Schoepflin Dale E DA-4-550, N550YS: Accident occurred September 08, 2012 in Viola, Idaho

NTSB Identification: WPR12LA410 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 08, 2012 in Viola, ID
Aircraft: SCHOEPFLIN DA-4-550, registration: N550YS
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On September 8, 2012, about 1800 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur built Schoepflin DA-4-550 airplane (super buccaneer), N550YS, while maneuvering over a private residence, stalled, and impacted the ground near Viola, Idaho. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a business flight. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage in the post impact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed.

According to law enforcement personnel from the Latah County Sheriff’s Department, the pilot was overflying the area and dropping leaflets during a Republican fund-raising picnic at a private residence. Witnesses reported the airplane making a tight turn, stalling, and spinning to the ground; the engine sounded “strong.”

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident and reported that the majority of the airplane had burned in the post-impact fire. His examination of the airframe revealed no mechanical anomalies. The engine was recovered for further examination.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 550YS        Make/Model: EXP       Description: EXP- LAKE 
  Date: 09/09/2012     Time: 0030

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

LOCATION
  City: VIOLA   State: ID   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT STALLED WHILE DROPPING LEAFLETS AT A GATHERING. VIOLA, ID

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   0     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: Maneuver      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: SPOKANE, WA  (NM13)                   Entry date: 09/10/2012 

 http://registry.faa.gov/N550YS

 http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N550YS.html

The Latah County Sheriff's Office has identified Randy Humble, 60, of Moscow as the pilot who died in an airplane crash Saturday afternoon off Saddle Ridge Road near Viola.

Humble and another pilot had been performing aerial tricks for about 40 Latah County Republicans who were picnicking at a private residence. Witnesses said Humble's plane, which was designed to land on water, made an engine revving noise before nosediving toward the ground. They then heard a thud and saw black smoke rising from behind a nearby hill.

The plane fell apart and began burning upon impact, and Humble died at the scene. Picnic attendees rushed to put out the flames before Moscow volunteer firefighters arrived.

Ministry Wings Aviation works to soar to new heights

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Nearly 2,500 people gathered at River Falls Airport for a spectacular air and car show hosted by Ministry Wings Aviation.

Serving to infinity and beyond, Ministry Wings Aviation is working to provide private air transportation to those in need.

Executive Director of MWA Justin Miller said, "(MWA) helps children who are in need of medical treatment, disaster and humanitarian relief and churches, ministries, and missionaries. We do that to further the great commission of Jesus Christ to promote the gospel to people and to show God's love for others."

Saturday's air and car how did more than entertain a crowd; it's a benefit to raise money and awareness.

"It's benefiting Ministry Wings Aviation and to promote our empty flight plan, and currently today was the first official launch of our web based program that does the matching with the need and with the air craft," said Miller.

The organization has helped many around the area but hopes technology can take them to a national level, but locally their first event was a big success.

"We had the people come out with their little 'RC' planes and that was pretty cool," said spectator Spencer Nelson. "They had them up in the air, they were stalling and doing flips and missing each other. I think we've had a good time today it was this airport's first time doing this and I think they did a pretty good job."

Officials say it may have been their first, but definitely not their last.

"I like this because it has so many cool features, better than most air shows around that I've been to," said spectator Andrew.

If you'd like to look further into their organization, you can visit their website at www.ministryaviation.org

Source:   http://www.connectamarillo.com

Cessna 525, N520RM: Aircraft nose gear collapsed on landing - Gypsum, Colorado

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 520RM        Make/Model: C525      Description: 525 CitationJet
  Date: 09/07/2012     Time: 1959

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

LOCATION
  City: GYPSUM   State: CO   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED ON LANDING. GYPSUM, CO

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Pass:   4     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: DENVER, CO  (NM03)                    Entry date: 09/10/2012 

 http://registry.faa.gov/N520RM

 http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N520RM.html

VAIL, Colo. (AP) - All five people aboard a private jet escaped injury when the aircraft's nose gear collapsed during landing at Eagle County Regional Airport.

Airport aviation director Greg Phillips tells The Vail Daily, the Cessna Citation aircraft was landing at about 2 p.m. Friday and skidded to a stop near the end of the runway. The group had left Hot Springs, Ark., earlier in the day.

Phillips says the plane was removed from the runway Friday afternoon, and no commercial flights were affected.

Source:    http://www.koaa.com

Lake County to temporarily close Lampson Field Airport (1O2) to general aviation traffic due to Scotts Fire

LAKEPORT, Calif. – In response to a wildland fire burning northwest of Lakeport, a Lake County official said Saturday evening that the county is issuing a temporary closure order for Lampson Field.

Lake County Department of Public Works Director Scott De Leon said the Notice to Airmen – or NOTAM – goes into effect at 7 a.m. Sunday, and will close Lampson Field to all general aviation traffic.

De Leon said Cal Fire will be using Lampson Field as its base of aerial operations on the Scotts Fire, burning since Friday afternoon at the northern end of Cow Mountain, west of Scotts Valley Road and east of Ukiah.

The closure will be in effect for five days, unless modified, De Leon said.

He said the closure order does not affect REACH Air Ambulance, which will continue to operate out of Lampson Field.

On Saturday evening Cal Fire said the Scotts Fire had grown to 3,000 acres, with five percent containment.

No date for full containment has yet been reported.

Earlier in the day, county officials issued a temporary closure order for Mt. Konocti County Park and suspended hunting in the Highland Springs area due to concerns about fire danger, as Lake County News has reported.

The county’s action to temporary close the park and halt hunting at Highland Springs also was in response to the already stretched state and local fire resources, which are being used not just on the Scotts Fire but also on the North Pass Fire in Mendocino County and the 16 Complex in Colusa and Yolo counties.

Source:  http://www.lakeconews.com

Beech 18/C-45: Suffolk plane runs into ditch

SUFFOLK

No one was injured when a plane ran into a ditch at a rural grass landing strip in the 900 block of Hare Road Saturday evening.

Dispatchers received a call for the incident around 5:20 p.m., according to a city news release.

The 1943 twin-engine Beech 18/C-45 plane was never airborne, but narrowly missed a telephone pole during the incident.

Pilot John Mosby Williams, of Bonita Springs, Fla., was undergoing test maneuvers on the plane's brakes when they failed, causing the plane to veer across the road and into the ditch, the release said.

Source:  http://hamptonroads.com

Piper JC3-65, N70108: Accident occurred September 08, 2012 in Kingsland, Texas

NTSB Identification: CEN12FA616 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 08, 2012 in Kingsland, TX
Aircraft: PIPER J3C-65, registration: N70108
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

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

 On September 8, 2012, about 1843 central daylight time, a Piper Aircraft Inc., J3C-65 airplane, N70108, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during initial climb at Shirley Williams Airport (44TE), Kingsland, Texas. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. At the time of the accident the local flight was originating from 44TE.

