In spite of the debacle that UPA-1’s ambitious tribal empowerment scheme of training tribals for working in the aviation sector turned into in Maharashtra — only three out of 100 trainees got placed with airlines — the State government has decided to pull the scheme out of cold storage.
Only, this time around tribal organizations are clear on their decision to not avail of the opportunity.
Tribal leaders who met Governor K Shankarnarayanan two days ago requested him that instead of reviving the aviation and hospitality sector training for tribal boys and girls, the State government should immediately implement a government resolution (GR) passed in 2011 that focuses on providing better facilities to those living in tribal hostels.
Ravindra Talpe, secretary, Natural Resources Conservators Organization (NACO) and Sitaram Joshi, president, Adivasi Samaj Kruti Samiti who met Shankarnaryanan said training for more ‘practical’ careers like clerks and officers would be welcome.
Speaking to Mirror, Talpe said, “We demand an audit of the earlier scheme. How many girls were employed by the airlines? How many of them are working currently? These are the questions which need to be answered before money is spent on the new scheme.”
Talpe and Joshi pointed out that the tribal girls come from rural areas and are not proficient in English, which is a basic requirement laid down by airlines. “In the name of training, the girls are taught skills that are unsuitable for jobs in other sectors, rendering them unemployable. Same is the case with boys trained as cabin crew,” Talpe said.
Joshi added: “The girls from Dhule and Nandurbar were brought to Pune and trained in institutes like AHA, but they didn’t get jobs. Now, the government is planning to train them in several district headquarters.
How can the girls trained in smaller cities be suitable for jobs that those who trained in Pune didn’t get? Besides, staying in cities leads to expenses. As this would be a special course, the tribal students wouldn’t be eligible for concessions. How will they survive?”.
Both leaders demanded that the Tribal Welfare Department should instead provide facilities like study centres to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students so that they become employable.
In 2006-07, 97 tribal girls and three boys were selected from remote tribal areas of the state and brought to Pune to be trained in aviation, travel and hospitality sectors. The special course was initiated by the Congress-led Central government with a budget of Rs one lakh per student.
But when they finished their training, there were no jobs offered to them by the industry. In fact, Babanrao Pachpute, then State minister for tribal development blamed the students’ shortcomings for the situation.
Among other reasons, Pachpute had said they lacked “physical assets”, while the State Commissioner for tribal affairs had said the competition was too much for them given their tribal background. Pachpute had said the trainees were not physically appealing and their accented English was not good for communicating with others while on the job.
This time, in the Cabinet decision taken four days ago, the State government will be setting aside the same amount of Rs one lakh per student for 100 students, but the training would be imparted in Thane, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagpur. Their needs of accommodation, food, uniforms and study material would be covered. They would also be helped with placement, post-training.
When it was pointed out that the Centre had dumped the scheme three years ago, the current State minister for Tribal development, Rajendra Gavit, said, “The concerns of the tribal organisations are true to an extent.
The last time, the scheme was not successful for several reasons. Only three girls got jobs, while none of the boys did. This time, we are looking at removing whatever shortfalls that scheme had had. We will try to train the girls at renowned institutes and we will help them get jobs.”
Read more here: http://www.punemirror.in
Monday, August 27, 2012
ARROW FALCON EXPORTERS INC OH-58C, N503DR: Accident occurred August 27, 2012 in Escalon, California
NTSB Identification: WPR12LA371
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Monday, August 27, 2012 in Escalon, CA
Aircraft: Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc OH58, registration: N503DR
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. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 27, 2012, at 0803 Pacific daylight time, an Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc OH-58C, N503DR, crashed in an almond orchard shortly after takeoff near Escalon, California. Del Rio Aviation, Inc., operated the helicopter under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The commercial pilot was seriously injured, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.
The pilot was conducting the first aerial application of the day, and had flown a 30-minute flight from his base to the almond orchard. The helicopter was loaded with application product from a mixing truck located near the almond orchard being sprayed. The mixing truck driver stated that the helicopter took off, and as it was departing, it rolled hard to the right and impacted terrain. There was no post accident fire.
A crop duster helicopter crashed in a rural part of Escalon on Monday morning, officials said.
ESCALON, Calif. (KCRA) — A crop duster helicopter crashed in a rural part of Escalon on Monday morning, officials said.
The San Joaquin Sheriff’s Department said the pilot, Bill Cavanaugh, was taken to San Joaquin General Hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
The helicopter went down near East Lone Tree Road.
"You know the risks when you are flying a helicopter and airplanes for the Ag community. It's dangerous," said the pilot's son, Rick Cavanaugh, who went out to the scene to make sure no pesticides were released.
"My dad has more than 20,000 hours of flying. He was in an accident before that left him in critical condition for more than nine weeks," Cavanaugh said.
At this time, officials do not know what caused the helicopter to crash.
Authorities with the Federal Aviation Administration will assist in the investigation.
Stay with KCRA and KCRA.com as this story develops.
Read more: http://www.kcra.com
ESCALON, Calif. — Authorities say a 71-year-old pilot was hospitalized with minor injuries when his crop-duster helicopter crashed in a Central Valley orchard.
The Modesto Bee reports (http://bit.ly/U75K7d ) the helicopter went down about 8 a.m. Monday near Escalon, a community surrounded by farmland about 70 miles southeast of Sacramento.
The pilot was identified as Bill Cavanaugh by his son, Rick. The younger Cavanaugh told Sacramento television station KCRA that his father had logged more than 20,000 hours of flying.
The crash is under investigation.
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Monday, August 27, 2012 in Escalon, CA
Aircraft: Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc OH58, registration: N503DR
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. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 27, 2012, at 0803 Pacific daylight time, an Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc OH-58C, N503DR, crashed in an almond orchard shortly after takeoff near Escalon, California. Del Rio Aviation, Inc., operated the helicopter under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The commercial pilot was seriously injured, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.
The pilot was conducting the first aerial application of the day, and had flown a 30-minute flight from his base to the almond orchard. The helicopter was loaded with application product from a mixing truck located near the almond orchard being sprayed. The mixing truck driver stated that the helicopter took off, and as it was departing, it rolled hard to the right and impacted terrain. There was no post accident fire.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 503DR Make/Model: OH58 Description: OH-58C ROTORCRAFT
Date: 08/27/2012 Time: 1500
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Serious Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: ESCALON State: CA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
N503DR HO-58C ROTORCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, NEAR ESCALON,
CA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 1 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Aerial Application Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: OAKLAND, CA (WP27) Entry date: 08/28/2012
http://registry.faa.gov/N503DR
A crop duster helicopter crashed in a rural part of Escalon on Monday morning, officials said.
Will Heryford/KCRA
ESCALON, Calif. (KCRA) — A crop duster helicopter crashed in a rural part of Escalon on Monday morning, officials said.
The San Joaquin Sheriff’s Department said the pilot, Bill Cavanaugh, was taken to San Joaquin General Hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
The helicopter went down near East Lone Tree Road.
"You know the risks when you are flying a helicopter and airplanes for the Ag community. It's dangerous," said the pilot's son, Rick Cavanaugh, who went out to the scene to make sure no pesticides were released.
"My dad has more than 20,000 hours of flying. He was in an accident before that left him in critical condition for more than nine weeks," Cavanaugh said.
At this time, officials do not know what caused the helicopter to crash.
Authorities with the Federal Aviation Administration will assist in the investigation.
Stay with KCRA and KCRA.com as this story develops.
Read more: http://www.kcra.com
ESCALON, Calif. — Authorities say a 71-year-old pilot was hospitalized with minor injuries when his crop-duster helicopter crashed in a Central Valley orchard.
The Modesto Bee reports (http://bit.ly/U75K7d ) the helicopter went down about 8 a.m. Monday near Escalon, a community surrounded by farmland about 70 miles southeast of Sacramento.
The pilot was identified as Bill Cavanaugh by his son, Rick. The younger Cavanaugh told Sacramento television station KCRA that his father had logged more than 20,000 hours of flying.
The crash is under investigation.
Gulf Coast Airmen move planes to Little Rock Air Force Base
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Airmen moved 35 Air Force CV-22 airplanes from Hurlburt Field in Fort Walton Beach, Florida to Little Rock Air Force Base in preparation of Isaac.
"Typically these airplanes are millions of dollars and if you were to leave them there even in a hangar, the hangar could get damaged," said COL David Mobley of Hurlburt Field.
400 people also came on the planes and they will stay at local hotels. The base can't accommodate such a large number, so leaders made swift hotel arrangements for airmen.
"They will probably be here for a couple of days until they see what happens with the storm. So on short notice, the community helped us out for 4 days and 400 people," COL Andy McIntyre of LRAFB.
Now the focus turns to Isaac because the storm will determine when the airmen go home.
"We have to take into account crosswinds; wet runways withcross winds. Those affect the ability for us to come and go safely," said Mobley.
Seven planes from Keesler Air Force Base also landed at LRAFB Monday. But those crews went back to determine whether more planes should be flown here as well.
Source: http://m.fox16.com
"Typically these airplanes are millions of dollars and if you were to leave them there even in a hangar, the hangar could get damaged," said COL David Mobley of Hurlburt Field.
400 people also came on the planes and they will stay at local hotels. The base can't accommodate such a large number, so leaders made swift hotel arrangements for airmen.
"They will probably be here for a couple of days until they see what happens with the storm. So on short notice, the community helped us out for 4 days and 400 people," COL Andy McIntyre of LRAFB.
Now the focus turns to Isaac because the storm will determine when the airmen go home.
"We have to take into account crosswinds; wet runways withcross winds. Those affect the ability for us to come and go safely," said Mobley.
Seven planes from Keesler Air Force Base also landed at LRAFB Monday. But those crews went back to determine whether more planes should be flown here as well.
Source: http://m.fox16.com
HEARTBREAKER: Final days of Blue Ash Airport (KISZ), Cincinnati, Ohio
Aug 19, 2012 by 1970EModel
"Final days of Blue Ash Airport."
~
August 21, 2012 by 1970EModel
"This one breaks my heart."
~
August 20, 2012 by 1970EModel
"Turn the volume down. But turn it back up for a brief moment when I get to the runway 6 run up area. There is a hawk sitting on the wind sock. You can hear him screech."
