurance item being resolved.

Contingent upon those items being resolved, Crystal Air would likely begin providing services on a full time basis next month.

In other business, the airport is considering the possibility of a new FBO but that decision isn't likely to be made any time soon.

"I think that's a possibility," Austin said. "It just kind of depends on how it operates with the manager and how the board feels about it but we (the operation committee) feel like, in 90 days, we'd have a good picture of how the airport would operate under a management system ... And, to say that we'll never have another FBO -- no. To say we're going to have it tomorrow -- no."

Read more: Herald Citizen - No airshow planned for 2013

The new Rotax 912iS fuel injected powerplant on Zenith Aircraft

 

Aug 8, 2012 by zenithairco

Here's a look at the new Rotax 912iS at the Zenith Aircraft Company "Engine Day" at AirVenture (Oshkosh) 2012.

Also, the Rotax 912iS engine has been installed on the Zenith STOL CH 701 aircraft in Ghana, Africa, by WAASPS:
http://www.waasps.com/

General Aviation Manufacturers Association Issues Second Quarter Shipment Report, Signs of Stability and Growth Across Segments

http://www.gama.aero/media-center/press-releases/content/gama-issues-second-quarter-shipment-report-signs-stability-and-g

Avantair Piaggio P180 Avanti, N153SL: Co-Pilot Salute! Taxi and Takeoff at Harbor Springs Airport (KMGN), Michigan

 

 August 8, 2012 by tigersfanatic98 

"A very cool P180 Avanti taking off at Harbor Springs Airport. [KMGN]. This is my favorite small airport to spot at. The P180s fly into here often, and I make sure to catch them all the time. Also, the co-pilot saluted me! It made my day."

Inside the Lakeshore Express Saab 340B [N9CJ] at Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County (KPLN), Michigan

 

 http://youtu.be/HuGzn5aI3as

Aug 5, 2012 by tigersfanatic98 

*please leave a comment* 

"A *HUGE* thanks to Lakeshore Express for letting me tour their Saab 340. It was very, very cool."  - by tigersfanatic98

New! Transportation Safety Board Canada interactive flickr map

Transportation Safety Board Canada, new interactive flickr map - each photo has a link to the completed accident report.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tsbcanada/map/

http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/index.asp

Seattle man killed in paragliding accident north of Whistler, B.C.

 

Photo courtesy of Clifford family 

 Seattle’s John Clifford, seen here in this 2007 photo with daughter, Kaya, died after crashing into the Lillooet River during Canadian National Paragliding Championship competition in Pemberton on Monday (Aug. 6).

The RCMP is continuing its investigation into the death of a Seattle man who drowned while in Pemberton to compete in the Canadian National Paragliding Championships.

John Clifford, 55, crashed into the Lillooet River during competition on Monday (Aug. 6). His body was recovered on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 7).

Clifford, a tandem paragliding instructor, is survived by wife, Kathy, and 5-year-old daughter, Kaya.

The victim’s family members contacted The Question and described Clifford as a “very experienced pilot” who was “much loved.”

Police and event organizers are still trying to determine exactly what caused Clifford to crash into the river 18 kilometres northwest of Pemberton.

“The investigation has revealed that the victim was flying at an altitude of 300 feet when he appeared to lose control and went into the water,” said an RCMP press release.

Competitors were ordered out of the air at approximately 5:10 p.m. on Monday as a storm front approached. A press release from event officials issued Tuesday said almost all other competitors had landed safely on the ground by that time, but “it is believed that Clifford somehow flew himself near to the edge of the front at a relatively low altitude over the river” when the accident took place. He crashed into the water about 20 minutes after the order to land was made.

Clifford’s body was found underneath a log jam in the water on Tuesday, approximately 200 metres from the crash site, said the RCMP.

“This is extremely unfortunate for John, his family and friends,” said event co-organizer Nigel Protter in the release. “All of us involved in the event… are devastated and we’re thinking deeply about what this means for John’s loved ones.”

Protter said race officials were well aware of the weather conditions and “clearly communicated” that to pilots in a mandatory, pre-race briefing. More than 65 competitors safely completed the day’s course.

Protter added that pilots are ultimately responsible for their own safety and that “good pilot decision-making is by far the most important factor in safe flying” but the urge to get to a race goal in competition can sometimes affect that process.

“Our understanding is that he, for some reason, wasn’t pulling a proper deep spiral to get himself down,” Protter said in a later interview. “He shouldn’t have been where he was at the time.

“It does happen. Good (pilots) find themselves in bad situations.”

The victim’s sister, Christen Clifford, emailed The Question to say she found comments from event organizers “painful to a family in grief,” particularly after speaking with event safety director Pete Michelmore. She said Michelmore told her that John Clifford did exactly “what I would have done” in a similar situation and felt as though organizers were trying to place all blame on the victim rather than categorizing it as a “freak accident.”