Several witnesses saw the airplane during climb-out and one of them described it as climbing slowly in a nose-up attitude. Another witness said the engine was operating, but did not sound like it was operating at full power. When the airplane had climbed to an altitude of about 125 feet above ground level (agl) it then suddenly rolled to the left and descended in a nearly vertical attitude impacting terrain on the left side of the runway.

 http://registry.faa.gov/N70108

 http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N70108.html

KINGSLAND, Texas (KXAN) - A Houston man, the owner of a vintage airplane, was the victim in Saturday's plane crash on an air strip just north of Kingsland in Llano County.

Department of Public Safety officials said Monday his name is Thomas Robinson, 53.

The single-engine plane has crashed in Llano County on Saturday night, the second crash in as many weeks.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed a Piper J-3 Cub went down as it took off from the Shirley Williams Airport this evening around 7 p.m., an air strip about 15 miles north of Kingsland.

Early reports are that the plane took off from the runway, attempted to make a left-hand turn and crashed.

Witnesses said the Robinson was attempting to sell his plane in the Kingsland area. He got the plane up in the air but didn't gain enough speed. Law enforcement officials have yet to notify the victim's family. The National Traffic Safety Board will be on the scene on Sunday morning at 9 a.m.

Read more here:    http://www.kxan.com

 
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 70108        Make/Model: J3        Description: J-3 Cub (L-4, NE)
  Date: 09/09/2012     Time: 2345

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

LOCATION
  City: KINGSLAND   State: TX   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  CRASHED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. KINGSLAND, TX

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   0     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: Pleasure      Phase: Take-off      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: SAN ANTONIO, TX  (SW17)               Entry date: 09/10/2012 

Her HIGHness: Drunk airline passenger stole other passengers' food and demanded crew put some 'f****** music on' as she swigged from her own bottle of gin

• Woman ranted at staff to play music and started bouncing around in her seat

• Passengers subjected to seven hour flight of misery as woman stole their food   

• Passenger, 39, blamed her abusive behavior on a 'fear of flying'

A drunken airline passenger who stole other flyers' food and demanded the plane 'play music' is facing a possible jail sentence.

Bela Chopra, 39, swigged from her own bottle of gin and demanded that music be played over the jet's loudspeakers, Uxbridge Magistrates heard.

The abusive woman, who admitted being drunk on an aircraft, blamed her appalling behavior and ranting on her fear of flying and a lack of sleep.

Problems began as soon as Chopra, from Mickleover, Derby, took her seat on the Emirates plane on the flight from Dubai, Uxbridge Magistrates heard.

When the in-flight meal was served she stole food from other passenger's plates and then opened a packet of cigarettes as if she was about to light up.

A passenger who was sitting with his wife and two children behind Chopra saw she was behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, said prosecutor Nikki Onuma-Elliott.

'As the aircraft was taxiing she got out of her seat and said very loudly that she needed to go to the ladies.'

Chopra was told to sit down and it was explained to her that she was not allowed to leave her seat during take-off.  

But she started a drunken rant and refused to follow instructions.

'She remained abusive, saying she just wanted music. She said: “I just want the f****** music on",' Ms Onuma-Elliott added.

Chopra's eyes were bloodshot, that she smelled of alcohol and while arguing with the crew was seen to remove something from her bag.

'She took a bottle from her handbag, and poured some gin into a plastic cup, which she consumed quickly,'said Ms Onuma-Elliott.

'She started taking food from other people's plates and also opening a packet of cigarettes.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Socata TBM 700, N850ZM: Accident occurred September 07, 2012 in Horseshoe Bay, Texas

NTSB Identification: CEN12LA672 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, September 07, 2012 in Horseshoe Bay, TX
Aircraft: SOCATA TBM 700, registration: N850ZM
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.

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 September 7, 2012, at 1500 central daylight time, a Socata TBM 700, N850ZM, registered to the pilot, sustained substantial damage after its right main landing gear collapsed while landing on runway 17 at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport, Horseshoe Bay, Texas. The private pilot and his 2 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plane was not filed. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The cross-country flight had originated at 1230 from Abilene, Texas.

After an uneventful cross-country flight, the pilot configured the airplane for landing and had cockpit indications that the landing gear was down and locked. Upon a normal landing, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the runway.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: UNK        Make/Model: TBM       Description: TBM-700
  Date: 09/07/2012     Time: 1950

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

LOCATION
  City: HORSESHOE BAY   State: TX   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT GEAR COLLAPSED ON LANDING. HORSESHOE BAY, TX

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


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Landing      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: SAN ANTONIO, TX  (SW17)               Entry date: 09/10/2012 

HORSESHOE BAY — A pilot and his family escaped serious injury after the aircraft's landing gear collapsed, damaging their plane and causing a fuel spill, officials said.

The episode occurred about 2:30 p.m. September 7 at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport, according to police. The accident at the airstrip is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Officers said 54-year-old pilot Randell Vinson of Abilene, who is a part-time Horseshoe Bay resident, told investigators he attempted to land and "heard an unusual thump sound leading him to suspect a problem with the gear."

His wife and son also were aboard the 2010 single-engine Socata airplane, according to Police Chief Bill Lane. No injuries were reported.

"(Vinson) said that all of his gauges indicated landing gear lock-down and he proceeded to touch down," Lane added in a prepared release. "After landing he reversed his propeller as a part of a routine landing procedure to slow the speed of the aircraft and the right side landing gear collapsed."

The pilot told investigators he "immediately locked down the brakes to attempt to control the speed and to try to control the path of the aircraft to avoid collision with any ground objects."

The landing caused damage to the gear, and the plane came to rest in a parking area on the west side of the airport, the report stated.

Firefighters rushed to the scene to contain the spilled fuel from the accident, officials said.

The FAA interviewed Vinson by phone, then authorized the pilot to have an aviation repair company make temporary repairs so the plane could be stored in one of the hangars. Federal officials are expected to make an on-site inspection September 10, Lane said.

The small airport is located just off Clayton Nolen Drive.

Source: http://www.dailytrib.com

Batesville Regional Airport (KBVX), Arkansas: Severe storms damage airplanes, hangars

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Authorities say strong winds from severe thunderstorms destroyed airplane hangars and damaged homes and vehicles as they moved across Arkansas.

There were no immediate reports of major injuries with Friday's storms, which knocked out electric power to thousands of customers.

In Independence County, the National Weather Service estimated winds were about 80 mph when they destroyed three hangars and damaged three airplanes at Batesville Regional Airport. In Desha, falling trees crushed three cars and damaged two houses.