~
~
Aug 27, 2012 by falcongreatlakes2
"Scott and Grant taking a hop around the site of the future Blue Ash Memorial Dog Park, where visitors will be encouraged to close their eyes and imagine the excitement of an actual real-life airport."
Beechcraft B24R Sierra, N9200S: Accident occurred August 26, 2012 in Dayton, Virginia
NTSB Identification: ERA12FA526
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 26, 2012 in Dayton, VA
Aircraft: BEECH B24R, registration: N9200S
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 26, 2012, about 1118 eastern daylight time, a Hawker-Beechcraft Corporation B24R Sierra, N9200S, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during a forced landing after a reported loss of engine power near, Dayton, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated from Wilmington International Airport (ILM), Wilmington, North Carolina. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that at 1109, the pilot contacted air traffic control, and advised that he was climbing the airplane from 9,000 to 10,500 feet. At 1111, the pilot declared an emergency and advised he had “lost” the engine. The controller provided vectors to Bridgewater Airpark (VBW), Bridgewater, Virginia, but the pilot advised that the airplane was unable to clear a ridgeline in his path. At 1117, radar and voice communication with the airplane was lost. At that time, the airplane was 8 nautical miles from VBW.
The pilot/owner held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on November 2, 2010, and he reported 600 total hours of flight experience on that date. Examination of his logbook revealed the pilot had logged approximately 235 total hours of flight experience, of which 206 hours were in the accident airplane. The pilot did not posses an instrument rating.
At 1115, the weather conditions reported at Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), 15 miles southeast of the accident site at 1,201 feet elevation, included scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken ceiling at 3,300 feet, and an overcast ceiling at 4,000 feet. There was 10 miles visibility; the temperature was 22 degrees C, dewpoint 18 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.24 inches of mercury. The wind was from 100 degrees at 4 knots.
The wreckage was examined at the accident site on August 26, 2012, at 1,869 feet elevation, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. There was no odor of fuel or evidence of fuel spillage. Control cable continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces.
The fuel tanks were intact, and about one pint of fuel was drained from the left tank while 10 gallons was drained from the right. The fuel selector was in the right tank position. Continuity of the entire fuel system was confirmed. The gascolator was removed and disassembled. It contained no fuel, was completely dry, and was absent of debris. The fuel boost pump switch was destroyed in the instrument panel, and the boost pump was destroyed by impact.
The engine was recovered from the scene and examined at SHD on August 28, 2012. The engine was rotated by hand and continuity, compression, and ignition spark were all confirmed.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Va -- Brian Forrest Hall reached out for help right before he crashed his plane on Sunday morning.
"He contacted air traffic control and the pilot stated that he had lost his engine," said Brian Rayner with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
“I lost my engine,” were Hall's last words on the air. Rayner said they are trying to figure out what those words meant.
“Then minutes later, the airplane was lost from radar," said Rayner.
The 50-year-old man from Pittsburgh crashed in the George Washington National Forest around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. He was supposed to stop in Harrisonburg before heading to Pennsylvania.
Right now, the NTSB is picking up the pieces to find out the cause of the accident.
“My focus right now is on the perishable evidence, which is the airplane behind me.”
The plane is a 1975 single engine Beechcraft, but Rayner said if a plane is well-maintained, age will not affect the plane's reliability.
“A 1975 Beechcraft could be as good or potentially better than it was when it rolled off the assembly line.”
That is why they will look into the maintenance and pilot records.
Rayner said they have seen accidents like this in this part of the country before but each one is different.
"When we come out to these investigations. We investigate them one at a time. We are not interested in looking at trends until we're well into it."
Investigators say they will work with the plane manufacturers to find out if the plane was faulty. They should know more once the preliminary report is released next week.
Rayner said the entire investigation could last up to a year.
Story and video: http://www.whsv.com
http://registry.faa.gov/N9200S
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N9200S
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 26, 2012 in Dayton, VA
Aircraft: BEECH B24R, registration: N9200S
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 26, 2012, about 1118 eastern daylight time, a Hawker-Beechcraft Corporation B24R Sierra, N9200S, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during a forced landing after a reported loss of engine power near, Dayton, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated from Wilmington International Airport (ILM), Wilmington, North Carolina. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that at 1109, the pilot contacted air traffic control, and advised that he was climbing the airplane from 9,000 to 10,500 feet. At 1111, the pilot declared an emergency and advised he had “lost” the engine. The controller provided vectors to Bridgewater Airpark (VBW), Bridgewater, Virginia, but the pilot advised that the airplane was unable to clear a ridgeline in his path. At 1117, radar and voice communication with the airplane was lost. At that time, the airplane was 8 nautical miles from VBW.
The pilot/owner held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on November 2, 2010, and he reported 600 total hours of flight experience on that date. Examination of his logbook revealed the pilot had logged approximately 235 total hours of flight experience, of which 206 hours were in the accident airplane. The pilot did not posses an instrument rating.
At 1115, the weather conditions reported at Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), 15 miles southeast of the accident site at 1,201 feet elevation, included scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken ceiling at 3,300 feet, and an overcast ceiling at 4,000 feet. There was 10 miles visibility; the temperature was 22 degrees C, dewpoint 18 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.24 inches of mercury. The wind was from 100 degrees at 4 knots.
The wreckage was examined at the accident site on August 26, 2012, at 1,869 feet elevation, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. There was no odor of fuel or evidence of fuel spillage. Control cable continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces.
The fuel tanks were intact, and about one pint of fuel was drained from the left tank while 10 gallons was drained from the right. The fuel selector was in the right tank position. Continuity of the entire fuel system was confirmed. The gascolator was removed and disassembled. It contained no fuel, was completely dry, and was absent of debris. The fuel boost pump switch was destroyed in the instrument panel, and the boost pump was destroyed by impact.
The engine was recovered from the scene and examined at SHD on August 28, 2012. The engine was rotated by hand and continuity, compression, and ignition spark were all confirmed.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Va -- Brian Forrest Hall reached out for help right before he crashed his plane on Sunday morning.
"He contacted air traffic control and the pilot stated that he had lost his engine," said Brian Rayner with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
“I lost my engine,” were Hall's last words on the air. Rayner said they are trying to figure out what those words meant.
“Then minutes later, the airplane was lost from radar," said Rayner.
The 50-year-old man from Pittsburgh crashed in the George Washington National Forest around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. He was supposed to stop in Harrisonburg before heading to Pennsylvania.
Right now, the NTSB is picking up the pieces to find out the cause of the accident.
“My focus right now is on the perishable evidence, which is the airplane behind me.”
The plane is a 1975 single engine Beechcraft, but Rayner said if a plane is well-maintained, age will not affect the plane's reliability.
“A 1975 Beechcraft could be as good or potentially better than it was when it rolled off the assembly line.”
That is why they will look into the maintenance and pilot records.
Rayner said they have seen accidents like this in this part of the country before but each one is different.
"When we come out to these investigations. We investigate them one at a time. We are not interested in looking at trends until we're well into it."
Investigators say they will work with the plane manufacturers to find out if the plane was faulty. They should know more once the preliminary report is released next week.
Rayner said the entire investigation could last up to a year.
Story and video: http://www.whsv.com
http://registry.faa.gov/N9200S
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N9200S
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 9200S Make/Model: BE24 Description: Sierra
Date: 08/26/2012 Time: 1520
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: BRIDGEWATER State: VA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, CRASHED INTO THE TREES, THE 1 PERSON ON BOARD WAS
FATALLY INJURED, NEAR BRIDGEWATER, VA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 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: WASHINGTON IAD, DC (EA27) Entry date: 08/27/2012
Beechcraft B24R Sierra, N9200S: Accident occurred August 26, 2012 in Dayton, Virginia
NTSB Identification: ERA12FA526
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 26, 2012 in Dayton, VA
Aircraft: BEECH B24R, registration: N9200S
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 26, 2012, about 1118 eastern daylight time, a Hawker-Beechcraft Corporation B24R Sierra, N9200S, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during a forced landing after a reported loss of engine power near, Dayton, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated from Wilmington International Airport (ILM), Wilmington, North Carolina. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that at 1109, the pilot contacted air traffic control, and advised that he was climbing the airplane from 9,000 to 10,500 feet. At 1111, the pilot declared an emergency and advised he had “lost” the engine. The controller provided vectors to Bridgewater Airpark (VBW), Bridgewater, Virginia, but the pilot advised that the airplane was unable to clear a ridgeline in his path. At 1117, radar and voice communication with the airplane was lost. At that time, the airplane was 8 nautical miles from VBW.
The pilot/owner held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on November 2, 2010, and he reported 600 total hours of flight experience on that date. Examination of his logbook revealed the pilot had logged approximately 235 total hours of flight experience, of which 206 hours were in the accident airplane. The pilot did not posses an instrument rating.
At 1115, the weather conditions reported at Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), 15 miles southeast of the accident site at 1,201 feet elevation, included scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken ceiling at 3,300 feet, and an overcast ceiling at 4,000 feet. There was 10 miles visibility; the temperature was 22 degrees C, dewpoint 18 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.24 inches of mercury. The wind was from 100 degrees at 4 knots.
The wreckage was examined at the accident site on August 26, 2012, at 1,869 feet elevation, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. There was no odor of fuel or evidence of fuel spillage. Control cable continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces.
The fuel tanks were intact, and about one pint of fuel was drained from the left tank while 10 gallons was drained from the right. The fuel selector was in the right tank position. Continuity of the entire fuel system was confirmed. The gascolator was removed and disassembled. It contained no fuel, was completely dry, and was absent of debris. The fuel boost pump switch was destroyed in the instrument panel, and the boost pump was destroyed by impact.
The engine was recovered from the scene and examined at SHD on August 28, 2012. The engine was rotated by hand and continuity, compression, and ignition spark were all confirmed.
Rockingham County, VA (WHSV/CNN) - Police are investigating the cause of a fatal, single-engine plane crash in Rockingham County, Virginia.
Officials say the 50-year-old pilot from Pittsburgh died upon impact and was the only person on the plane.