“I understand that organizers of the (event) have to distance themselves from any blame; it’s their job, of course,” she wrote.

When asked to respond, Protter said organizers’ comments had been misinterpreted, as it wasn’t their intention to place fault on the late Clifford or to imply he wasn’t a capable pilot.

“We’re not saying anything negative about John… this could have happened to anyone,” he said. “(Risk is) a part of the game and I think John knew that. He had to have.

“I didn’t know him, personally, but a lot of the pilots here do and there was never anything negative said about John. There were a lot of fond memories of him.”

Protter added that organizers are looking forward to meeting with Clifford’s family members, who are expected to come up to Pemberton before the end of the event.

“We’re going to go out of our way to do anything we can to help them come to terms with their loss,” he said. “We’re here for them.”

Competition was suspended on Tuesday out of respect for the victim but organizers plan to continue with the event until its planned conclusion on Sunday (Aug. 12).

Clifford is the third person to die in a gliding accident in the province this year, said the B.C. Coroners Service.

http://www.whistlerquestion.com

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle, G-HIJK: Accident occurred May 16, 2012 at Bournemouth Airport

Summary:
Whilst landing at Bournemouth Airport, the pilot heard a whining sound followed by severe vibration and a swing to the left. He was unable to prevent the aircraft from leaving the paved surface, in the course of which the nose landing gear collapsed. The nosewheel tyre was found to have deflated.

 

Report and photo:  
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle G-HIJK 08-12.pdf (898.11 kb) 

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/august_2012/cessna_421c_golden_eagle__g_hijk.cfm

Beech A23, N8771M: Pilot Says Grace of God Saved Him in Plane Crash; Accident occurred July 16, 2012 in Laytonsville, Maryland

Terri Hogan/The Gazette 

The wreckage as seen from the crash site, located about 100 yards at the end of the runway of Davis Airport in Laytonsville. 

photo from Dennis Stiles 

Rescue workers attempt to rescue two pilots from a small aircraft that crashed just beyond the runway of Davis Airport in Laytonsville.

 photo from Alicia Harvey 

Firefighters remove the roof from the wreckage in attempt to rescue the two pilots on board.

photo from Alicia Harvey 

Members of the NTSB had the wreckage pulled from the woods and placed in the hangar.

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.

A pilot whose plane went down in Maryland last month told News4's Shomari Stone it was the grace of God that saved him from a brush with death.

The crash killed flight instructor Frank Schmidt, 79. Allen Rothenberg, 83, said the plane lost power right after takeoff from Davis Airport in northern Montgomery County.

Rothenberg was piloting to get a biannual re-certification. He said he regrets decisions he made seconds before the crash that killed his friend.

“It lifted off the runway but we didn’t have any power," he said. "I tried to turn to the right. Frank tried to grab the controls also, and we crashed. I don’t remember hitting anything else.”

The NTSB is investigating exactly what happened.

Rothenberg has more than 40 years of piloting experience and said he plans to fly again one day.

http://www.nbcwashington.com

NTSB Identification: ERA12FA458
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, July 16, 2012 in Laytonsville, MD
Aircraft: BEECH A23, registration: N8771M
Injuries: 1 Fatal,1 Serious.

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.

On July 16, 2012, about 1905 eastern daylight time, a Beech A23, N8771M, was substantially damaged when it crashed during takeoff from Davis Airport (W50), Laytonsville, Maryland. The private pilot received minor injuries and the certified flight instructor was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to a corporation and operated by an individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a Washington, D.C., special visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated from W50 about 1845.

According to witnesses, the pilot applied full engine power in order to takeoff on runway 26, which was about 2,005 feet in length. One witness stated that it seemed the airplane was "having difficulty climbing out of ground effect." The airplane continued the takeoff, climbed to about 150 to 200 feet above ground level, banked right, and then stalled and subsequently entered a spin from which it impacted the ground. One witness noted that the engine "backfired" and that he heard it lose power prior to impacting the ground.

The airplane came to rest approximately 425 feet past and to the right of the departure end of runway 26. All structural components of the airplane were located within the area of the main wreckage. Flight control continuity was confirmed to all flight control surfaces and the engine was retained for further examination.

Conviasa ATR-72-212 YV2421 Reactivando Vuelos Al Aeropuerto De San Tome

Welsh daily newspaper apologizes over caption error

 

Bob Jones founded Mid Wales Airport in Welshpool

 ~

The Western Mail has apologized after an error in a picture caption which appeared to make light of an airport boss’s death in a plane crash.
 

Bob Jones, manager of Mid Wales Airport, was killed after a light aircraft in which he was a passenger crashed into trees on a hillside in Powys in January.

