Over 190 Air Nigeria passengers who arrived the Gatwick Airport on Friday morning were stranded in London for about eight hours and had to contribute for fuel before they could be airlifted to Nigeria.
It was reported that the stranded passengers were asked to contribute extra £40 each to buy fuel for the aircraft.
It was learnt the plane eventually left Gatwick airport at 4:30 a.m and arrived Nigeria at about 12:30 today.
The passengers were reportedly asked to come back for their luggage as the plane arrived without them.
Air Nigeria has said that it will no longer fly from tomorrow, 10 September.
Story and comments: http://pmnewsnigeria.com
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Pitcairn PA-4, N3261: Accident occurred September 09, 2012 in Rawlings, Maryland
NTSB Identification: ERA12LA555
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 09, 2012 in Rawlings, MD
Aircraft: PITCAIRN PA-4, registration: N3261
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 September 9, 2012, at 0945 eastern daylight time, N3261, a Pitcairn PA-4, sustained substantial damaged when it impacted terrain after departing from a private airstrip in Rawlings, Maryland. The airline transport pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by an individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to a witness, who helped start the engine of the accident airplane, the pilot fueled the airplane and sampled the fuel from each of the fuel sumps under the engine with no contamination noted. Then, the engine was primed with fuel, started, and ran "smoothly" prior to takeoff.
After takeoff, the airplane was about 100 feet above ground level when the engine began to gradually lose power. The pilot attempted a left turn back to the runway, but after turning approximately 150 degrees, the airplane descended, impacted trees, and the ground. After ground impact, the airplane turned about 180 degrees and came to rest on the right side of the fuselage, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
The airplane wreckage was retained for further examination.
http://registry.faa.gov/N3261
CRESAPTOWN, Md. (AP) -- State police say a pilot suffered minor injuries when his antique biplane crashed shortly after takeoff at a private airstrip in Allegany County.
The pilot, Robert Armstrong, was taken to a hospital after the crash Sunday morning. It happened around 9:30 a.m. at an airstrip in the Cresaptown area.
Police say the pilot reported that his aircraft climbed to about 100 feet before it started to have engine trouble and crashed. The airplane was a 1927 Pitcairn Fleetwing.
Police say the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash.
http://www.foxbaltimore.com
State police say a pilot suffered minor injuries when his antique biplane crashed shortly after takeoff at a private airstrip in Allegany County.
The pilot, Robert Armstrong, was taken to a hospital after the crash Sunday morning.
It happened around 9:30 a.m. at an airstrip in the Cresaptown area.
Police say the pilot reported that his aircraft climbed to about 100 feet before it started to have engine trouble and crashed.
The airplane was a 1927 Pitcairn Fleetwing.
Police say the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash.
http://www.wbal.com
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 09, 2012 in Rawlings, MD
Aircraft: PITCAIRN PA-4, registration: N3261
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 September 9, 2012, at 0945 eastern daylight time, N3261, a Pitcairn PA-4, sustained substantial damaged when it impacted terrain after departing from a private airstrip in Rawlings, Maryland. The airline transport pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by an individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to a witness, who helped start the engine of the accident airplane, the pilot fueled the airplane and sampled the fuel from each of the fuel sumps under the engine with no contamination noted. Then, the engine was primed with fuel, started, and ran "smoothly" prior to takeoff.
After takeoff, the airplane was about 100 feet above ground level when the engine began to gradually lose power. The pilot attempted a left turn back to the runway, but after turning approximately 150 degrees, the airplane descended, impacted trees, and the ground. After ground impact, the airplane turned about 180 degrees and came to rest on the right side of the fuselage, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
The airplane wreckage was retained for further examination.
RAWLINGS — Fifty-nine-year-old Robert Keith Armstrong was injured Sunday
after his antique aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from a private
air strip in the Black Oak Bottom area off U.S. Route 220, according to
Maryland State Police.
The Rawlings resident reportedly suffered minor injuries in the 9:45 a.m. incident and was taken to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center by private vehicle.
Senior Trooper Eric Derham reported that Armstrong had just taken off from the private air strip in a 1927 Pitcairn Fleetwing Bi Plane and had climbed to approximately 100 feet when the aircraft developed engine problems and crashed.
The crash caused a small fuel spill that was handled by the McCoole Volunteer Fire Department upon alert by the Allegany County 911 center.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified of the incident. Further investigation will be conducted by the FAA.
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency was also notified of the incident by the 911 center.
The Rawlings resident reportedly suffered minor injuries in the 9:45 a.m. incident and was taken to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center by private vehicle.
Senior Trooper Eric Derham reported that Armstrong had just taken off from the private air strip in a 1927 Pitcairn Fleetwing Bi Plane and had climbed to approximately 100 feet when the aircraft developed engine problems and crashed.