The aircraft was flying from Wilmington, North Carolina to Pittsburgh, when it went down inside the George Washington National Forest.
WHSV/CNN
Story and video: http://www.ksdk.com
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N9200S
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 26, 2012 in Dayton, VA
Aircraft: BEECH B24R, registration: N9200S
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 26, 2012, about 1118 eastern daylight time, a Hawker-Beechcraft Corporation B24R Sierra, N9200S, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during a forced landing after a reported loss of engine power near, Dayton, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated from Wilmington International Airport (ILM), Wilmington, North Carolina. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that at 1109, the pilot contacted air traffic control, and advised that he was climbing the airplane from 9,000 to 10,500 feet. At 1111, the pilot declared an emergency and advised he had “lost” the engine. The controller provided vectors to Bridgewater Airpark (VBW), Bridgewater, Virginia, but the pilot advised that the airplane was unable to clear a ridgeline in his path. At 1117, radar and voice communication with the airplane was lost. At that time, the airplane was 8 nautical miles from VBW.
The pilot/owner held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on November 2, 2010, and he reported 600 total hours of flight experience on that date. Examination of his logbook revealed the pilot had logged approximately 235 total hours of flight experience, of which 206 hours were in the accident airplane. The pilot did not posses an instrument rating.
At 1115, the weather conditions reported at Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), 15 miles southeast of the accident site at 1,201 feet elevation, included scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken ceiling at 3,300 feet, and an overcast ceiling at 4,000 feet. There was 10 miles visibility; the temperature was 22 degrees C, dewpoint 18 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.24 inches of mercury. The wind was from 100 degrees at 4 knots.
The wreckage was examined at the accident site on August 26, 2012, at 1,869 feet elevation, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. There was no odor of fuel or evidence of fuel spillage. Control cable continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces.
The fuel tanks were intact, and about one pint of fuel was drained from the left tank while 10 gallons was drained from the right. The fuel selector was in the right tank position. Continuity of the entire fuel system was confirmed. The gascolator was removed and disassembled. It contained no fuel, was completely dry, and was absent of debris. The fuel boost pump switch was destroyed in the instrument panel, and the boost pump was destroyed by impact.
The engine was recovered from the scene and examined at SHD on August 28, 2012. The engine was rotated by hand and continuity, compression, and ignition spark were all confirmed.
Rockingham County, VA (WHSV/CNN) - Police are investigating the cause of a fatal, single-engine plane crash in Rockingham County, Virginia.
Officials say the 50-year-old pilot from Pittsburgh died upon impact and was the only person on the plane.
The aircraft was flying from Wilmington, North Carolina to Pittsburgh, when it went down inside the George Washington National Forest.
WHSV/CNN
Story and video: http://www.ksdk.com
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 9200S Make/Model: BE24 Description: Sierra
Date: 08/26/2012 Time: 1520
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: BRIDGEWATER State: VA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, CRASHED INTO THE TREES, THE 1 PERSON ON BOARD WAS
FATALLY INJURED, NEAR BRIDGEWATER, VA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 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: WASHINGTON IAD, DC (EA27) Entry date: 08/27/2012
http://registry.faa.gov/N9200Shttp://flightaware.com/live/flight/N9200S
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo
Flight forced to return to Heathrow as it becomes third United Airlines jet in TEN DAYS to suffer from engine problems
- Third emergency landing in ten days
- Two United airlines flights had to return to tarmac at New Jersey airport last weekend
The United Airlines flight from Heathrow Airport bound for Chicago had to be sprayed with water by firemen to cool the engine.
This is the third incident in ten days which has seen a United Airlines plane having to make an emergency landing.
No passengers were harmed in the incident at 4.30pm yesterday and a BAA spokesperson said the incident had a minimal impact on the traffic.
The news comes but a week after two United Airlines flights departing New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport had to make emergency landings after experiencing problems with their engines.
Last Sunday, United Flight 409 bound for Seattle returned to the airport at about 9.15am Sunday after reports of possible smoke in the cabin and cockpit.
A United spokesman says the flight crew noticed an unusual smell in the cockpit and it went back to the tarmac.
On Saturday night, a United flight to Germany carrying 173 passengers and crew had to return to the airport after experiencing engine problems.
Flight 96, which was departing from Newark Liberty Airport to Berlin, landed at about 8.10pm on Saturday night after a ‘mechanical issue with the engine,’ airline spokesman Joe Micucci said.
Federal Aviation Administration, said one of the engines on the Berlin-bound flight apparently overheated on takeoff.
Witnesses on the ground at Newark International reported seeing fire coming from the engine shortly after liftoff.
No injuries were reported in any of the emergency landings.
A United Airlines spokesman told MailOnline yesterday's incident at Heathrow was due to 'an issue with the engine' and that all passengers will be re-accommodated to flights today.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk
Government Audit Shows Bird Strikes on the Rise: New York Group -- Report issued last week said the FAA oversight and enforcement efforts to control birds were insufficient
Opponents of a garbage plant near New York's LaGuardia Airport say their cause has gained strength with a new Department of Transportation audit report criticizing the Federal Aviation Administration for not taking airplane bird strikes more seriously.
A report issued last week said the FAA oversight and enforcement efforts to control birds were insufficient.
Planes can be crippled by hitting birds, like when U.S. Airways Flight 1549 lost both engines shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia but landed safely in the Hudson River.
The president of the Friends of LaGuardia Airport group said Monday he has asked a federal appeals court in Manhattan to consider the report in deciding issues related to the garbage plant. The group is fighting a solid waste transfer station being built near one of LaGuardia's runways.
The FAA hasn't returned a message seeking comment.
Source: http://www.nbcnewyork.com
A report issued last week said the FAA oversight and enforcement efforts to control birds were insufficient.
Planes can be crippled by hitting birds, like when U.S. Airways Flight 1549 lost both engines shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia but landed safely in the Hudson River.
The president of the Friends of LaGuardia Airport group said Monday he has asked a federal appeals court in Manhattan to consider the report in deciding issues related to the garbage plant. The group is fighting a solid waste transfer station being built near one of LaGuardia's runways.
The FAA hasn't returned a message seeking comment.
Source: http://www.nbcnewyork.com
C-GRGW C172 crash - Alberta update
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/pilot-killed-in-plane-crash-near-crowsnest-pass-1.931850
The RCMP are investigating after a Cessna aircraft crashed southwest of Calgary on Sunday evening, killing the pilot.
According to police, they were called to the scene at about 5:46 p.m., to an area off Highway 22 near Chimney Rock Road, about 8 km south of Chain Lakes Provincial Park.
When they got there, they found the pilot had died on impact.
The name of the 37-year-old pilot won’t be released until next of kin are notified, but some information about him has been released.
The man was a pilot from Spruce Grove, Alberta who worked for Edmonton-based Alta Flights Charters. A company manager confirms the plane was a Cessna 172 on patrol monitoring pipelines in the area.
Investigators say the pilot took off from the Edmonton area, and his plane was pointed north when it crashed.
It reportedly skidded for a distance and crashed into a creek embankment. Pieces of the plane sit strewn across a local rancher’s field.
The Transportation Safety Board is now assisting RCMP with the investigation.
The pilot killed in a crash in southern Alberta on Sunday was patrolling pipelines when the plane went down.Emergency services were called to the scene just off Highway 22 south of Chain Lakes Provincial Park shortly before 6 p.m., according to Crowsnest Pass RCMP.
Upon arrival, they discovered a 38-year-old man dead inside the Cessna 172 airplane that crash landed in a field.
The victim from Edmonton was the only person in the aircraft.
Canadian Transportation Safety Board western regional manager Jon Lee said the fixed wing aircraft was licensed to Alta Flights Ltd. out of Edmonton.
He said the victim was patrolling pipelines in the area.
“It’s a technique used by the oil and gas industry to be able to visually inspect,” Lee said. “I believe this one was purely a visual inspection to see if there were any signs of leaking. Gas companies typically use this on a scheduled basis to inspect their pipelines.”
The scene was difficult to get to, Lee said, preventing investigators from reaching the crash site until early Monday afternoon.
According to Alta Flights website, the Cessna 172 are strictly outfitted for pipeline patrol and power line surveillance, and are not suited for charter.
“Endearingly known as the ‘pumpkins’, these brightly coloured orange planes are out flying everyday patrolling pipelines across Western Canada,” the website says.
Alta Flights did not return messages or e-mails seeking comment.
The pilot’s name has not been released and a cause of the crash has not been determined.
CTSB is leading the investigation.
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com
Hat tip to Rob! Thanks for the info!
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Cessna-172M/0647011/L/&sid=789ff2143d2c9b097a4782c20c1da53c
C-GRGW (1975) Cessna 172M Alta Flights Ltd. http://www.altaflights.com/pipeline_patrol.html
The RCMP are investigating after a Cessna aircraft crashed southwest of Calgary on Sunday evening, killing the pilot.
According to police, they were called to the scene at about 5:46 p.m., to an area off Highway 22 near Chimney Rock Road, about 8 km south of Chain Lakes Provincial Park.
When they got there, they found the pilot had died on impact.
The name of the 37-year-old pilot won’t be released until next of kin are notified, but some information about him has been released.
The man was a pilot from Spruce Grove, Alberta who worked for Edmonton-based Alta Flights Charters. A company manager confirms the plane was a Cessna 172 on patrol monitoring pipelines in the area.
Investigators say the pilot took off from the Edmonton area, and his plane was pointed north when it crashed.
It reportedly skidded for a distance and crashed into a creek embankment. Pieces of the plane sit strewn across a local rancher’s field.
The Transportation Safety Board is now assisting RCMP with the investigation.
The pilot killed in a crash in southern Alberta on Sunday was patrolling pipelines when the plane went down.Emergency services were called to the scene just off Highway 22 south of Chain Lakes Provincial Park shortly before 6 p.m., according to Crowsnest Pass RCMP.
Upon arrival, they discovered a 38-year-old man dead inside the Cessna 172 airplane that crash landed in a field.
The victim from Edmonton was the only person in the aircraft.
Canadian Transportation Safety Board western regional manager Jon Lee said the fixed wing aircraft was licensed to Alta Flights Ltd. out of Edmonton.