A report in today’s Western Mail on the outcome of an inquiry into the accident contained a picture of Mr Jones which was captioned:  “Mid-Wales airport manager Bob Jones, 60, who was killed in the crash LOL.”

The erroneous inclusion of the letters LOL – which mean Laugh Out Loud – led to widespread condemnation of the newspaper on the social networking site Twitter.

Freelance journalist Jack Seale nominated it as the worst caption fail of all time, while Western Mail reader Barry Taylor said the paper had sunk to “unacceptable new lows.”

A spokesman for publisher Trinity Mirror said:  “The caption error in today’s Western Mail is under internal investigation.

“We apologize for any offense this error may have caused.”

http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk

Welshpool air deaths: Plane hit trees in cloud - AAIB
 

Two pilots were killed when a light aircraft hit cloud-covered trees on a Powys mountain's upper slope, an accident report has found.

Bob Jones, 60, who founded Mid Wales Airport in Welshpool, died on nearby Long Mountain along with Steven Carr, 55, from Ruthin, Denbighshire.

An Air Accidents Investigation Branch report said the men might have thought they had cleared high ground.

Mr Carr was flying the Piper PA plane to re-familiarize himself with it.

The aircraft crashed on Long Mountain on the morning of 18 January this year.

Mr Carr, a former commercial airline pilot, and Mid Wales Airport manager Mr Jones, who was also a pilot, would have been aware of the proximity of the mountain, said the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report.

But they "may have thought they had cleared the high ground", it added.
'May have misjudged height'

The report said it was unlikely the pilots would have deliberately entered the cloud, "but may have misjudged their height above it and inadvertently entered the top of the cloud, which was obscuring the trees".

Mr Jones built Mid Wales Airport on fields near his farm, developing it from a grass strip in 1990 to act as a base for businesses operating aircraft in the area.

The airport has an annual air show which has now been named the Bob Jones Memorial Air Show.

Mr Carr, who had flown Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s, was carrying out the flight to re-familiarize himself with the Piper PA, which he had not flown since November 1998.

The Piper PA took off from Welshpool and was due to land back there.

Both pilots were married with children.

Wreckage from the aircraft was taken to the AAIB's headquarters in Farnborough, Hampshire, following the crash.

http://www.bbc.co.uk

Rare WWII Naval Dispatch Up for Auction

 

  Aug 9, 2012 by Associated Press 

A Rare naval dispatch declaring World War II's end will be up for auction on August 15th, the 67th anniversary of V-J Day.

Atlantic City, New Jersey: 'Thunder over the Boardwalk' marks its 10th anniversary

Orchestrating a show of this magnitude requires lots of coordination behind the scenes, with more than 100 volunteers, as well as sponsors that include Caesars Entertainment and the 177th New Jersey Air National Guard. / photo provided

For its 10th anniversary, the “Thunder Over the Boardwalk” air show moved from a Wednesday to a Friday. The change wasn’t made to draw more of a crowd — 800,000 people already show up for the spectacular display.

Instead, the move was made to accommodate the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the headlining act. But the weekend date — the show will take off Aug. 17 — will likely boost the size of the beach crowd, as will the added sand pumped in by the Army Corps of Engineers this summer.

“This is the largest beachfront weekend air show in North America and among the top five overall in the country based on the number of people,” said David Schultz, president of David Schultz Airshows LLC, which stages “Thunder over the Boardwalk.” “This is a perfect venue and it’s free.”

In addition to the Thunderbirds, the show features the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, U.S. Navy Super Hornet, U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo, U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight, Geico Skytypers, U.S. Air Force Globemaster III and U.S. Airforce Thunderbolt II. Additional civilian acts will perform. F-4 Phantoms are among the new attractions this year.

“We try and mix it up every year,” Schultz said.

Whatever the mix, the air show promises aerobatics maneuvers, formation flying and solo routines by military and civilian pilots. Witness fly-bys and demonstrations that reach up to 15,000 feet in the sky and as low as 50 feet over the water against the Atlantic City skyline.

While centered around the Florida Avenue beach, the flyovers stretch along 15 miles of coastline, from Brigantine to Ventnor. Even Ocean City picks up some of the aircraft, Schultz said.

In addition to the beach, the ocean makes for up-close viewing. “We do not close the ocean off from spectators. You can float and watch the show from the water.”

Schultz expects more than 460 boats and pleasure craft in the water. “You’ll be able to walk from boat to boat between the city of Ventnor and Steel Pier without getting your feet wet,” he said of the close-packed flotilla.

Pulling off a show of this magnitude requires lots of coordination behind the scenes, with more than 100 volunteers, as well as sponsors that include Caesars Entertainment and the 177th New Jersey Air National Guard, based at Atlantic City International Airport.

“It will only get better each year,” Schultz said.