An emergency dispatcher says the office didn't receive any reports of injuries.

Batesville radio announcer Michael Ferry says he was in the press box to call a high school game when winds shattered a window and cut him.

Under 15,000 were without power Saturday.

Source:  http://www.todaysthv.com

Boston one of seven cheapest United States airfares

 

(NECN) - Boston could be a hot fall holiday vacation destination. Fare Compare finds The Hub is one of the seven cheapest U.S. cities, airfare-wise. Also on the list: Washington D.C., San Antonio, Chicago and Denver. Across the pond, the best flight deals are to Germany, Ireland, Spain and London.

Aircraft Silencer Technology Seminar To Be Held In Santa Monica On September 22

The public, pilots, and aviation administrators are invited to a free Aircraft Silencer Technology Seminar on Sept. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying. 

The seminar is part of the City of Santa Monica's continuing effort to enhance the Airport’s compatibility within the community by exploring new and emerging noise reduction technologies.

The presentation will be given by Hans-Peter Gomolzig, Chief Executive Office of Gomolzig Flugzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH, the German aviation manufacturer that pioneered the low noise silencer system, Quietflight. 

The seminar will explain the concept, basic science and benefits behind Gomolzig’s Quietflight noise reduction system, which is currently in use in Europe. The session will include a question and answer period.

The seminar is part of the City of Santa Monica Visioning process, a rigorous three-phase public process regarding the 227-acre Santa Monica Airport Campus aimed at providing unique 

opportunities for the City and the community to discuss the range of possibilities for the future of the Airport Campus. For more information visit: http://smovisioning.org.


Gomolzig Flugzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH has been involved in the aviation business for over 50 years. 

Read more here:   http://www.smmirror.com

Clear and present danger in Nigerian airspace

As the nation’ s civil aviation sector currently battles with the challenge of diminishing manpower, paucity of funds vis-à-vis infrastructural deficit, among other woes, experts have expressed fears over the continued viability and sustainability of the nation’s airspace. Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf and Gbenga Oyebanji examine the issues
 
DESPITE tepid denials by the authorities concerned, there is growing fear out there that the nation’s airspace is anything but safe just as there are apprehensions by industry pundits over the sector’s future prospects considering its dwindling fortunes in the last decade.

Investigations by The Nation showed that the industry is being dogged by many challenges, from poor infrastructure, high cost of aviation fuel to huge expenditure on aircraft acquisition and maintenance, the safety of the country’s airspace is now a subject of controversy between the Federal Government and foreign airlines.

Experts’ damning verdict

If the verdict given by the investigative panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Aviation to review operations in the aviation industry is anything to go by, it is correct to say that the sector is in a mess.

The panel at the submission of its findings advised the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the sector in order to tackle its deficiencies.

 The retired Group Captain John Obakpolor-led panel told the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, that a state of emergency was required to check decayed infrastructure in the sector.

It also said N500billion was required by airlines to address some of the deficiencies in their operations.

The panel revealed that, “At the end of its deliberations, the committee came up with 59 findings and 41 recommendations, in line with the terms of reference.

“The Federal Government should immediately declare an emergency in the aviation sector and commence implementation of the Aviation Safety Emergency Programme.”

It added, “The Federal Government should intensify efforts to complete the ongoing reconstruction and remodelling of the terminal buildings and structures, as well as construct new ones across the country.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria should empower commercial banks to create a window for a long-term low interest funding for direct lending to aviation. The industry will require at least N500billion for this purpose.

“An aircraft leasing company with an initial investment of $10billion should be set up by the Federal Government to acquire modern aircraft directly from major manufacturers and lease to qualified Nigerian air operators at preferential rates. This will help in the reduction of operating cost and improvement of efficiency and competitiveness.”

 “Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should ensure that airline operators are put under closer surveillance. Maintenance actions carried out by operators, if not routine, should always be queried to establish what necessitated the maintenance action and ensure the continuous proper use of the technical logbook.”

The panel recommended that greater emphasis should be placed on proper and adequate maintenance of aircraft, rather than age restriction.

Decades of deplorable infrastructure to blame

On the parlous state of the sector, the jury is out that things have since gone bad. Operators stated the fact that airplanes enter the Nigerian airspace without the knowledge of air traffic controllers, they only get to know of such flights through telephone calls from their counterparts in Nigeria’s friendly nations.

The implication is that virtually all the major foreign airlines have quietly refrained themselves from using the nation’s airspace.

The Nation can authoritatively report that at least 10 foreign airlines have stopped using the Nigerian airspace and prefer to use longer routes to get to their destination.

Among those affected are the British Airways flight 55K which goes from London to Johannesburg; Air Namibia 286 from Frankfurt to Windhoek; Belgian Airline 357 from Brussels to Kinshasa; Air France 889 goes from Kinshasa to Paris; Air France 995 from Johannesburg to Paris; Air France 900 from Yaoundé to Paris; Air France 928 from Luanda to Paris; Air France 896 from Brazzzaville to Paris; South African Airways 237 moves from London to Johannesburg; SAA 260 from Johannesburg to Frankfurt; SAA 261 from Frankfurt to Johannesburg; SAA 264 from Johannesburg to Munich; SAA 265 from Munich to Johannesburg; Emirates 261 runs from Dubai to Sao Paulo; Emirates 246 from Dubai to Rio De Janeiro; and Qatar 922 from Sao Paulo to Doha.

These airlines argued that the country’s airspace is dotted with moribund communications gadgets (visual and voice) such that air traffic controllers and pilots now have extreme difficulty in reaching one another.

Before the foreign airlines took the action, some key officials in the aviation agencies and workers’ unions had inundated the office of the Minister of Aviation with letters on the deplorable state of the communications equipment to no avail.

The Airspace Manager of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), J.I. Ekweonwa on July 9, 2012 informed the agency’s managing director that, “Kano Area Control Centre (ACC) radio communication frequencies - 124.1MHz and 128.5 MHz sectorised East and West respectively have deteriorated in quality and reception thereby making pilots/controllers communication terribly bad. In short, pilots and controllers hardly receive or communicate to each other within the Flight Information Region (Kano FIR). Sir, it would be pertinent to suggest that an expert, who will carry our members of staff along be sent to configure these TVHF into the system within these sectors -East and West for eventual quality and lasting services to our stakeholders.”

Also, on July 10, 2012, the Deputy General Manager for NAMA, Okwor .I. informed the Airspace Manager of Malam Aminu Kano Airport, that “Kano’s Very High Frequency radios on frequencies 128.5MHz (Kano West) and 124.1mhZ (Kano East) were “not only poor but deplorable,” adding that, “ communication based on these radios in their present state has not only become very difficult and ineffective in the provision of Air Traffic Management (ATM) but has also impeded the growth of air traffic in our FIR.”