He said the victim was patrolling pipelines in the area.
“It’s a technique used by the oil and gas industry to be able to visually inspect,” Lee said. “I believe this one was purely a visual inspection to see if there were any signs of leaking. Gas companies typically use this on a scheduled basis to inspect their pipelines.”
The scene was difficult to get to, Lee said, preventing investigators from reaching the crash site until early Monday afternoon.
According to Alta Flights website, the Cessna 172 are strictly outfitted for pipeline patrol and power line surveillance, and are not suited for charter.
“Endearingly known as the ‘pumpkins’, these brightly coloured orange planes are out flying everyday patrolling pipelines across Western Canada,” the website says.
Alta Flights did not return messages or e-mails seeking comment.
The pilot’s name has not been released and a cause of the crash has not been determined.
CTSB is leading the investigation.
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com
Hat tip to Rob! Thanks for the info!
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Cessna-172M/0647011/L/&sid=789ff2143d2c9b097a4782c20c1da53c
C-GRGW (1975) Cessna 172M Alta Flights Ltd. http://www.altaflights.com/pipeline_patrol.html
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Man injured in plane crash moved to Topeka hospital: Piper PA-24-260, N8546P; Accident occurred August 16, 2012 in Holton, Kansas
A man who suffered serious injuries in an airplane crash on Aug. 16 near Holton was transported back to his hometown of Topeka where he will continue his recovery at a local hospital.
Steve Stutzman, 52, of Topeka, suffered serious injuries, including a compound pelvis fracture and a fractured femur ball joint, in the airplane crash. He underwent surgery for a broken pelvis at The University of Kansas Hospital.
He was transported to Topeka on Monday to continue his recovery.
Stutzman, who is director of development for DF Osborne Construction, was the front-seat passenger in a four-seat Piper Comanche airplane that was returning to Topeka from a business trip from New Town, N.D.
The plane was piloted by David F. Osborne, 58, of Berryton, owner of DF Osborne Construction.
Osborne was treated at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center for injuries he sustained in the evening crash but was released from the hospital, according to previous Topeka Capital-Journal articles.
Stephen M. Graff, 47, of Topeka, was the third passenger in the plane. He was seated in a back seat and didn’t suffer serious injuries in the crash, which occurred about 9:50 p.m. Aug. 16 on a country road about 3 miles west of Holton.
Source: http://cjonline.com
NTSB Identification: CEN12LA551
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, August 16, 2012 in Holton, KS
Aircraft: PIPER PA-24-260, registration: N8546P
Injuries: 2 Serious,1 Minor.
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 August 16, 2012, at 2154 central daylight time, the pilot of a Piper PA-24-260, N8546P, made a forced landing on a rural road 3 miles south of Holton, Kansas. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. Another passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by N8546 PAPA, LLC, Tecumseh, Kansas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The cross country flight originated in Tioga (KD60), North Dakota approximately 1930, and was en route to Topeka, Kansas (KFOE).
Preliminary information indicates the pilot reported to air traffic control that the propeller was overspeeding, there was smoke in the cockpit, the engine was losing power, and he couldn't maintain altitude. The pilot attempted to land on a rural road but clipped trees and impacted a ditch. There was no evidence of fire in flight.
Steve Stutzman, 52, of Topeka, suffered serious injuries, including a compound pelvis fracture and a fractured femur ball joint, in the airplane crash. He underwent surgery for a broken pelvis at The University of Kansas Hospital.
He was transported to Topeka on Monday to continue his recovery.
Stutzman, who is director of development for DF Osborne Construction, was the front-seat passenger in a four-seat Piper Comanche airplane that was returning to Topeka from a business trip from New Town, N.D.
The plane was piloted by David F. Osborne, 58, of Berryton, owner of DF Osborne Construction.
Osborne was treated at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center for injuries he sustained in the evening crash but was released from the hospital, according to previous Topeka Capital-Journal articles.
Stephen M. Graff, 47, of Topeka, was the third passenger in the plane. He was seated in a back seat and didn’t suffer serious injuries in the crash, which occurred about 9:50 p.m. Aug. 16 on a country road about 3 miles west of Holton.
Source: http://cjonline.com
NTSB Identification: CEN12LA551
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, August 16, 2012 in Holton, KS
Aircraft: PIPER PA-24-260, registration: N8546P
Injuries: 2 Serious,1 Minor.
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 August 16, 2012, at 2154 central daylight time, the pilot of a Piper PA-24-260, N8546P, made a forced landing on a rural road 3 miles south of Holton, Kansas. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. Another passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by N8546 PAPA, LLC, Tecumseh, Kansas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The cross country flight originated in Tioga (KD60), North Dakota approximately 1930, and was en route to Topeka, Kansas (KFOE).
Preliminary information indicates the pilot reported to air traffic control that the propeller was overspeeding, there was smoke in the cockpit, the engine was losing power, and he couldn't maintain altitude. The pilot attempted to land on a rural road but clipped trees and impacted a ditch. There was no evidence of fire in flight.
Fighter Jets Protect Skies During Republican Convention
Armed Forces Press Service
“Air Force fighter jets will be on alert during the convention — which begins today and runs through Aug. 30 — enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration’s temporary flight restriction zone,” the announcement says.
From a North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command News Release. . . .
Read more: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=117648
“Air Force fighter jets will be on alert during the convention — which begins today and runs through Aug. 30 — enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration’s temporary flight restriction zone,” the announcement says.
From a North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command News Release. . . .
Read more: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=117648
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (KMSY), New Orleans, Louisiana: Airport to cease flights late Monday
FOX 8 News received the following press release from officials at Armstrong International Airport Monday afternoon:
All airlines that serve the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport will cease operation at the end of their schedule today. There are no flights scheduled for Tuesday, August 28.
The Airport is not an evacuation shelter and people will not be allowed to stay in the terminal during the storm.
Please check your airlines web site for the most up to date information.
Source: http://www.fox8live.com
All airlines that serve the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport will cease operation at the end of their schedule today. There are no flights scheduled for Tuesday, August 28.
The Airport is not an evacuation shelter and people will not be allowed to stay in the terminal during the storm.
Please check your airlines web site for the most up to date information.
Source: http://www.fox8live.com
Navy calls for relocation of St. Marys Airport: Repeated skydiver intrusions must be eliminated, Navy says
The Aug. 12 landing of two skydivers inside Kings Naval Submarine
Base’s perimeter has heightened the Navy’s security concern to the point
that the base commander on Monday called for the relocation of the St.
Marys Airport from which a skydiving business operates.
The St. Marys Airport Authority last week revoked The Jumping Place’s operating permit, but in spite of posted trespass warnings the business carried dozens of skydivers aloft Saturday, three of whom landed in a city park. Four skydivers received warnings and five were cited.
That action was apparently not sufficient to allay the Navy’s concerns.
In a letter citing the landing on a base softball field, Kings Bay commander Capt. Harvey Guffey Jr. reminded St. Marys Mayor Bill DeLoughy of the city’s failure to “eliminate parachutists encroaching on the base despite multiple letters of concern from several base commanding officers...’’
Rear Adm. John C. Scorby Jr., commander of the Navy’s Southeast Region in Jacksonville, reinforced Guffey’s letter with one of his own.
“Repeated exposure to these security threats in this era of terrorism creates significant disruption for the [submarine base’s] mission, and raises the specter of needlessly dangerous reactive responses. We can no longer accept this state of affairs,’’ Scorby wrote.
The Navy “must heighten and reemphasize’’ it’s desire for that moving the airport be made a priority, Guffey wrote.
“Let me be clear,’’ he said, “parachutist intrusions on the base must be eliminated.”
The Navy said as much Wednesday at the meeting in which the Airport Authority revoked The Jumping Place’s permit. The vote came after owner Cathy Kloess said she could not guarantee that parachutists who jumped from her plane’s would not again land on Kings Bay. Those Aug. 12 landings were the sixth and seventh in three years on the base that has some highly restricted areas.
Although things got off to a late start Saturday, Kloess said it would be business as usual.
By the end of the day, however, the St. Marys police had issued four criminal trespass warnings, two criminal trespass citations to skydiving instructors and three reckless conduct citations to three jumpers who landed in the city’s Sweetwater Park, authority lawyer Jim Stein said.
With no clear end to the jumps, Stein said authority members Frank Frasca and Frank Drane will ask the FAA what steps it should take next to provide better assurance no more skydivers from the airport will land on the base.
Stein said the Navy’s strong letters will help him make his case to the city and the FAA.
“It’s my advice nobody be allowed to operate at that airport as a skydiving business,’’ Stein said.
Kloess’ son, Casey Kloess-Finley, who owns the business with her, called the arrests a “gross misuse of power by the city and the Airport Authority board.”
The latter three jumpers had intended to land on a two-acre piece of property off the south side of the airport’s runway, he said.
Kloess and Kloess-Finley told the Times-Union Saturday morning that they own the property and the authority could not stop them from using it as a drop zone.
“Their intent was not to land in the park. They didn’t feel they could land there safely,’’ Kloess-Finley said of the two-acre landing spot. “They found a safe landing spot in the park.”
Kloess-Finley said The Jumping Place believes police were clearly wrong in citing the two instructors for criminal trespass after telling all the jumpers that officers would issue only warnings.
“They were singled out as our instructors,’’ Kloess-Finley said.
The two were cited after completing tandem jumps and as agents of The Jumping Place clearly knew they could be charged with criminal trespass, Stein said.
Stein also said that shifting the landing zone Saturday to the plot closer to base only increased the risk that a skydiver could again land on King’s Bay.
Kloess-Finley disagreed saying the spot is only 0.6 miles closer meaning it’s still more than a mile from the base, which provides plenty of buffer for an experienced jumper.
He also said any assertion that The Jumping Place doesn’t take Kings Bay’s security seriously is wrong.
“The Jumping Place policy is to never land on the base. Never,’’ he said.
But when a skydiver leaves the plane, he becomes his own pilot and in charge of his own landing, Kloess-Finley said.
Individual skydivers must make decisions for their own safety, he said.
Kloess has said that skydivers blown off course by “acts of God’’ chose the base to ensure they could land safely, most recently on a softball field that they thought was in a city park.