 If You Go:
 
‘Thunder Over the Boardwalk’ takes place Aug. 17. Time is 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. For more, visit https://atlanticcitynj.com/acairshow.aspx

Or see the air show from the ‘Flight Line Club,’ a tented area on Florida Avenue, with the entrance on the Boardwalk, between Boardwalk Hall and Tropicana.

For $30 per person, get a seat on the beach and a hot dog or burger, beverage and a bag of chips. Also available are ‘Flight Line’ VIP packages for $50 per person which includes a seat in a designated VIP section with unlimited food and drink. For tickets, call (609) 813-2121, visit Ticketmaster.com, or go to the Boardwalk Hall Box Office.

Tanker survives tire mishap: Firefighting aircraft makes safe emergency landing at Rogue Valley International - Medford Airport (KMFR), Oregon, after wheel shreds on takeoff

A firefighting air tanker contracted by the Oregon Department of Forestry made a safe emergency landing Wednesday at the Medford airport after it was discovered to have a bad tire. 

The DC-7 owned by Madras-based Butler Aviation touched down on the airport runway at 12:19 p.m. under the watchful eyes of airport and Medford Fire Department crews called in, authorities said. None of the three crew members was injured.

The faulty tire, one of two under the plane's left wing, was later changed and the plane was back in operation that afternoon, ODF spokesman Brian Ballou said.

The tanker was full of retardant when it left the airport at 10:49 a.m. bound for the 1,500-acre Barry Point fire on Dog Mountain, about 24 miles southwest of Lakeview, Ballou said.

But after takeoff, crews noticed pieces of tire on the runway and called ahead to the tanker, Ballou said.

While still in mid-air, the tanker's pilot lowered the landing gear so the pilot of the lead plane in the fleet could take a look at it, Ballou said. The tire had visibly missing tread but it was still inflated, so crews decided to the plane should drop its retardant before heading back to Medford, he said.

The drop was successful and the plane did not return to that fire because no further retardant drops were ordered after the tire was replaced.

DC-7s are equipped with two tires under each wing and one under the nose.

http://www.mailtribune.com

Ontario, Canada: Heavy lift aircraft coming to the North

 

The Basler Turbo 67 is a refitted and updated DC-3 that will soon be making an appearance in Ontario's Far North this winter.

A new aviation entity with heavy-lift cargo capability is taking to the skies of Northern Ontario this fall.

And the man behind the stick is a familiar face.

Canadian aviation pioneer Frank Kelner of Thunder Bay has formed Cargo North, an investment group, that is poised to be on the front lines of mineral exploration and development in the Far North.

The outfit has bought a Basler Turbo 67 (BT-67) and expects to have the aircraft in service for cargo and fuel hauls by early November.

Manufactured by Basler Turbo Conversions of Oshkosh, Wisc., the BT-67 is a refitted, modern version of the DC-3, considered one of the most reliable and versatile cargo and passenger aircraft ever built.

“It's a new aircraft when it comes out of the factory,” said Kelner, whose company has options to acquire two more early next year.

The $7-million aircraft comes with state-of-the-art navigation and electronic gear, a stronger airframe, a lengthened fuselage, and a payload capacity of 11,000 pounds, more than double that of the DC-3.

“It's got some amazing features with a completely modernized cockpit and wiring system,” said Kelner.

With more fuel capacity for a longer range, the former piston-driven aircraft has been updated with twin Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines.

“What's nice about these turbines is you put one engine in reverse mode and you can handle a crosswind a lot easier than with a piston DC-3. It slows down in no time.”

 Besides hauling bulk fuel and drum fuel, Kelner said the wider cargo doors will enable them to carry small excavators and pick-up trucks, drill rigs and power generators.

Heavy equipment can be lifted and swung aboard with a boom arm and pulley on the aircraft. “We're pretty self-contained,” said Kelner.

“This aircraft is designed to fly non-stop for 100,000 hours. All these other aircraft, once you fly 1,000 or 1,500 hours it's down (for maintenance) for a month or two. There's no such thing with this aircraft.”

Kelner plans to put it to the test right away.

“Right out of the gate we're going to have five crews on the aircraft. This aircraft will fly 24 hours a day. We're not going half-assed, I'll tell you that.

“If a customer wants to fly 10,000 drums onto a (frozen) lake somewhere, we'll fly in the night before on skiis with our own Kubota (tractor) onboard, drop the equipment, fly back to base while crews brush out a runway overnight, and the aircraft arrives back on wheels to carry a larger payload. We look after it all for the customer.”

Kelner is a well-known figure in Northern Ontario aviation circles with more than 30 years of experience with jets, turboprops and the air cargo business.

As founder of the Kelner Group, among his interests are V. Kelner Helicopters and Pilatus Centre Canada, the Canadian distributor for Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.

With mineral development advancing in the Ring of Fire, Kelner said the opportunity to dive in was too good to pass up.