Air traffic controllers and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) in a presentation to the Minister of Aviation on July 18, 2012 on the status of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) facilities, safety of the Nigerian airspace said: “It is worrisome that the nation’s airspace is increasingly but gradually being avoided by the international over flyers due to poor communications between air traffic controllers and pilots.”

The economic implication is that the Federal Government is losing revenue, which would have accrued to the country if the airlines that now fly from South Africa to London had used the Nigerian airspace.

The document signed by the NUATE President, D.M. Safiyanu, which was received by the minister on July 20, 2012, stated that the provision of Controller-Pilot-Data-Link Communication (CPDLC) would have been a remedy to this “unfortunate situation,” regretting that, “all our neighbouring airspaces have such facilities.’’

He said this might probably account for the over flyers’ preference for nation’s neighbour’s airspace even though they make their trips longer.

Safiyanu urged the minister to call for global, African and Nigerian navigational chart routes for details. He also tasked her to consult the carriers for more details on the appalling danger of the nation’s airspace.

He said more often than not, air traffic controllers through NAMA do receive Air Safety Reports (ASRs) from airlines flying Nigerian airspace.

The ASR is an avenue in which pilot, crew-members in a data form, report or lay complaint to NAMA and copy to International Air Transport Association (IATA) on relevant safety matters or issues observed in the course of their flight.

According to him, “there are several cases where aircraft enter into Nigerian airspace unnoticed until neighbouring airspace notifies us through telephone, for example, Ndjamena, Chad. As a matter of fact, air traffic controllers on duty are facing operational hazards daily as they sometimes watch helplessly whenever aircraft are near collision and cannot provide air traffic control due to inability to communicate.’’

He said for the minister to get a clearer picture of the deplorable condition of the country’s airspace, she should contact IATA, the clearing-house for global airlines and call all the air traffic control closed logbooks for Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Abuja from January 2012.

“The pilots of the presidential fleet can attest to these communication problems. Urgent remedies to these problems are very necessary because of its negative impact on safety, revenue and national security. Generally, history has shown that chief executives in the past misled former ministers, because they will never expose their deficiencies for you to help. We shall never allow that to happen again if you desire to hear regularly from workers who are the direct operators or end users of all aviation and airport facilities,” he said.

In the view of British Airways, British Airways Regional Commercial Manager, Africa, Mr. Ian Petrie, who spoke to journalists in London recently, said the situation coupled with soaring oil prices had taken their toll on the airline business as major clients from other industries including banks, oil firms among others have drastically reduced their budgets for travel.

Harrowing experience of an air traveller

Following the recent Dana airplane crash on June 3, 2012 in the residential area of Iju Ishaga, one would expect that the other companies plying the Nigerian air route would be cautious enough to lay to rest fears associated with air transport in Nigeria.This was not the case on 22nd August, 2012 when Aero flight AJ 301 took off to Enugu at 8:45am but couldn’t land in the state on two occasions due to bad weather condition.

According to a passenger on the plane, Mr. Ayodele Adesanmi, the plane went to Enugu twice during the same journey and never reached its destination. He said, ‘After experiencing several turbulence in air coupled with the bad weather, the plane return to Lagos around 11:00am, then we asked to disembark for refueling but just about 20min after, we were asked to get on board the second time. The plane took off around 11:30 and the same thing happened again, we could not land the second time. So we return to Lagos around 1:30pm. By this time nobody was willing to travel again by the same flight. Yet the airline management wanted us to. We had to protest before they cancel the flight and refund our money.”

According to Adesanmi, “Passengers on board had to forfeit appointments and those who have not flew in several years had a bad experience of air transport in Nigeria. Some who were determined to travel on that day resort to traveling by road…”

Aviation budget
The aviation gulped a total of N48.9billion naira which is 1.1% of the 2012 budget, even the CBN has estimated that the N300billion will be required to bring the aviation sector to a satisfactory condition. Akin Omotunde, an economics argues that aviation industry is of immense and strategic importance to the rapid development of Nigeria’s economy, as she depends mostly on air transport to link people with each other and the rest of the world at large.

A safe, secure and efficient aviation industry, Omotunde contended, “Is crucial to Nigeria’s growth and prosperity. The development of the industry is threatened by a plethora of socio-economic, policy, and political issues including public perception that the industry in Nigeria is unsafe and inefficient. “

30 years ago, International Civil aviation Organisation (ICAO) estimated that Nigeria needed 500 Air traffic controllers to effectively man its airspace but presently that goal is not realistic because of the high turnover skilled personnel in the sector.

Echoing similar sentiment, in an interview with Akin Oni, Managing Director at Bristow Helicopters, recently, he lamented the huge capital outlay required to finance the Nigerian Content Act, training of aviation personnel, import duties on aircraft, and other challenges in the aviation industry.

“We are talking about a maintenance hangar for Nigeria, has anyone asked where we would get the engineers from? We are struggling today looking for Nigerian engineers. We don’t have engineers,” Oni lamented.

Captain George Santos, the Director, Employee Development and Resource Management with Caverton Helicopters, while giving an overview of the financial status of the sector, said it costs well over $200,000 to train a qualified pilot for four years.

This cost, he said, can hardly be borne by an individual. A development, he said may be affecting the availability of highly trained personnel like pilots in the country.

Market share in aviation
In the economic calculus of the sector, Nigeria’s impact account for nothing. The largest market share by any African airline in 2007 according to a World Bank research conducted by Henrich c. Bofinger for World Bank on Air transport industry, South African Airways 10.7%, Kenya Airways had 3.6% share, out of 15 airlines collated no Nigeria airline carrier was among the top 15. Five years after it has not change.

Last year Egypt Airline led the trend, followed by South African Airline, Ethiopian Airline and Kenya airline are still leading the fronts, they are among the top 9, and none of the top Nigeria airline could be in rank, base on market share, customer relation management we are still lacking behind.

Road show to nowhere

Perhaps, in the Federal Govern

ment‘s quest to address the budget deficit in the sector, the supervising minister of the sector, Mrs. Stella Oduah, embarked on a three-nation road show ostensibly in search of foreign direct investments remains diversionary.

But in the view of aviation pundits, this was diversionary. According to Mr. Wale Alabi, an aviation analyst, “Granted that the Federal Government has announced plans to borrow N106 billion from the Chinese in order to expand six airports across the country such as Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Kano and Enugu, which they want us to believe is a fallout of the road show, many Nigerians are not deceived.”

Minister’s response

From information released by the ministry, the road show received positive responses as many Chinese companies are willing to do business in Nigeria; major aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier is interested in helping Nigeria build maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities and also may reach a term with government to facilitate Nigerian airlines acquire Bombardier aircraft.