As part of its pre-jump education, The Jumping Place tells skydivers not to land on the base even as a last resort and shows them aerial photos, Kloess-Finley said.
“But we’re not going to tell them to hit a tree to avoid landing on the base,’’ he said.
Asked if The Jumping Place will take skydivers up again Saturday, Kloess-Finley said “Our plan right now is we’re looking for other fields to jump in.’’
The two-acre field off the airport is not suitable for student landings, he said.
“We’re looking at anything to keep our business open,’’ Kloess-Finley said.
The St. Marys Airport Authority last week revoked The Jumping Place’s operating permit, but in spite of posted trespass warnings the business carried dozens of skydivers aloft Saturday, three of whom landed in a city park. Four skydivers received warnings and five were cited.
That action was apparently not sufficient to allay the Navy’s concerns.
In a letter citing the landing on a base softball field, Kings Bay commander Capt. Harvey Guffey Jr. reminded St. Marys Mayor Bill DeLoughy of the city’s failure to “eliminate parachutists encroaching on the base despite multiple letters of concern from several base commanding officers...’’
Rear Adm. John C. Scorby Jr., commander of the Navy’s Southeast Region in Jacksonville, reinforced Guffey’s letter with one of his own.
“Repeated exposure to these security threats in this era of terrorism creates significant disruption for the [submarine base’s] mission, and raises the specter of needlessly dangerous reactive responses. We can no longer accept this state of affairs,’’ Scorby wrote.
The Navy “must heighten and reemphasize’’ it’s desire for that moving the airport be made a priority, Guffey wrote.
“Let me be clear,’’ he said, “parachutist intrusions on the base must be eliminated.”
The Navy said as much Wednesday at the meeting in which the Airport Authority revoked The Jumping Place’s permit. The vote came after owner Cathy Kloess said she could not guarantee that parachutists who jumped from her plane’s would not again land on Kings Bay. Those Aug. 12 landings were the sixth and seventh in three years on the base that has some highly restricted areas.
Although things got off to a late start Saturday, Kloess said it would be business as usual.
By the end of the day, however, the St. Marys police had issued four criminal trespass warnings, two criminal trespass citations to skydiving instructors and three reckless conduct citations to three jumpers who landed in the city’s Sweetwater Park, authority lawyer Jim Stein said.
With no clear end to the jumps, Stein said authority members Frank Frasca and Frank Drane will ask the FAA what steps it should take next to provide better assurance no more skydivers from the airport will land on the base.
Stein said the Navy’s strong letters will help him make his case to the city and the FAA.
“It’s my advice nobody be allowed to operate at that airport as a skydiving business,’’ Stein said.
Kloess’ son, Casey Kloess-Finley, who owns the business with her, called the arrests a “gross misuse of power by the city and the Airport Authority board.”
The latter three jumpers had intended to land on a two-acre piece of property off the south side of the airport’s runway, he said.
Kloess and Kloess-Finley told the Times-Union Saturday morning that they own the property and the authority could not stop them from using it as a drop zone.
“Their intent was not to land in the park. They didn’t feel they could land there safely,’’ Kloess-Finley said of the two-acre landing spot. “They found a safe landing spot in the park.”
Kloess-Finley said The Jumping Place believes police were clearly wrong in citing the two instructors for criminal trespass after telling all the jumpers that officers would issue only warnings.
“They were singled out as our instructors,’’ Kloess-Finley said.
The two were cited after completing tandem jumps and as agents of The Jumping Place clearly knew they could be charged with criminal trespass, Stein said.
Stein also said that shifting the landing zone Saturday to the plot closer to base only increased the risk that a skydiver could again land on King’s Bay.
Kloess-Finley disagreed saying the spot is only 0.6 miles closer meaning it’s still more than a mile from the base, which provides plenty of buffer for an experienced jumper.
He also said any assertion that The Jumping Place doesn’t take Kings Bay’s security seriously is wrong.
“The Jumping Place policy is to never land on the base. Never,’’ he said.
But when a skydiver leaves the plane, he becomes his own pilot and in charge of his own landing, Kloess-Finley said.
Individual skydivers must make decisions for their own safety, he said.
Kloess has said that skydivers blown off course by “acts of God’’ chose the base to ensure they could land safely, most recently on a softball field that they thought was in a city park.
As part of its pre-jump education, The Jumping Place tells skydivers not to land on the base even as a last resort and shows them aerial photos, Kloess-Finley said.
“But we’re not going to tell them to hit a tree to avoid landing on the base,’’ he said.
Asked if The Jumping Place will take skydivers up again Saturday, Kloess-Finley said “Our plan right now is we’re looking for other fields to jump in.’’
The two-acre field off the airport is not suitable for student landings, he said.
“We’re looking at anything to keep our business open,’’ Kloess-Finley said.
Cessna 150G, N6346S: Accident occurred August 26, 2012 in Madera, California
NTSB Identification: WPR12CA370
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 26, 2012 in Madera, CA
Aircraft: CESSNA 150G, registration: N6346S
Injuries: 1 Minor.
The pilot stated that he was at the end of a 349-mile flight. When he was 3.5 miles from the destination airport, at 2,300 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine began to sputter, then quit. The pilot was over a neighborhood and realized he was not going to make it to the airport. He identified a dry river bed off to his right, and turned towards that direction. The airplane collided with the top of a tree, which slowed it down. The pilot then pull back on the yoke, the airplane impacted terrain, and flipped over. The pilot said it was likely that he had exhausted his fuel supply.
Small plane crashes near Madera Fairgrounds
A small plane made an emergency landing Sunday morning near the Madera Fairgrounds.
The man flying from Arizon planned to refuel in Madera but reported the engine sputtered and forced him to land.
He chose an unpopulated area along the Fresno River but the soft ground forced the plane to flip onto its roof.
Sgt. Johnny Smith with the Madera Police Department said, "It was very good decision making to land there, and I thought it was a very good job of landing the plane without him getting majorly injured."
The pilot was not seriously hurt.
It's unknown if the plane ran out of gas or had mechanical problems.
Story and video: http://www.cbs47.tv
http://registry.faa.gov/N6346S
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N6346S
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 26, 2012 in Madera, CA
Aircraft: CESSNA 150G, registration: N6346S
Injuries: 1 Minor.
The pilot stated that he was at the end of a 349-mile flight. When he was 3.5 miles from the destination airport, at 2,300 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine began to sputter, then quit. The pilot was over a neighborhood and realized he was not going to make it to the airport. He identified a dry river bed off to his right, and turned towards that direction. The airplane collided with the top of a tree, which slowed it down. The pilot then pull back on the yoke, the airplane impacted terrain, and flipped over. The pilot said it was likely that he had exhausted his fuel supply.
Small plane crashes near Madera Fairgrounds
A small plane made an emergency landing Sunday morning near the Madera Fairgrounds.
The man flying from Arizon planned to refuel in Madera but reported the engine sputtered and forced him to land.
He chose an unpopulated area along the Fresno River but the soft ground forced the plane to flip onto its roof.
Sgt. Johnny Smith with the Madera Police Department said, "It was very good decision making to land there, and I thought it was a very good job of landing the plane without him getting majorly injured."
The pilot was not seriously hurt.
It's unknown if the plane ran out of gas or had mechanical problems.
Story and video: http://www.cbs47.tv
http://registry.faa.gov/N6346S
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N6346S
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 6346S Make/Model: C150 Description:
Date: 08/26/2012 Time: 1750
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Minor Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: MADERA State: CA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED ON A DRY RIVER BED AND FLIPPED OVER, NEAR MADERA, CA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 1 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: FRESNO, CA (WP17) Entry date: 08/27/2012
East Hampton Airport (KHTO), New York: Helicopter noise becoming a nuisance
SOUTHAMPTON - The helicopter flight path for East Hampton Airport isn't sitting well with East End communities.
The new flight path begins in the north at Jessups Neck and shoots over the Hamptons.
The route was developed after years of complaints from others about noise from the previous path. Some residents say the new route made the noise worse, however.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local officials met today to discuss ways to mitigate noise.
Watch Video: http://www.news12.com
The new flight path begins in the north at Jessups Neck and shoots over the Hamptons.
The route was developed after years of complaints from others about noise from the previous path. Some residents say the new route made the noise worse, however.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local officials met today to discuss ways to mitigate noise.
Watch Video: http://www.news12.com
Fewer passengers board planes at Dubois Regional Airport (KDUJ), Pennsylvania
Passenger count at the Clearfield-Jefferson Counties Regional Airport has remained lower this year than last.
Reports provided at the Friday's Clearfield-Jefferson Counties Regional Airport Authority meeting show the May, June and July landings are about 100 fewer than the same timeframe last year. The three-month statistics show passenger count in the mid-400s for this year.
Airport Manager Bob Shaffer said the decline in Marcellus Shale work is the reason. "Last year, I told you to look outside and see all the white trucks out there. This year, there aren't as many," he said.
Airline landings, however, have remained steady at slightly more than 100 during the same three-month time. Flights were 99 percent complete and only a few required passengers to wait more than 15 minutes to board. Shaffer said the bidding has begun for an airline to provide services to the airport. FAA appointed Silver Airways as the provider last year. "We look forward to having them (Silver Airways) for a few more years," Shaffer said.
Low lead fuel sales have skyrocketed this summer. June had a total of 1,931 gallons pumped and July had 2,135 gallons pumped. Both numbers are about 600 gallons more than this time last year.
Story and comments: http://www.thecourierexpress.com
Reports provided at the Friday's Clearfield-Jefferson Counties Regional Airport Authority meeting show the May, June and July landings are about 100 fewer than the same timeframe last year. The three-month statistics show passenger count in the mid-400s for this year.
Airport Manager Bob Shaffer said the decline in Marcellus Shale work is the reason. "Last year, I told you to look outside and see all the white trucks out there. This year, there aren't as many," he said.
Airline landings, however, have remained steady at slightly more than 100 during the same three-month time. Flights were 99 percent complete and only a few required passengers to wait more than 15 minutes to board. Shaffer said the bidding has begun for an airline to provide services to the airport. FAA appointed Silver Airways as the provider last year. "We look forward to having them (Silver Airways) for a few more years," Shaffer said.