“I've been watching up north for the last six, seven years and nobody's got any heart and soul into keeping the customers happy, from what I can see. And my phone kept ringing all the time. In the old days, we always kept people happy, and we've done very well for ourselves.”

Kelner confirms he has some ventures cooked up with mining companies this winter that will leave any competitors behind in the dust.

His group has also formed an operational alliance with Nakina Air Service and North Star Air which gives Cargo North access to key staging bases to be closer to their northerly clients.

“Cargo North is dedicated to these two companies. If North Star has a big job up north, they have the first opportunity to get this new aircraft as well as Nakina. Both companies are entitled to the aircraft.” 

http://www.northernontariobusiness.com

AERONCA 7CCM, N83129: Accident occurred August 07, 2012 in Norridgewock, Maine

NTSB Identification: ERA12CA499
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, August 07, 2012 in Norridgewock, ME
Aircraft: AERONCA 7CCM, registration: N83129
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

The student pilot stated that while landing on runway 21, immediately following contact of the main landing gear onto the runway, the right wing “came up.” The pilot compensated with left rudder and right aileron and kept the aircraft centered on the runway. Shortly thereafter, the right wing raised up a second time. The airplane then departed the right side of the runway and came to rest after the right wing impacted a tree located 270 feet from the runway. A certified flight instructor at the airport stated that the wind favored runway 21 but had reversed direction during the accident flight. A meteorological report from the airport indicated wind from 190 degrees at 3 knots about the time of the accident with no wind speeds exceeding 3 knots throughout the duration of the landing roll. Post-accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the right wing spar. The inspection did not reveal any evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane following the accident.

 NORRIDGEWOCK, Maine — An airplane pilot was uninjured after losing control of his plane and crashing into trees on Tuesday morning, police said. 

 Somerset County Sheriff’s Department Cpl. Ritchie Putnam responded to a report of a plane crash at 10:56 a.m. Tuesday at Central Maine Regional Airport, according to Detective Lt. Carl E. Gottardi II.

After David Atwood, 60, of Old Town landed his Aeronca Champ on the runway, he lost control of the plane, which left the runway and crashed into several trees, said Gottardi.

“The pilot was not injured in the crash and the plane sustained damage to its wings and tail section,” said Gottardi.

Gottardi said the Federal Aviation Administration was contacted. The scene was secured by deputies until FAA representatives arrived.

The FAA is investigating, according to a spokesperson for the agency. She said the National Transportation Safety Board will determine probable cause for the crash, but the report will take several months.

http://bangordailynews.com

 http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/222957L.html

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 83129        Make/Model: 7CCM      Description: 1946 AERONCA 7CCM
  Date: 08/07/2012     Time: 1510

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

LOCATION
  City: NORRIDGEWOCK   State: ME   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, WENT OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, NORRIDGEWOCK, ME

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

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Landing      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: PORTLAND, ME  (EA65)                  Entry date: 08/08/2012

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=83129

Plane uses ice runway to evacuate American from Antarctic outpost

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

An Australian team successfully evacuated a member of a U.S. government Antarctic expedition in apparent need of urgent surgery on Thursday, after a rare mid-winter emergency flight involving landing on an ice runway.

"The patient has been taken to (a) hospital for treatment in Christchurch," spokeswoman Patti Lucas of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) research program told NBC News. Australian officials did not have details about the expeditioner's age or sex, she added.

The pilots took advantage of the short twilight to land the plane, after completing the most perilous part of its journey when it touched down after the five-hour flight from Christchurch, New Zealand, The Australian reported.

An Australian medical team has used favourable weather conditions in Antarctica to airlift an American from the US McMurdo station.

The Australian Antarctic Division's (AAD) Airbus A319 is on its way to New Zealand after an hour on the ground at the base.

Temperatures hit -25C at McMurdo but conditions otherwise were described as "perfect" for the jet to land at the base after a five-hour flight from Christchurch.

The five-member Australian team arrived around 11am (AEST) on Thursday and left just after midday, taking advantage of a brief twilight as Antarctica emerges from its six-month-long dark winter.

US staff prepared the ice runway, known as Pegasus. It is one of a handful in Antarctica that can land wheeled aircraft.

The AAD received a call for help from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) on Wednesday.

"The patient, whose identity NSF is not releasing, is currently stable but may require immediate corrective surgery best delivered at a more capable facility than is available at McMurdo," a statement from NSF said.

"The facility at McMurdo is equivalent to an urgent-care centre in the US and is not equipped for the type of procedure being contemplated."

The NSF would not disclose the nature of the illness or injury.

The patient was being treated on board the aeroplane and was expected to receive more medical help in Christchurch.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force provided search and rescue coverage for the flight.