Aviation minister, Stella Oduah said: “As we travel round the world, we see and admire international airports in other countries and wish that our nation could boast of just one that can truly go by the name international airport. Today, following the approval of FEC, we have concluded arrangements to commence construction of not just one, but five brand new, world class international airports.

 “The company that is doing the execution is a Chinese company. When the Chinese NEXIM or any country NEXIM gives a loan, that country’s contractor will have to do the execution. That is the process we follow.

 “They will have to decide on who will do the awarding of the project, so ours is for Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to check if its in line with our regulation to ensure that the loan is in order. Once BPP gives no objection then we are free. Secondly, on what it will be spent upon, I want to say they are five international airports and six international perishable cargo terminals and all that is N106 billion all inclusive.”

The airports will be completed within two years with a concessionary loan of 22 years and five years moratorium of an interest rate of 2 per cent.

Read more:  http://www.thenationonlineng.net

Not for state to keep Air India flying

By Atanu dey

Air India is a prime example of what’s wrong with Governments getting involved in business.

There’s absolutely no reason why any Government should be in the business of running airlines, least of all the Government of a developing country. There are many reasons why the Government of India should not be in any business, least of all a business like commercial aviation. The first and foremost reason is that it serves no social purpose.

The service that commercial aviation provides is a private good, just like dentistry or accounting. People’s consumption of private goods — the demand — is adequately provided by a competitive marketplace through firms that compete for customers. The market is fully able to discipline firms by weeding out those which are unable to make a profit — which is another way of saying that the benefits that they provide (which is measured by their revenues) exceed their costs. Profits of firms in competitive markets are a proxy for the benefits that accrue to society.

Government intervention in the provision of private goods has to be limited to only regulating of competitive firms. In those specific cases where the operations of private firms in the provision of private goods lead to any form of harm (so-called ‘externalities’ such as the emission of pollutants) does the Government have a role in interfering in the market. But under only very special circumstances is the Government justified in the actual provisioning of a private good.

One special case would be if the private sector were incapable of providing the private good. Consider the case that there is a very large fixed cost involved — such as building a high speed nationwide railway network which would require an investment of say $300 billion just for the capital costs. No single private firm could possibly invest that amount, although a consortium of very large private firms could do it. The Government’s role in coordinating investments in such a large project would be justified on the grounds that the project would lead to social welfare gains that could not be otherwise obtained.

Not too many years ago, before the liberalisation of the commercial aviation sector, the only option available to domestic air travellers was Indian Airlines, the public sector monopoly. The aviation sector was small, severely capacity constrained, and expensive. Being a monopoly, the service was bad and the service providers were generally rude. But that is what one normally expects from monopolies — whether they be in the business of providing services or goods. Many of us remember those days when telecommunications services were a luxury for which the waiting time was measured in years and bribes were an accepted part of reality.

The Air Corporation Act of 1994 liberalised India’s aviation sector, and the Government monopoly was ended. That was a welcome development and it benefited Indian travellers. Private sector airlines have done a great job of meeting the demand for domestic and international air transportation. Service quality has improved dramatically and prices have come down — as would be expected in any competitive market. If there were any doubts about the Indian private sector being able to adequately supply to the demand for air transportation, they have been laid to rest years ago.

So why does the Government of India continue to run Air India? It should not have even if Air India were not losing money. The Government has not demonstrated competency even on those essential public services where it has to be the sole provider. That alone is sufficient argument for it not to be in aviation. The case against the Government gets even stronger when Air India is so mismanaged that it loses money in thousands of crores of rupees.

The answer to why Air India exists as a public sector corporation is quite straightforward — and extremely sad for India.

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

Did the Federal Aviation Administration Push Staff to Vote For Democrats? Cause of Action Exposes Potential Hatch Act Violation at the FAA

By Jenny Manning 

Imagine being told the future of your job depends on how you chose to vote in the upcoming November election.

According to the government transparency group "Cause of Action," that's exactly what John J. Hickey, deputy associate administrator for aviation safety at the FAA, and Raymond Towles, deputy director of flight standards field operations told employees at a May 23, 2012 staff meeting in Renton.

The two reportedly told subordinates, “if the Republicans win office [their] jobs may be effected [sic]…if the Democrats win office then [their] jobs would not be effected [sic],” according to a statement from Cause of Action. Hickey and Towles are also said to have made similar comments at other mandatory meetings.

If the allegations are true, the FAA may be in violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits Executive agency employees from engaging in political activity intended to affect the result of an election.

Read more:  http://enumclaw.patch.com/articles/cause-of-action-letter-calls-for-investigation-of-faa-read-it-here-tell-us-what-you-think-54da5f42#comment_4627864

Related: http://causeofaction.org/2012/09/05/cause-of-action-exposes-potential-hatch-act-violation-at-the-faa/

Dreamliner has landed: Brand new plane, the first of 27 ordered, arrives after 15-hour flight from South Carolina via Germany

 

 Air India's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner touched down at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Saturday, welcomed by the customary water-cannon salute on the tarmac.

The plane, painted in the red and yellow livery of Air India, landed after a 15-hour flight from Boeing's Charleston factory in South Carolina, US, with a 90-minute refuelling stop at Frankfurt.

Captain A.S. Soman landed the aircraft - the first of 27 ordered by Air India - at 5.05 pm. 'It was a very smooth flight. It has a very quiet cabin and there is much less fatigue (for the pilot). It is both a pilot and passenger friendly airplane,' he said.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Edward R. Moore MXS, N21MX: Accident occurred September 08, 2012 in Borrego Springs, California

NTSB Identification: WPR12LA407 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 08, 2012 in Borrego Springs, CA
Aircraft: MOORE EDWARD R MXS, registration: N21MX
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On September 8, 2012, about 1235 Pacific daylight time (PDT), an experimental Edward R. Moore MXS, N21MX, departed controlled flight and impacted terrain near Borrego Valley Airport (L08), Borrego Springs, California. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot was fatally injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage by impact forces. The local personal aerobatic flight departed L08, about 1225. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

Witnesses reported that during an aerobatic flight the airplane appeared to have departed controlled flight and the pilot was observed to leave the airplane followed by his parachute deploying. The parachute did not fully deploy before the pilot impacted the ground.

On scene examination and documentation was performed by FAA inspectors and the airplane was recovered for further examination.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 21MX        Make/Model: EXP       Description: EXP- MXS
  Date: 09/08/2012     Time: 1940

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

LOCATION
  City: BORREGO SPRINGS   State: CA   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED WHILE DOING AEROBATICS. BORREGO SPRINGS, CA

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   0     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: Maneuver      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: SAN DIEGO, CA  (WP09)                 Entry date: 09/10/2012 

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo

http://registry.faa.gov/N21MX

A month ago, Dr. Reinaldo Beyer took 33^rd in the 15th FAI World Advanced Aerobatic Championships in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, as part of an American team that took third place.