Low lead fuel sales have skyrocketed this summer. June had a total of 1,931 gallons pumped and July had 2,135 gallons pumped. Both numbers are about 600 gallons more than this time last year.
Story and comments: http://www.thecourierexpress.com
Fresno County Authorities Investigating 41 Year Old Plane Crash
By PRESS RELEASE
By PRESS RELEASE
August 27, 2012
Fresno County Search and Rescue personnel are currently on the site of a plane crash which occurred in 1971.
The site is located near Horse Thief Lake in the Sierra National Forest, north of Huntington Lake.
Sunday morning, shortly before 9:30am, a cross country hiker came upon the crash site while looking for Horse Thief Lake.
The hiker took photos of the site and then contacted Sierra rangers to report the find. She reported that the crash site appeared to be several years old. Sierra rangers then contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
Eagle One responded to the location and took photos of the site. One of the photos showed what appeared to be the word “NAVY” on part of the wreckage.
Ground searchers responded to the area this morning. The Sheriff’s Office made contact with the NTSB, FAA, and military, and confirmed the wreckage had been located on a prior occasion.
Read more and photo gallery: http://www.ksee24.com
Aircraft maintenance engineer: New inquiries into airport death sought
An aircraft maintenance engineer is to seek High Court orders directing new inquiries into the death of a colleague who was killed in a fall from a de-icing rig at Dublin Airport in March 2008.
Kevin Carroll, Keatingstown, Co Wicklow, told Mr Justice Gerard Hogan yesterday that he wanted the court to direct the Air Accident Investigation Unit and the Irish Aviation Authority to carry out the inquiries.
Mr Carroll said his colleague, David Ralph (58), Brackenstown, Swords, Co Dublin, had plummeted seven metres to his death when the basket of a de-icing rig broke free and crashed on to the apron of the airport.
He claimed the investigation unit and the aviation authority were obliged by law to fulfil statutory duties by inquiring into the endangerment of aircraft operations on the basis there had been a “serious incident”.
Mr Carroll said he wished to issue proceedings involving the investigation unit, the Irish Aviation Authority and the Garda SÃochána as well as the Minister for Transport, the Minister for Enterprise and Jobs, the Health and Safety Authority and the Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell.
He agreed with Mr Justice Hogan that he was taking the proceedings only out of concern for others and had no direct association with what had happened at the airport or since.
Mr Carroll, who was not legally represented and who appeared in the absence of the other parties, was granted leave to bring a new application on September 18th on the basis the other parties would be put on notice and given an opportunity of putting their side to the court.
He said more than four years had passed before any information had been made public at the Dublin City Coroner’s Court last May.
He said the Health and Safety Authority had apparently completed its investigation, yet from his attendance at the inquest on July 26th, a number of substantial issues appeared to be unresolved. The inquest had been adjourned until October 18th and, failing completion, would be put back to 2013.
Mr Carroll said the authority had forwarded a file to the DPP who had chosen not to prosecute anyone regarding the incident.
Source: http://www.irishtimes.com
Kevin Carroll, Keatingstown, Co Wicklow, told Mr Justice Gerard Hogan yesterday that he wanted the court to direct the Air Accident Investigation Unit and the Irish Aviation Authority to carry out the inquiries.
Mr Carroll said his colleague, David Ralph (58), Brackenstown, Swords, Co Dublin, had plummeted seven metres to his death when the basket of a de-icing rig broke free and crashed on to the apron of the airport.
He claimed the investigation unit and the aviation authority were obliged by law to fulfil statutory duties by inquiring into the endangerment of aircraft operations on the basis there had been a “serious incident”.
Mr Carroll said he wished to issue proceedings involving the investigation unit, the Irish Aviation Authority and the Garda SÃochána as well as the Minister for Transport, the Minister for Enterprise and Jobs, the Health and Safety Authority and the Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell.
He agreed with Mr Justice Hogan that he was taking the proceedings only out of concern for others and had no direct association with what had happened at the airport or since.
Mr Carroll, who was not legally represented and who appeared in the absence of the other parties, was granted leave to bring a new application on September 18th on the basis the other parties would be put on notice and given an opportunity of putting their side to the court.
He said more than four years had passed before any information had been made public at the Dublin City Coroner’s Court last May.
He said the Health and Safety Authority had apparently completed its investigation, yet from his attendance at the inquest on July 26th, a number of substantial issues appeared to be unresolved. The inquest had been adjourned until October 18th and, failing completion, would be put back to 2013.
Mr Carroll said the authority had forwarded a file to the DPP who had chosen not to prosecute anyone regarding the incident.
Source: http://www.irishtimes.com
Airlines cancel New Orleans flights for Tropical Storm Isaac: American Airlines, Southwest, United suspend flights in New Orleans
NEW YORK -
Several airlines are cancelling all of their New Orleans flights in anticipation of hurricane winds and rain from Isaac.
American Airlines, Southwest and United are all suspending operations in the city. The move comes after large cancellations in Southern Florida Sunday due to Tropical Storm Isaac.
The storm is over the Gulf of Mexico. It is expected to grow into a Category 1 hurricane and hit land late Tuesday night. A Category 1 hurricane has winds ranging from 74 mph to 95 mph.
Southwest cancelled 80 flights on Tuesday to and from New Orleans. Three additional flights were added Monday night to help accommodate passengers on the cancelled flights. The airline will make a decision about Wednesday's flights late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, according to spokeswoman Ashley Dillon.
Each Southwest plane on that route holds 137 passengers.
United Airlines, part of United Continental Holdings Inc., has cancelled all of its flights for Tuesday and Wednesday. It has 40 flights a day in and out of the airport, according to spokesman Joe Micucci.
American Airlines, part of AMR Corp., has cancelled all of its flights until Thursday morning. But the airline was frustrated with New Orleans airport executives, who it said shut the facility prematurely.
"We could have kept flying for a big chunk of Tuesday, but you can't land at a closed airport," spokesman Ed Martelle said via e-mail. The airline planned for its last flight out to be a 7:45 p.m. Monday.
Iftikhar Ahmad, executive director of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, said at a midday news conference Monday that the three airlines "will run today but are cancelling tomorrow." He was not immediately available for clarification about who made the final call to cancel flights. The airport was also reminding people that it is not an evacuation shelter and has restricted parking at its garages to ticketed passengers.
The airport handles about 10,000 passengers a day in August.
Airlines typically move planes out of a storm's path to protect them and ensure a faster return to service. However, they like to wait until the last possible moment to cancel flights.
While New Orleans is preparing for the worst, airports in Florida were returning to normal operations Monday. More than 400 flights were cancelled at U.S. airports on Monday, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. That was down from nearly 860 on Sunday. More than half of the cancellations Sunday were American Airlines flights, according to FlightAware. The airline runs a major hub at Miami International Airport.
Airlines are also cancelling flights to Pensacola, Fla. and Mobile, Ala. Those airports are tiny compared with Miami, which is a major gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. Compared with New Orleans, more than five times the passengers pass through Miami on a given day.
All airlines will waive change fees for passengers wishing to move their flight into or out of an affected city to another date. They are also offering refunds to passengers whose flights have been cancelled. The specific policies can be found on each airline's website.
Source: http://www.clickorlando.com
American Airlines, Southwest and United are all suspending operations in the city. The move comes after large cancellations in Southern Florida Sunday due to Tropical Storm Isaac.
The storm is over the Gulf of Mexico. It is expected to grow into a Category 1 hurricane and hit land late Tuesday night. A Category 1 hurricane has winds ranging from 74 mph to 95 mph.
Southwest cancelled 80 flights on Tuesday to and from New Orleans. Three additional flights were added Monday night to help accommodate passengers on the cancelled flights. The airline will make a decision about Wednesday's flights late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, according to spokeswoman Ashley Dillon.
Each Southwest plane on that route holds 137 passengers.
United Airlines, part of United Continental Holdings Inc., has cancelled all of its flights for Tuesday and Wednesday. It has 40 flights a day in and out of the airport, according to spokesman Joe Micucci.
American Airlines, part of AMR Corp., has cancelled all of its flights until Thursday morning. But the airline was frustrated with New Orleans airport executives, who it said shut the facility prematurely.
"We could have kept flying for a big chunk of Tuesday, but you can't land at a closed airport," spokesman Ed Martelle said via e-mail. The airline planned for its last flight out to be a 7:45 p.m. Monday.
Iftikhar Ahmad, executive director of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, said at a midday news conference Monday that the three airlines "will run today but are cancelling tomorrow." He was not immediately available for clarification about who made the final call to cancel flights. The airport was also reminding people that it is not an evacuation shelter and has restricted parking at its garages to ticketed passengers.
The airport handles about 10,000 passengers a day in August.
Airlines typically move planes out of a storm's path to protect them and ensure a faster return to service. However, they like to wait until the last possible moment to cancel flights.
While New Orleans is preparing for the worst, airports in Florida were returning to normal operations Monday. More than 400 flights were cancelled at U.S. airports on Monday, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. That was down from nearly 860 on Sunday. More than half of the cancellations Sunday were American Airlines flights, according to FlightAware. The airline runs a major hub at Miami International Airport.
Airlines are also cancelling flights to Pensacola, Fla. and Mobile, Ala. Those airports are tiny compared with Miami, which is a major gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. Compared with New Orleans, more than five times the passengers pass through Miami on a given day.
All airlines will waive change fees for passengers wishing to move their flight into or out of an affected city to another date. They are also offering refunds to passengers whose flights have been cancelled. The specific policies can be found on each airline's website.
Source: http://www.clickorlando.com
Pacific Sun in Fiji drops domestic airfares
In Fiji, the airline Pacific Sun has dropped the price of its
domestic airfares by up to 21 percent in a bid to improve its service
to customers.
The new airfare which would continue until the end of the year is expected to benefit customers traveling from Labasa to Suva, Nadi to Suva or Suva to Savusavu and vice-versa.
The company’s general manager Shaenaz Voss told the Fiji Times the company recognized the increasing demand for domestic air travel, especially by students.
He says the new fares are bought as a return trip and are valid for travel all year round, with reductions of up to 21 percent.