McMurdo is the main US Antarctic base and is on the southern tip of Ross Island 3800km south of Christchurch and 1360km north of the South Pole.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au

Propeller of 1946 US plane crash in Swiss glacier

 

Mountain rescuers recover the propeller of US warplane C-53 Skytrooper “Dakota” that crashed in 1946, on the Gauli glacier in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland, Thursday Aug. 9, 2012. Three young climbers discovered a propeller piece of the legendary airplane at the end of July 2012. The Dakota crash on the Gauli Glacier on Nov. 19, 1946 was a turning point in alpine rescue and an international media event. The aircraft, coming from Austria bound for Italy, collided with the Gauli glacier in poor visibility. On board were four crew members and eight passengers. Among the eight passengers were high-ranking officers of the U.S. armed forces with some of their relatives. Several people were injured, but there were no fatalities. The propeller will be transported to the near Gauli cabin.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Gaetan Bally)

GENEVA—Mountain rescuers have recovered the propeller of a U.S. Air Force plane that crashed in November 1946 on a glacier in the Bernese Alps.

The crash of the Douglas C-53 Skytrooper on the Gauli Glacier marked the first time a rescue mission used an aircraft to land on a glacier and led to the creation of Switzerland's air rescue services.

The propeller was removed Thursday from the glacier and taken to nearby Gauli hut at 2,205 meters (7,234 feet).

Swiss newspaper Der Bund reported three young climbers found a piece of the propeller about three kilometers from the crash site in late July.

The plane went down in poor visibility on its way from Austria to Italy with four crew members and eight passengers, causing some injuries but no fatalities.

http://www.boston.com

Chopper Crash Probe

 

Aug 8, 2012 by K24TV 

Eurocopter may have used "incentives" to hasten licensing:  

The ongoing probe into the the Kibiku chopper crash turned dramatic after the 10th witness to appear before the commission, Chief Air Worthiness Inspector, Nicholas Mugoya contradicted himself on several occasions. And as chemutai goin reports, it is now emerging that plane manufacturer Eurocopter could have used incentives to influence the registration of the ill fated chopper.

Falcon Jet off runway UK

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/breaking-news/2012/08/09/pilot-escapes-injury-as-plane-leaves-north-east-runway-72703-31586292/

unconfirmed as G-FRAI Falcon 20 DC  ex N37FE of Federal Express

http://www.cobham.com/about-cobham/mission-systems/about-us/aviation-services.aspx  Owners Website

http://www.air-passion.be/fas/photos/florennes/TLP%202006-5/slides/EBFS060921%20Falcon%2020%20G-FRAI%20GD%2001.html  Photo G-FRAI

Airport was closed in the morning and re-opened at 12:30 - KLM flight 1533 a Fokker F-70 was diverted to Newcastle.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

New Website: Burt Rutan

http://www.burtrutan.com/burtrutan/BurtRutan.php

Helicopter pilot a little 'iffy' about heights

Jacqui Janetzko/Ocala Star-Banner 

Becky Nicolls is the first female pilot to join the crew in flying the ShandsCair 2 helicopter, as seen at the Marion County Fire Rescue Station No. 30 in Summerfield on Wednesday.

"The Beckster," who is a little "iffy" about heights, may be at the controls the next time you see the gleaming ShandsCair 2 helicopter streaking across the sky. 

 Becky Nicolls, 34, known to some as "the Beckster," didn't let a fear of heights stop her from working hard for two years to qualify to fly a helicopter on her own.

"After about 1,000 hours flight time, I worked as a helicopter flight instructor," Nicolls said.

After that, she worked oil rig shuttle flights and endured the effects of Hurricane Katrina while living in the New Orleans area, then gave helicopter tours of the Las Vegas area.

"Right now I have about 3,000 overall flight hours in helicopters," she said.

In May, she joined the four-pilot ShandsCair 2 team based at Marion County Fire Rescue Station 30 in Summerfield, after being contacted and hired by Arizona-based patient transportation contractor Med-Trans.

Nicolls describes herself as "adventurous yet cautious" and "systematic" when it comes to flying.

"I like to mountain bike, but not sky dive," she said. "I'm a little scared of heights, like tall ladders."

Nicolls, a native of the Cheyenne, Wyo., area, said she decided helicopter flight was for her after a half-hour introductory ride in Denver, Colo., about 10 years ago. She said after being an instructor and shuttle pilot, and giving the tours, however, what she really wanted to do was work in emergency medical services.

Read more here:  http://www.ocala.com

Piper Meridian Start & Takeoff N445T

Restoring the Beast: Volunteer effort takes flight, even if warbird remains grounded

 

The "Beast" 10 days ago.

 

The "Beast" today.

WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather

HIXSON, TN. (WRCB) -- For the record, the Navy calls her color Light Gull Gray.