BORREGO SPRINGS — A pilot who was a longtime San Diego County cardiologist died in Borrego Springs after he unsuccessfully attempted to parachute from his experimental plane this afternoon, colleagues and authorities said.

He was identified as Dr. Reinaldo Beyer of Del Mar by Sharp Rees-Stealy officials.

"It is with profound sadness we note the sudden passing of longtime Sharp Rees-Stealy cardiologist Reinaldo Beyer, MD." said Dr. Donald Balfour III, president and medical director of Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group.

Balfour sent employees a statement this evening, saying Beyer died "when the plane he was flying experienced mechanical difficulties. Our hearts go out to his wife and fellow SRS cardiologists."

Beyer had worked with Sharp Rees-Stealy for more than a decade, a spokesman said.

The pilot of the home-built MXS aerobatic plane was doing a practice run at the Borrego Valley Airport, located 90 miles northeast of San Diego, when he began having trouble with the plane about 12:30 p.m.

He attempted to escape the plane and deploy his parachute, but it malfunctioned, and he crashed to the ground with the aircraft, an airport official said.

The plane suffered substantial damage, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer.

Beyer was described as a regular at the desert airfield. His name was not released by authorities as of late Saturday.

The plane is registered to Edward Moore of San Diego. A woman who identified herself as Moore's wife said that he was in Borrego Springs with the pilot, who is a family friend.

Borrego Springs fire officials are on the scene of the crash. Kenitzer said the FAA is cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation.

The NTSB typically releases a preliminary report within a week or two of the incident, but it typically takes months for the agency to come up with a probable cause of the accident, Kenitzer said.

Fire officials gave initial reports that the victim was performing acrobatic stunts atop the plane.

Read more here:   http://ramona.patch.com

Source:  http://www.utsandiego.com  

 http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo

http://registry.faa.gov/N21MX

Federal Aviation Administration Inspects Private Planes Yearly

KWQC-TV6 News and Weather For The Quad Cities -  


The FAA inspects planes applying to take part in air shows. 

 But the day after a local air show tragedy another major aviation event landed in the QCA.

The National "Stearman Fly In" .... in Galesburg....featuring 80-year-old World War II training planes

Safety is a concern for pilots of all aircraft and the FAA requires yearly inspections for general aviation aircraft. Trying to keep the skies as safe as possible.

Before powering up his plane for a lunchtime flight Bill Hertel examines it from back to front.

"Everything is pretty much where it's supposed to be, everything is hooked up, nothing is dripping any oil."

He says he looks the plane over every time he flies.

"Do a pretty thorough walk around inspection, check all controls and bearing connections for security and make sure fasteners are in position."

He's been around planes since the sixties. And bought his first Stearman during mechanics school.

"Leaking, that would indicate you might have a problem, they look good."

But his pre-flight checks aren't the only ones done on his plane. The FAA inspected his plane top to bottom just over a week ago. And can do spot checks on any plane at any airport.

"Two parts, airframe, and the power plant section and additionally if there are any safety issues that come up with a particular aircraft in a year, there is a service bulletin."

He says bad weather or pilot error cause most crashes. And even with plenty of flight experience, Hertel keeps the worst case scenario in the back of his mind.

"Nobody likes to hear about anyone getting hurt, it's just a darn shame, but it's something you do know, that's why you've always got to be thinking about it."

But even knowing the potential danger, Hertel says pilots feel a certain pull.

"There is something that talks to you through the flight controls."

A pull to be in control of the sky.

The fly in continues in Galesburg through Saturday night.

And is open to the public.

Read more and video:    http://www.kwqc.com

Lincoln (KLNK), Nebraska: U-Stop gas station near airport robbed

A U-Stop gas station near Lincoln airport was robbed early Saturday morning, police say.

Lincoln Police Capt. Joe Wright said two men walked into the U-Stop near Northwest 12th streets and Interstate 80 with metal rods in hand.

The men proceeded to threaten the store’s clerk before demanding cash and cigarettes and driving away with the items, Wright said.  A small amount of cash was stolen.

Captain Wright says they left in a dark colored car.  Both suspects are white, about 6'2" in their 20-30's. The U-Stop employee was not harmed.

Police continue to investigate.

Sources:
http://journalstar.com
http://www.klkntv.com

Kenya: Eurocopter Told to Say Sorry Over Leaked Report

Eurocopter, the manufacturers of the ill-fated aircraft that crashed in Ngong killing two cabinet ministers and four police officers has been given an ultimatum of seven days to apologize over a premature report into the accident. The Commission of Inquiry probing the crash yesterday ruled that Eurocopter should "tender an unconditional apology to the commission for improper and unauthorized dissemination of the report" to the Commission.

The commission, headed by Judge Kalpana Rawal, said the manufacturing company had violated the Convention of the International Civil Aviation, by disclosing information about an air crash without the authority of the Kenyan government. A ruling read out by one of the commissioners, Harold Tangai, also directed the Star and The Standard newspapers to apologize within the same period for publishing the leaked preliminary report by Eurocopter.

On Tuesday, Eurocopter lawyer Antony Gross introduced the report allegedly prepared by French investigators and emailed it to the commissioners and counsels at the commission without following the procedure. The leak sparked off protests from lawyers representing families, the police and the civil aviation authority who argued that it was a breach of confidentiality and the publication was aimed at derailing the commissions work.

Lawyers Fred Ngatia representing Saitoti family, Gikunda Miriti (for the police), Ashford Muriuki (for pilot Nancy Gituanja's family), Mayiani Sankale for the family of Joshua Tonkei said the report appeared to have concluded the cause of the accident when the commission was trying resolve the same.

The hurriedly prepared report had arrived at conclusions which indicated the crash might have been due to pilot error. The aircraft came down on the morning of June 10 killing Internal Security Minister George Saitoti , his Deputy Orwa Ojode and two police guards Thomas Murimi and Joshua Tonkei and pilots Capt Nancy Gituanja and Like Oyugi.

The commission yesterday directed Eurocopter to tender an apology to be published in all leading newspapers in the country in the next seven days or they would consider further action against the helicopter manufacturer. The ruling observed that the publication had given an impression that the report was already part and parcel of the commission.

In a heated submission on Tuesday, lawyers of the crash victims called for stiffer penalties against Eurocopter for first tendering the report to the commission in an unprocedural manner that led to subsequent leakage to the media. The commission adjourned yesterday for one week and will resume public hearings on September 17. The stripping of the engine is expected on Monday at the Lady Lory facility at the Wilson Airport.