Meanwhile, the Labasa Tourism Association chairman Paul Jaduram has welcomed the initiative, saying it will allow more tourists to visit the north.
Source: http://www.rnzi.com
The new airfare which would continue until the end of the year is expected to benefit customers traveling from Labasa to Suva, Nadi to Suva or Suva to Savusavu and vice-versa.
The company’s general manager Shaenaz Voss told the Fiji Times the company recognized the increasing demand for domestic air travel, especially by students.
He says the new fares are bought as a return trip and are valid for travel all year round, with reductions of up to 21 percent.
Meanwhile, the Labasa Tourism Association chairman Paul Jaduram has welcomed the initiative, saying it will allow more tourists to visit the north.
Source: http://www.rnzi.com
Council approves grant for Tupelo Regional Airport (KTUP), Mississippi
Tupelo City Councilman Johnny Davis asks the Tupelo Regional Airport board a few questions about their budget during Monday's work session.
(Thomas Wells)
Tupelo Mayor Jack Reed Jr. speaks to the City Council while Tupelo
Regional Airport Executive Director Josh Abramson (seated second from
left) and other airport officials sit in the audience.
TUPELO –The City Council tonight unanimously approved acceptance of a
$1.85 million federal grant for the Tupelo Regional Airport that the
council had rejected last week.
The action came after a special meeting with airport officials, which included questions and expressions of concern about airport operations from council members. The council had until midnight to accept the Federal Aviation Administration grant or it would have been lost.
The city must put up $48,854, or 2.5 percent matching money, to secure the grant. Last week the council had voted 5-2 against accepting the grant, citing what some members termed a lack of communication from the airport.
Live updates from today's meeting:
UPDATE 1:
Josh Abramson, the Tupelo Regional Airport executive director, said the lease requires the airport to provide a safe working environment in return for UAM's 20-year commitment to operate its business on airport property.
Abramson doesn't have a copy of the lease, nor does anybody else at the meeting.
BACKGROUND ON THE MEETING: City and airport officials, who remain at odds over the airport's management style and renovation plans, are meeting because the council rejected the federal grant.
In their rejection, council members said they felt pressured to rush into a decision and raised questions about the airport's policies and management style.
The grant, which requires a 2.5 percent municipal match, would fund security system improvements, taxiway rehabilitation, concrete apron expansions and a new air-conditioning system.
Although some of those repairs would directly benefit the airport, others would improve facilities used by a private company - Universal Asset Management - that leases some of the airport's property.
If the council still refuses to approve the grant, it will be responsible for some of those improvements itself.
The deadline for approval is midnight tonight.
UPDATE 2:
Ward 3 Councilman Jim Newell questions the lease between UAM and the city/airport.
Newell: "When we met back here at executive session (to approve the UAM lease) David Rumbarger (of the Community Development Foundation) came and talked to us for about 15 minutes about this great company that we need to take hold of and this is a lifetime opportunity for this and all the advantages … but he never told us what was involved in this contract and what we were getting involved in."
Airport Authority Member Rocky Miskelly: "Did you question him at that time?
Newell: "Yes, we did."
Miskelly: And did he answer them properly? It seems to me your questions are three years old.
UPDATE 3:
John Hill says he has reviewed the lease between UAM and Tupelo Regional Airport "from A to Z" and it doesn't commit the city or the airport to any specific projects of any specific dollar amount. But there "is a commitment that we will continue to upgrade the facilities and keep the facilities in good condition."
Newell and Ward 5 Councilman Jonny Davis say that's normal lease language and doesn't necessary commit Tupelo or the airport to accepting this grant and performing the work outlined in the grant.
UPDATE 4:
Abramson said "this is not a UAM grant. The Appalachian Regional Commission grant is a UAM grant, and you've already committed the funds to pay for that. This is a grant for Tupelo Regional Airport. One of the byproducts of having tenants is that when you do improvements at the airport, those tenants will benefit."
Abramson said roughly 10 tenants currently using airport property will benefit from the improvements outlined in the $1.85 million federal grant in question today.
"The area UAM occupies is only 60 percent of the facility. We still have 13,000 square feet we need to occupy with another tenant so we can start breaking even with this deal," Abramson said, referring to the city's acquisition of the old National Guard building on which the airport still owes money.
UPDATE 5:
Universal Asset Management (UAM) also made a commitment when it agreed to locate its operations here, according to Abramson: "Three years to get to 100 jobs, as well as a $4.6 million payroll. We're in the mid 60s (employees at UAM) right now."
UPDATE 6:
The main problem is communication, said airport authority member Ty Robinson.
"We haven't 'been talking to y'all at all, and I apologize for that. We're talking about an update every other week to let you know what's going on at the airport. Josh (Abramson) printed out a roster of all airport members, phone numbers, email addresses. We're here to help the city.
Said Councilman Jonny Davis: "I think everybody has reached the point where all this gets cleared up. The whole thing is about sunshine and clarity. There's too much confusion, too many figures … . When you're handed a document on Thursday and told that we're going to need to vote on (the $1.85 million grant) on Tuesday, it was the first time we were told of any of that."
Davis added: "It's not the project, it's not UAM, it's an overall longstanding misunderstanding of previous council problems, this council … of not having any idea of what' is going on with the airport.
UPDATE 7:
Abramson said that if the city doesn't approve the grant, the money will go to another airport in the South. The airport could get another Federal Aviation Administration grant next year for $1 million, but there is no guarantee since the federal government has to budget those funds.
"The authority's thought is that since we're going to do this work and we have the appropriated funds and we have until midnight (to accept those funds), we need to strike when we know the funding will be available to us," said Miskelly.
Councilmen Jonny Davis and Mike Bryan said they understand but felt like they were forced by the airport last week to accept that grant.
"We have no desire to put a gun to your head," Miskelly responded.
UPDATE 8:
Ward 6 Councilman Mike Bryan, in whose ward the airport is located, said he supports progress but thinks the airport is asking the city for too much money.
"With y'all working in the red and asking for that much money ... we need to sit down and discuss what is the fate of our airport?"
Bryan also said he gets calls all the time from constituents complaining about how many planes UAM brings in.
Finally, he said, "Josh (Abramson) called me Monday before the vote and asked if I had any questions, and I said, 'Not at this time,' and I had a boat load. But it was the Monday before the vote, I was driving and talking on my cell phone, and it just wasn't the right time."
UPDATE 9
Miskelly: "Without a successful airport in this city, we don't make the short list on so many companies' economic development plans. Toyota, we would have never made the short list … we all know the airport has value, we all know it has a capital need."
He also said it's not just an airport, it's an airport industrial park and he "sees dollars and jobs when I drive by."
UPDATE 10:
Ward 7 Councilman Willie Jennings said he's glad airport and city officials met today and looks forward to the two entities working together more successfully in the future.
UPDATE 11:
Newell complains about UAM and the number of aircraft it brings in.
"It impacts our decision when we get negative comments from the community. I represent 5,000-6,000 people, and there are many that aren't happy with what's going on out there. It's very relevant. If the public is unhappy with our new neighbor and we're asked to give however much money it may be ... it's an image problem."
Responded Miskelly: "The beautiful thing about this vote tonight is it's not a vote on" UAM.
UPDATE 12:
Tupelo Regional Airport Authority member Fred Cook read a letter from fellow member Glenn McCullough, who could not attend. McCullough asked the council to approve the grant, calling it "the right thing to do for the city of Tupelo."
UPDATE 13:
The City Council votes on the grant. It passes UNANIMOUSLY.
Said Newell while voting, "We have to support our airport. We've got some issues that we have to work on. We're pretty much boxed in at this point and we've got to support it."
Read more in Tuesday's NEMS Daily Journal newspaper.
The action came after a special meeting with airport officials, which included questions and expressions of concern about airport operations from council members. The council had until midnight to accept the Federal Aviation Administration grant or it would have been lost.
The city must put up $48,854, or 2.5 percent matching money, to secure the grant. Last week the council had voted 5-2 against accepting the grant, citing what some members termed a lack of communication from the airport.
Live updates from today's meeting:
UPDATE 1:
Josh Abramson, the Tupelo Regional Airport executive director, said the lease requires the airport to provide a safe working environment in return for UAM's 20-year commitment to operate its business on airport property.
Abramson doesn't have a copy of the lease, nor does anybody else at the meeting.
BACKGROUND ON THE MEETING: City and airport officials, who remain at odds over the airport's management style and renovation plans, are meeting because the council rejected the federal grant.
In their rejection, council members said they felt pressured to rush into a decision and raised questions about the airport's policies and management style.
The grant, which requires a 2.5 percent municipal match, would fund security system improvements, taxiway rehabilitation, concrete apron expansions and a new air-conditioning system.
Although some of those repairs would directly benefit the airport, others would improve facilities used by a private company - Universal Asset Management - that leases some of the airport's property.
If the council still refuses to approve the grant, it will be responsible for some of those improvements itself.
The deadline for approval is midnight tonight.
UPDATE 2:
Ward 3 Councilman Jim Newell questions the lease between UAM and the city/airport.
Newell: "When we met back here at executive session (to approve the UAM lease) David Rumbarger (of the Community Development Foundation) came and talked to us for about 15 minutes about this great company that we need to take hold of and this is a lifetime opportunity for this and all the advantages … but he never told us what was involved in this contract and what we were getting involved in."
Airport Authority Member Rocky Miskelly: "Did you question him at that time?
Newell: "Yes, we did."
Miskelly: And did he answer them properly? It seems to me your questions are three years old.
UPDATE 3:
John Hill says he has reviewed the lease between UAM and Tupelo Regional Airport "from A to Z" and it doesn't commit the city or the airport to any specific projects of any specific dollar amount. But there "is a commitment that we will continue to upgrade the facilities and keep the facilities in good condition."
Newell and Ward 5 Councilman Jonny Davis say that's normal lease language and doesn't necessary commit Tupelo or the airport to accepting this grant and performing the work outlined in the grant.
UPDATE 4:
Abramson said "this is not a UAM grant. The Appalachian Regional Commission grant is a UAM grant, and you've already committed the funds to pay for that. This is a grant for Tupelo Regional Airport. One of the byproducts of having tenants is that when you do improvements at the airport, those tenants will benefit."