And now that the Hixson Museum of Flight's Vietnam-era T28 Trojan prop-fighter has a new coat of it, volunteer Jim Beaver is giving Grayson Buhrmann, 6, the sort of high-touch tour he'd never get at the Smithsonian.

"We've got him on," Beaver tells him. "You are now an ace pilot!"

Grayson's grin, and his 'thumbs-up" are all the thanks Beaver needs.

Beaver didn't serve in Vietnam. He's not a licensed pilot. Something else has driven him, and his wife Joan to volunteer countless hours to join in the restoration effort.

"This is one of the last radial engine planes," he says "If somebody doesn't keep that flying....."

"You just haven't lived until you've heard a radial engine," Joan Beaver finishes. "They're just beasts!"

Ten days earlier, the Beast's battle scars made her no beauty.

But her reassembly reflected a 6-day volunteers' marathon; a learn-as-you-go undertaking that paired Vietnam veterans, aviation buffs, amateur historians and the more-than-idly curious.

Flight student Sal Estrada is still sore from more than five hours of sanding and buffing, before he brought out his sprayer.

"I've learned I love painting airplanes," he says. "And this is an awesome plane, with all the history."

But the warbird is nowhere close to taking wing.

"It looks pretty good right now, but there's a lot of little things that it would need to be flyable," mechanic David Wells tells us.

"We have the engine painted multi-colors and all that stuff. But in the field, they'd just slap a can of silver paint on her and go on."

Whether the Beast ever flies again is secondary. Volunteers admit, readily, that her greater value is as a learning laboratory. Not only for young Grayson and other visitors; but the crew putting her back together.

For private pilot David Davis II, the lessons come from his fellow volunteers.

"This has been my, and their, home, for two solid weeks," he laughs.

"After we'd finish a days work, they'd be telling stories of what they'd done, and the places they'd been in the world."

For Jim and Joan Beaver, it's a family project in every sense.

"We had our 50th Anniversary party right here in the hangar," says he.

"Mid-Kangaroo Court," retorts she. "The cake was shaped like the plane!"

Their 16-year-old grand-daughter has joined the effort. The project holds many more months, maybe years of labor.

"But look at where we were two weeks ago, all those thousands of parts," Joan says. 

"Nothing was going on two years ago. It just blows your mind what has been accomplished."

For Davis, the journey is as important, or maybe more important, than the goal.

"It's something we can look at and say hey, we put this together. We shared the experience."

The Hixson Museum of Flight serves to preserve aviation history and to raise money for Children's Hospital. Follow its activities and the restoration effort, by clicking here.

Story, photos and video:     http://www.wrcbtv.com

READ MORE:

• Restoring "warbird" could help heal wounds of Vietnam

Aviation museum's open house a success

The B.C. Aviation Museum held its annual open house on Saturday, Aug. 4. 

The event included sightseeing flights, parachute jumping, military re-enactors, model ships, remote controlled vehicles and a fire truck display from the Victoria International Airport.

The highlight of the show for many was the unveiling of the fully restored Second World War Harvard trainer, which was caringly worked on by volunteers for five years. 

http://www.peninsulanewsreview.com

Man gets jail for pointing lasers at aircraft

Michael Cerise

PHOENIX (CBS5) - A Phoenix man has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for pointing a laser at several aircraft in November. 

 Michael Cerise, 47, also faces three years of supervised probation.

Cerise pointed a laser at two commercial planes and a police helicopter as they were passing over the Phoenix metro area, injuring three pilots.

"The consequences of this defendant's reckless actions could have been unbelievably catastrophic to passengers in the air and residents on the ground," said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. "If you do it, we will catch you and punish you."

On Nov. 9 at about 9 p.m., the Phoenix Police Department Air Unit responded to a call of lasers being pointed from someone on the ground at passing commercial aircraft in the area of 86th Avenue and Highland.

When the Air Unit arrived over the area, the pilot was hit with a green laser, causing temporary partial blindness, said Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jerry Cobb. Another officer in the aircraft was able to spot a man armed with the laser standing at his patio door. When police arrived at the home, Cerise initially denied that he pointed any lasers at the sky. He eventually produced a green laser which he had hidden in his couch cushions, Cobb said.

In a subsequent interview, Cerise claimed he bought the green laser at a yard sale and was curious to see how far its beam could reach, Cobb said. He ultimately admitted pointing the laser at the sky more than once on the evening of the incident, Cobb said.

Prosecutors were able to prove that Cerise struck two other aircraft with the green laser that evening, a U.S. Airways flight carrying about 200 passengers and a Frontier Airlines flight carrying roughly 130 passengers. The U.S. Airways flight, which was on final approach, was forced to alter its course by 90 degrees in order to avoid the laser strikes, Cobb said. 