APOLOGY

In our September 5 edition of the Star, we published preliminary report by Eurocopter which had pointed at pilot error as possible cause of the helicopter crash that killed six people among them Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and his deputy Orwa Ojodeh. We take this earliest opportunity to apologize to the families of the crash victims and to the commission probing the incident that our intention was neither to give conclusion to the cause of the crash nor to interfere with the investigations. We hope to set the record straight that the Commission is the one mandated with investigating the cause of the crash while the report by BEA team, Eurocopter and Turbomeca was a preliminary report carried out on their own without the government authority.

Read more:   http://allafrica.com

Pakistan blasphemy girl in dramatic prison release by helicopter

 

 

 RAWALPINDI: A Pakistani court granted bail and released a minor Christian girl Rimsha Masih, who had been accused of blasphemy, DawnNews reported on Saturday. 

 Rimsha was released from Adiala Jail, where she had been kept under detention for more than two weeks, and flown to an unknown location in a government helicopter.

Rimsha was brought from the jail in an armoured vehicle to the nearest helipad, where the government chopper was waiting to fly her out. A large number of security personnel, along with members of the Christian community, were present outside Adiala Jail.

Paul Bhatti, Pakistan’s minister for national harmony, told AFP that Rimsha was flown by helicopter to be reunited with her family.

“She has been freed from the jail and was transported by a helicopter to a safe place. Her family members received her,” he said.

Pakistan private TV channels broadcast footage of the girl wearing a traditional baggy green shirt and dark green trousers stepping out of an armoured vehicle and sitting in a helicopter.

Rimsha’s lawyer, Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, confirmed her release after two guarantors submitted a surety bond guaranteeing that the girl would reappear before court at the court’s choosing.

Earlier, on Friday, the teenage girl was granted bail by the court of additional sessions against two sureties of Rs.500,000 each.

“I accept her bail application,” Judge Mohammad Azam Khan had announced to a packed courtroom. “The bail application has been accepted against two sureties of 500,000 rupees each.”

Earlier, the court had reserved its ruling after hearing the arguments made by the counsels of both the complainant and the defendant.

The lawyer for the accused girl had submitted before the court that the girl was entitled to bail as she was a minor and that the FIR lodged by the police did not say that she desecrated a copy of the holy Quran.

On the contrary, the complainant’s counsel alleged that the girl had confessed to her guilt and hence was not entitled for bail.

The officer investigating the case told the court that Khalid Jadoon, the cleric who had been accused of tampering evidence, had deliberately added pages of the holy Quran to the plastic bag that the minor girl, who belonged to the Christian community, was carrying.

The prosecution lawyer alleged that the police, including the investigating officer, and doctors were manipulating the case to get the girl freed under international pressure, adding that, they feared the accused would be immediately sent abroad if bail was granted and that then the case would come to an end.

Moreover, the district attorney told the court that the blasphemy accused girl had stated her age to the magistrate as 16 years, adding that, the complainant in the case was receiving threats.

A large number of security personnel, members of civil society and international media persons were present outside the court as Judge Azam Khan heard the bail application of the accused girl whose case has made headlines in the international and local media.

The girl has been in custody since she was arrested in a poor Islamabad suburb more than two weeks ago after being accused of burning papers containing verses from the holy Quran.

Earlier on Monday, the case was adjourned until Sept 7 because of a lawyers’ strike, following a request from the lawyer for the girl’s neighbour Hammad Malik, who had filed the original complaint against her.

Read more:   http://dawn.com/2012/09/08/rimsha-released-from-adiala-jail-flown-to-unknown-location/

Jet and artillery training may make Camp Pendleton, California, loud next week

Harrier jets will be flying around I-5 at the base during the day Monday through Friday while artillery exercises go on into the night.

 AV-8B Harrier jets from Marine Aircraft Group 13 will be conducting exercises along I-5 at Camp Pendleton between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
 
 You might see or hear jets flying and hovering near the Las Pulgas Road freeway exit south of San Clemente. 

In addition, Camp Pendleton units will be conducting live-fire artillery training on the base's Whiskey and Zulu impact areas from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday.

On Thursday, extended firing will be conducted until 2 a.m. Regimental live-fire artillery exercises involve about 25 howitzer 155mm cannons. 

Depending on atmospheric conditions, the sound of the explosions may be heard up to 50 miles away.

For more information, call 760-725-0357 or see Camp Pendleton's noise advisories here.

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

The Marines have landed, at Fort Carson, Colorado

The rotors of a seldom-seen aircraft in the Pikes Peak Region plan to test themselves soon against the area’s thin air.

Eight MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft plan to train downrange at Fort Carson and at the post’s Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site this month, said Chief Warrant Officer Michael Madura, who plans aviation exercises at Fort Carson.

About 200 Marines will take part in the training, with the first flights likely coming this weekend, he said. Training will continue through Sept. 24.

The Osprey is one of the Defense Department’s most unique aircraft because it features wings with helicopter-like rotors that tilt, allowing it to change mid-air from a double-rotor helicopter to twin-propeller plane. The Osprey can take off vertically and can fly faster than helicopters.

Its rotors, however, are challenged at high elevations — where the thin air leaves pilots dealing with sluggish controls.

“Altitude is a huge factor for aircraft … especially helicopters and helicopter-like aircraft,” Madura said.

Helicopter brigades from across the country routinely choose Fort Carson as a training ground before deploying to Afghanistan, which features terrain and elevations similar to Fort Carson.

Three units trained in the mountains west of the post in 2011, and another three are expected to have trained at Fort Carson by year’s end.

But this is the first time that so many Osprey have visited the post, Madura said. In the past, one or two flew to the post for test flights, Madura said.

The Osprey — which are designed to transport troops — will not conduct the same landing exercises that helicopters fly in the mountains west of Colorado Springs.

Rather, they’ll do small-arms fire drills downrange at Fort Carson. They will also conduct landing exercises in Piñon Canyon.


Osprey crews expect to use Federal Aviation Administration fly zones on their trip to the maneuver site in southern Colorado — meaning they’ll stay at least 1,000 feet above the ground in transit, said Maj. Earl Brown, a post spokesman.

Pilots are also expected to tilt the Osprey’s rotors to make the aircraft more like typical fixed-wing plane, further reducing noise during flights to Piñon Canyon.

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

FORT CARSON, Colo. (AP) - A squadron of eight Marine MV-22B Osprey aircraft are training at Fort Carson and the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site this month.

Fort Carson says about 200 Marines will accompany the Ospreys, which can take off and land like a helicopter but fly like an airplane.

The exercise runs through Sept. 24. It's designed to test the squadron's ability to operate in an unfamiliar environment. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C.