Abramson said roughly 10 tenants currently using airport property will benefit from the improvements outlined in the $1.85 million federal grant in question today.
"The area UAM occupies is only 60 percent of the facility. We still have 13,000 square feet we need to occupy with another tenant so we can start breaking even with this deal," Abramson said, referring to the city's acquisition of the old National Guard building on which the airport still owes money.
UPDATE 5:
Universal Asset Management (UAM) also made a commitment when it agreed to locate its operations here, according to Abramson: "Three years to get to 100 jobs, as well as a $4.6 million payroll. We're in the mid 60s (employees at UAM) right now."
UPDATE 6:
The main problem is communication, said airport authority member Ty Robinson.
"We haven't 'been talking to y'all at all, and I apologize for that. We're talking about an update every other week to let you know what's going on at the airport. Josh (Abramson) printed out a roster of all airport members, phone numbers, email addresses. We're here to help the city.
Said Councilman Jonny Davis: "I think everybody has reached the point where all this gets cleared up. The whole thing is about sunshine and clarity. There's too much confusion, too many figures … . When you're handed a document on Thursday and told that we're going to need to vote on (the $1.85 million grant) on Tuesday, it was the first time we were told of any of that."
Davis added: "It's not the project, it's not UAM, it's an overall longstanding misunderstanding of previous council problems, this council … of not having any idea of what' is going on with the airport.
UPDATE 7:
Abramson said that if the city doesn't approve the grant, the money will go to another airport in the South. The airport could get another Federal Aviation Administration grant next year for $1 million, but there is no guarantee since the federal government has to budget those funds.
"The authority's thought is that since we're going to do this work and we have the appropriated funds and we have until midnight (to accept those funds), we need to strike when we know the funding will be available to us," said Miskelly.
Councilmen Jonny Davis and Mike Bryan said they understand but felt like they were forced by the airport last week to accept that grant.
"We have no desire to put a gun to your head," Miskelly responded.
UPDATE 8:
Ward 6 Councilman Mike Bryan, in whose ward the airport is located, said he supports progress but thinks the airport is asking the city for too much money.
"With y'all working in the red and asking for that much money ... we need to sit down and discuss what is the fate of our airport?"
Bryan also said he gets calls all the time from constituents complaining about how many planes UAM brings in.
Finally, he said, "Josh (Abramson) called me Monday before the vote and asked if I had any questions, and I said, 'Not at this time,' and I had a boat load. But it was the Monday before the vote, I was driving and talking on my cell phone, and it just wasn't the right time."
UPDATE 9
Miskelly: "Without a successful airport in this city, we don't make the short list on so many companies' economic development plans. Toyota, we would have never made the short list … we all know the airport has value, we all know it has a capital need."
He also said it's not just an airport, it's an airport industrial park and he "sees dollars and jobs when I drive by."
UPDATE 10:
Ward 7 Councilman Willie Jennings said he's glad airport and city officials met today and looks forward to the two entities working together more successfully in the future.
UPDATE 11:
Newell complains about UAM and the number of aircraft it brings in.
"It impacts our decision when we get negative comments from the community. I represent 5,000-6,000 people, and there are many that aren't happy with what's going on out there. It's very relevant. If the public is unhappy with our new neighbor and we're asked to give however much money it may be ... it's an image problem."
Responded Miskelly: "The beautiful thing about this vote tonight is it's not a vote on" UAM.
UPDATE 12:
Tupelo Regional Airport Authority member Fred Cook read a letter from fellow member Glenn McCullough, who could not attend. McCullough asked the council to approve the grant, calling it "the right thing to do for the city of Tupelo."
UPDATE 13:
The City Council votes on the grant. It passes UNANIMOUSLY.
Said Newell while voting, "We have to support our airport. We've got some issues that we have to work on. We're pretty much boxed in at this point and we've got to support it."
Read more in Tuesday's NEMS Daily Journal newspaper.
Vets recall the days they lived in a Flying Fortress: Public was invited take a flight on a B-17 bomber over weekend
A ride in a vintage World War II B-17 - the famed Flying Fortress - makes you appreciate the comforts of modern aviation.
Sure, you have to pay extra to check baggage, and yeah, lines and delays can be a hassle, but the seats are padded and adjustable, people with good manners serve you drinks and you don't have to fire a 50-caliber machine gun while people shoot back at you.
"Some days were worse than others," said Harvin Abrahamson of Wauwatosa. He's referring to anti-aircraft fire. He's in his late 80s, now, but when he was still on the cusp of 20 he served as a radio operator and gunner on a B-17. It was a live target on bombing runs from England to Germany and back - nine-hour flights, many of which were spent in terror. He saw planes of colleagues shot down around him and flak blowing holes in the soft aluminum skin of his plane.
"The bombardier had his ear grazed by flak. He was very lucky to be alive."
A gunner in the middle of the plane was hit in the foot by a chunk of aluminum, and Abrahamson himself had a close call.
"I was very lucky, also; I had a piece about as big as your fist go through my radio room and it went between my legs and the post of my swivel chair," he said.
"It didn't touch the post, and it didn't even tear my trousers," he said, adding, "A perfect shot."
Abrahamson and his fellow veterans of B-17 warfare appeared at Waukesha Airport last weekend to take part in Wings Over Waukesha, a two-day flying event featuring a vintage B-17 called Aluminum Overcast.
A program of the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Aluminum Overcast tours the country offered customers the chance to appreciate what The Greatest Generation experienced in the skies over Europe. It'll make about 30 stops this year, and gave rides to those with deep pockets and something more than $400 to spare.
It is an unusual experience. Perched on a small seat, you feel like you're in a tin can. You can see the ribs and rivets that hold the thing together and sense how thin the skin is - "you could take a screwdriver and punch a hole in the fuselage," Abrahamson said.
It's not pressurized, and its gun holes are open to the sky.
In the glass bubble below the pilots, your face is perilously close to a whirring propeller, and as the crew chief warned, "as you're going through the bomb bay, the catwalk is very narrow … and it has a tendency to grab cellphone cases, camera cases, eyeglass cases and drop them on the doors. If they go on the doors, just leave it there. We'll get it when we go on the ground, because the doors won't support your weight. They were designed to release bombs through the doors, so they don't hold very much."
The exterior of the B-17 bristles with machine guns - 12 of them - but it's the sound of the aircraft that's most impressive. It's like the roar of the ocean on an especially stormy day.
Bob Abresch of Brookfield entered the service at 23 in 1942. As a B-17 pilot he flew 33 missions at a time when the maximum was raised from 30 to 35.
He remembers how cold it was up above the clouds - 60 degrees below zero - and feels lucky that the flak that penetrated his plane never hit him or any members of his crew. But he did have an engine go out and was forced to leave his squadron and limp to back to England alone.
Fighter jets were another threat - the B-17, with a lumbering maximum speed of 150 mph - were no match for them, but, in a group, they had more firepower, so they'd stick together and fight it out.
Like Abrahamson, he lost friends in the war, and the relief of every safe return was tempered when he arrived at the base and learned who wasn't coming back.
Source: http://www.wauwatosanow.com
Sure, you have to pay extra to check baggage, and yeah, lines and delays can be a hassle, but the seats are padded and adjustable, people with good manners serve you drinks and you don't have to fire a 50-caliber machine gun while people shoot back at you.
"Some days were worse than others," said Harvin Abrahamson of Wauwatosa. He's referring to anti-aircraft fire. He's in his late 80s, now, but when he was still on the cusp of 20 he served as a radio operator and gunner on a B-17. It was a live target on bombing runs from England to Germany and back - nine-hour flights, many of which were spent in terror. He saw planes of colleagues shot down around him and flak blowing holes in the soft aluminum skin of his plane.
"The bombardier had his ear grazed by flak. He was very lucky to be alive."
A gunner in the middle of the plane was hit in the foot by a chunk of aluminum, and Abrahamson himself had a close call.
"I was very lucky, also; I had a piece about as big as your fist go through my radio room and it went between my legs and the post of my swivel chair," he said.
"It didn't touch the post, and it didn't even tear my trousers," he said, adding, "A perfect shot."
Abrahamson and his fellow veterans of B-17 warfare appeared at Waukesha Airport last weekend to take part in Wings Over Waukesha, a two-day flying event featuring a vintage B-17 called Aluminum Overcast.
A program of the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Aluminum Overcast tours the country offered customers the chance to appreciate what The Greatest Generation experienced in the skies over Europe. It'll make about 30 stops this year, and gave rides to those with deep pockets and something more than $400 to spare.
It is an unusual experience. Perched on a small seat, you feel like you're in a tin can. You can see the ribs and rivets that hold the thing together and sense how thin the skin is - "you could take a screwdriver and punch a hole in the fuselage," Abrahamson said.
It's not pressurized, and its gun holes are open to the sky.
In the glass bubble below the pilots, your face is perilously close to a whirring propeller, and as the crew chief warned, "as you're going through the bomb bay, the catwalk is very narrow … and it has a tendency to grab cellphone cases, camera cases, eyeglass cases and drop them on the doors. If they go on the doors, just leave it there. We'll get it when we go on the ground, because the doors won't support your weight. They were designed to release bombs through the doors, so they don't hold very much."
The exterior of the B-17 bristles with machine guns - 12 of them - but it's the sound of the aircraft that's most impressive. It's like the roar of the ocean on an especially stormy day.
Bob Abresch of Brookfield entered the service at 23 in 1942. As a B-17 pilot he flew 33 missions at a time when the maximum was raised from 30 to 35.
He remembers how cold it was up above the clouds - 60 degrees below zero - and feels lucky that the flak that penetrated his plane never hit him or any members of his crew. But he did have an engine go out and was forced to leave his squadron and limp to back to England alone.
Fighter jets were another threat - the B-17, with a lumbering maximum speed of 150 mph - were no match for them, but, in a group, they had more firepower, so they'd stick together and fight it out.
Like Abrahamson, he lost friends in the war, and the relief of every safe return was tempered when he arrived at the base and learned who wasn't coming back.
Source: http://www.wauwatosanow.com
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