Story and photo:   http://www.kpho.com

Corporate jet center at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) may signal rising market

In a sign that the market for private and corporate jets is recovering, a new aviation center offering conference rooms and other amenities for travelers opened Thursday at Van Nuys Airport. 

NetJets Inc., which sells individuals and companies shares in private jet aircraft, unveiled a 10,000 sq. ft. terminal on property leased from its partner, Maguire Aviation, a fixed-base operator at the airport.

The glass and steel structure includes private conference facilities, wireless access, services for business travelers, an onsite kitchen that offers catered meals, and lounges for both children and air crews. A secure parking area also is available.

The facility, which is for the exclusive use of NetJets’ customers, will be open around the clock.

NetJets officials said that Los Angeles is one of the company’s most popular destinations in the United States and that Van Nuys is its most visited airport in the city. The San Fernando Valley facility -- managed by the same city of Los Angeles agency that also oversees Los Angeles International and Ontario International -- is one of the busiest general aviation centers  in the nation.

NetJets offers shares in private aircraft at a fraction of the cost of complete ownership. Shareholders are guaranteed access to jet aircraft 365 days a year on a few hours notice. Customers can choose from 13 of the most popular business jets in the world.

Maguire offers aircraft owners and pilots a variety of services such as refueling, maintenance and ground handling as well as hangar, shop and office space. 

Source:   http://latimesblogs.latimes.com

Executive Style: Come fly with me

 

Vas Nikolovski, joint CEO of Business Jet Travel, shows off some of the corporate planes available for hire. 

Photo: Michael Clayton-Jones

Perched on the edge of his cream leather seat on board a Citation V private jet, Vas Nikolovski displays an infectious passion for aviation, one that he says developed from an early age. 

 "When I was in year eight, I wanted to to be an air traffic controller," he says. "I did work experience at Essendon Airport and I knew I would spend all my life working there." Now 45, Nikolovski has fulfilled that ambition – not up in the control tower, but rather from the hangar at ground-level.

As the co-founder and chief executive of Business Jet Travel, Nikolovski directs traffic for his network of gleaming charter jets – including a flagship Gulfstream and an equally impressive Legacy 600 – from the company's headquarters at Melbourne's Essendon Airport to destinations across Australia's 450 regional airports.

Private jets naturally conjure up associations with glitz and glamour, and Nikolovski counts Beyonce, Jay-Z and rock band Pearl Jam among some of his company's recent clients.
 
"We've had a lot of rockstars here – some nice, some not so nice," he jokes.

Yet Nikolovski is keen to "dispel the myth" that charter jet travel is a luxury reserved just for the rich and famous.

He says companies who have management and staff who are frequently on the road can shave hours, if not days and weeks, off travel if their itineraries are tailored to eliminate long layovers and transfers from airports.

"Why do one meeting in three days when you can do three meetings in one day?" he says.

Above all, Nikolovski says he thrives on analysing customer needs and find a solution that increases productivity and saves time and money for his clients.

"It's having half a dozen specialised consultants leaving Auckland on their day off, fly into Melbourne connecting in Adelaide overnight and then connecting to Olympic Dam, taking them 28 hours," he says.

"Instead, we have them in Melbourne and two hours later have them at their workplace within eight hours [of leaving Auckland].

"That's a huge benefit to the end customer because they've given them 20 hours more productivity. You're talking about people who earn $500,000-plus." There are plenty of other charter jet companies in the market, but Nikolovski says his company differentiates itself by the knowledge of Australia's regional flight networks and its responsiveness - he claims to be able to have a plane on the tarmac ready for departure within hours of a client phoning in.

"That's pretty powerful, the [commercial] airlines can't match that," he says.

And while Qantas and Virgin are looking to increase their presence in the lucrative fly-in-fly-out market, Nikolovski says he prefers to concentrate on growing his business via small-cap miners who have yet to develop a travel policy.

Nikolovski's Business Jet Travel business model has evolved over his 20-year career in the aviation industry.

Nikolovski began studying for his pilot's licence in 1995, and soon found himself buying into a flight school business. After a freak accident in 1998 saw him lose hearing in his right ear, his flying took a backseat and he began to concentrate on the business, which evolved to incorporate jet charter, and two years ago, a holistic travel management offering.

'That's an area we see a lot of growth in," he says.

"They often have head offices based in major regional towns ... they've got travel [needs] on so many different levels." Nikolovski provides another example where he helped a big-four bank conduct its asbestos audit at dozens of regional branches in Victoria. The process which ordinarily takes four weeks and hundreds of kilometres on the road, he says, was completed in under nine days.

"They don't have the risk of 300 employees driving around the country," he says, adding that staff spend less time away from home.

With the books on the company's first full-year just closed off, Nikolovski declined to provide details of the company's profitability, only saying that the company was profitable and that he was aiming for up to 30 per cent earnings growth next year.

Read more and photos: http://www.smh.com.au