Fort Carson is an infantry post outside Colorado Springs. The Pinon Canyon site is in southeastern Colorado.

Read more:   http://www.koaa.com

Failures abound in helicopter crash - Robinson R22 Beta, C-GVAR, Accident occurred November 28, 2011 at Kitchener/Waterloo Airport (CYKF), Ontario, Canada

 

Tiffany Hanna

 

By Jeff Outhit,  Road Ahead
 
It’s a bleak story, the helicopter crash that killed a pilot at the local airport last November.

Carelessness. Bad luck. Mistakes. Pretty much everything that could go wrong went wrong in the flight, crash and rescue.   What might be learned?

The crash investigation points to pilot Tiffany Hanna, who failed to manage the known risk of ice choking the carburetor.

She had trained for this. The helicopter had equipment to monitor and address the risk. But as flight commander she didn’t get it right. We don’t know why. But we know the sad result. Her young son lost his mother. A student pilot she was instructing was badly injured.

After the crash, 911 operators failed to promptly relay the crash location to firefighters. This carelessness left frustrated rescuers searching in the wrong places, delaying their arrival for too many minutes.

Bad luck? When the engine failed the helicopter was in the worst place, flying low over hangars above overhead wires strung between numerous poles.

Hanna stretched for an empty field. She must have seen it as the only place to put it down hard. But it was too far and she couldn’t pull off a difficult emergency landing. The helicopter fell just short into a swamp. Maybe she just needed 20 more metres to work with.

Mistakes? The misdirected airport fire truck rushed the wrong way outside the Region of Waterloo International Airport and collided with an exit post causing $50,000 damage.

At one point emergency dispatchers wrongly tried to send Wilmot firefighters rather than Woolwich firefighters.

The air ambulance called to the crash delayed taking off from Toronto under a money-saving policy since rescinded.

Did anything go right? Civilian bystanders called 911 and rushed into the water to help the victims. These are the crash heroes and tellingly, they’re the factor you can’t plan for.

Thankfully the helicopter didn’t burn, perhaps because it crashed into a swamp. Thankfully the student pilot survived. We’re told a faster rescue would not have saved the pilot.

Lessons learned?  Pilots take note — flight is unforgiving. Politicians have pledged rescue and dispatch improvements. But there are hurdles in the way.

Much was tested that day. Too much came up short. Please let’s not have such a hard lesson again.

Read more:   http://www.therecord.com/opinion

 http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2011/a11o0222/a11o0222.asp

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab20/bizjets101/R-22C-GVARcrash.jpg  TSB Photo crash site photo

http://www.flickr.com/photo

Pilot David Simpson returns to freedom in Britain from Central African Republic jail

 

David Simpson (left) poses with his aircraft and a colleague

David Simpson, the British pilot held in a squalid African jail on suspicion of murdering 13 miners, has returned to Britain after all allegations against him were dropped.

 He flew back to Heathrow on the first flight home less than four hours after officials in the Central African Republic confirmed that he was a free man, late on Friday.

Mr Simpson, 24, had been held for 162 days in a grim prison in the capital, Bangui, after being accused of involvement in the deaths of 13 gold miners killed near where he worked as a bush pilot for a big-game hunting firm.

Despite protesting his innocence, judges in the country, one of the poorest and most corrupt in Africa, refused to release him until a full investigation had been conducted.

Read more here:   http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Plane bound for Scotland forced into ‘emergency landing’ - Jet2 plane had to land soon after take-off in Portugal

SCOTLAND-bound tourists were given a scare when a jet had to make an “emergency” landing after it suffered a mechanical fault moments after take-off.

More than 140 passengers were on board a flight from Faro in Portugal to Edinburgh which had to circle over the ocean to burn off fuel before landing yesterday.

It is understood the Boeing 737’s pilot discovered mechanical problems in the plane’s wing flaps and decided to return to ground rather than make the 3000km journey.

The plane was operated by budget airline Jet2, which had to put the passengers on another flight which arrived in the Edinburgh in the early hours of this morning.

The airline denied the landing was an emergency, though local media reported fire crews awaited its return on the runway.

The flight was scheduled to travel from Faro, in southern Portugal, to Edinburgh at 12.30pm yesterday.

But the pilot suffered problems retracting the airliner’s flaps soon after take-off.

The plane had to circle over the ocean for 75 minutes in order to burn off fuel.

When the plane, which is more than 100ft long, eventually landed, passengers disembarked without injury.

Faro to Edinburgh flights can cost £135 with Jet2.

Jet2 said in an official statement: “Shortly after take off the 12:30pm flight from Faro to Edinburgh on 6th September there was a minor technical fault indication.

“The captain followed the standard procedure, in that event, to return to Faro, where the aircraft landed normally.

“We provided a replacement aircraft which landed back in Edinburgh at 1:20am this morning.

“We would like to apologize to our customers for any inconvenience caused.”

English-language newspaper The Portugal News reported the plane made an emergency landing after suffering problems with its flaps.

Though a Jet2 spokeswoman said the landing was “unscheduled” but not an emergency.

The practice the pilot decided to land as a safety precaution, she said.

Read more:  http://www.scotsman.com

Directorate General of Civil Aviation travels to United States to defend air safety standards

Amid concerns raised by the US-based aviation regulator the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) over the current civil aviation scenario in India, a team of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials visited the US to meet with the FAA officials last week.

A few months back, the FAA had noted that the DGCA was not meeting its standards on safety and other administrative issues. Following this, a team of DGCA officials, accompanied by a senior official from the Indian embassy in Washington met the FAA officials and presented the actual facts and figures. The officials convinced the FAA to take back its decision demote India from category 1 to category 2 country in the aviation sector, the civil aviation ministry said in a press statement.

“Following the presentation and discussion, FAA was convinced that there has been no compromise on DGCA’s function of continuous oversight of the industry. FAA was fully satisfied with the DGCA’s functioning in various regulatory areas relating to safety,” the ministry said in the statement.

It further added that the FAA saw no requirement, as of now, to start any consultation process in the direction of conducting a fresh International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) of the DGCA by the FAA. They have also reiterated that India would continue to enjoy the privileges of Category I country, the ministry said.

Earlier this year, the FAA had raised doubt on the effectiveness of DGCA’s oversight of the Indian aviation industry. The FAA had in fact warned that if it is established that there is indeed any compromise on the safety and other issues by the DGCA then it would be forced to conduct an IASA of the Indian aviation regulator.

The FAA had also cautioned that if the fears come true then India’s aviation sector could be degraded from category 1 to category 2.

The ministry said that DGCA in its detailed response to FAA, which was based on actual facts, figures and the ‘annual surveillance programme’, allayed all the doubts and got a clearance from FAA.

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