The crash caused a small fuel spill that was handled by the McCoole Volunteer Fire Department upon alert by the Allegany County 911 center.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified of the incident. Further investigation will be conducted by the FAA.
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency was also notified of the incident by the 911 center.
Source: http://times-news.com
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 3261 Make/Model: PA-4 Description: PITCAIRN BIPLANE
Date: 09/09/2012 Time: 0945
Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: RAWLINGS State: MD Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT LOST POWER ON TAKEOFF AND CRASHED IN A FIELD. RAWLINGS, MD
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: Pleasure Phase: Take-off Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: BALTIMORE, MD (EA07) Entry date: 09/10/2012
http://registry.faa.gov/N3261
CRESAPTOWN, Md. (AP) -- State police say a pilot suffered minor injuries when his antique biplane crashed shortly after takeoff at a private airstrip in Allegany County.
The pilot, Robert Armstrong, was taken to a hospital after the crash Sunday morning. It happened around 9:30 a.m. at an airstrip in the Cresaptown area.
Police say the pilot reported that his aircraft climbed to about 100 feet before it started to have engine trouble and crashed. The airplane was a 1927 Pitcairn Fleetwing.
Police say the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash.
http://www.foxbaltimore.com
State police say a pilot suffered minor injuries when his antique biplane crashed shortly after takeoff at a private airstrip in Allegany County.
The pilot, Robert Armstrong, was taken to a hospital after the crash Sunday morning.
It happened around 9:30 a.m. at an airstrip in the Cresaptown area.
Police say the pilot reported that his aircraft climbed to about 100 feet before it started to have engine trouble and crashed.
The airplane was a 1927 Pitcairn Fleetwing.
Police say the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash.
http://www.wbal.com
Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, C-GLGJ: Plane crash survivor's family awaits hospital transfer - Accident occurred August 13, 2012 in Peachland - Canada
The family of a plane crash survivor say their loved one has been stranded in Kelowna by the BC Ambulance Service.
Last month, a Piper PA Comanche aircraft crashed near Kelowna with four people on board. Two people were killed in the crash.
Survivor Vincent Hannay suffered severe head trauma in the crash and has been in Kelowna General Hospital for nearly a month.
His uncle Rick Hannay says the family has been waiting weeks for him to be transferred to Vancouver General Hospital.
"My sister has been living in a motel near the hospital and it's been getting very discouraging because we've been expecting Vincent to be transferred to VGH at least two weeks ago."
Gavin Wilson with Vancouver Coastal Health says because Hannay has been receiving treatment in Kelowna, patients across the province that require emergency help take priority.
"We can certainly sympathize with the family that they'd want to see that transfer happen sooner," Wilson said. "We're doing our best to make it happen as soon as we could. In this instance it took longer than we'd like, and we apologize for that."
The BC Ambulance Service says it's been busy across the province, and it's not clear when Hannay will be transferred.
http://www.cbc.ca/news
Beech A36 Bonanza, N3224G: Accident occurred September 09, 2012 in Kansasville, Wisconsin
NTSB Identification: CEN12FA617
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 09, 2012 in Kansasville, WI
Aircraft: BEECH A36, registration: N3224G
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 9, 2012, at 1153 central daylight time, a Beech A36, N3224G, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Kansasville, Wisconsin. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Chicago Executive Airport (PWK), Wheeling, Illinois, at 1137, with an intended destination of Lakeland Airport (ARV), Minocqua, Wisconsin.
At 1146, the flight established contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Milwaukee Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility en route to ARV. The airplane was in cruise flight at 6,000 feet mean sea level. At 1148, the flight was cleared direct to the destination airport. About 1152, radar contact with the accident airplane was lost. The air traffic controller's attempts to contact the flight were not successful. The pilot did not advise the controller of any anomalies prior to the loss of contact, nor was any distress call from the pilot received.
A witness reported observing the airplane on a north-northwest course when it "tipped forward" and descended into the ground. The airplane appeared to be intact at the time and she did not recall seeing any flames or smoke prior to impact. Several additional witnesses reported observing the airplane in a steep nose down attitude prior to impact.
The main accident site was about 40 feet in diameter. It encompassed portions of four residential backyard areas within a residential subdivision. A postimpact fire consumed portions of the airframe. The propeller and engine were embedded about 3 feet into the ground. The adjacent residential structures sustained thermal damage from the postimpact fire. However, there did not appear to be any impact related damage. There were no reports of any injuries to individuals on the ground.
The burned-out hulks of two cars and a charred skeleton of a garage are all that remain after a Beechcraft A-36 plane crashed into the back yard of a home on Kennedy Drive near Eagle Lake at about noon on Sunday. The crash ignited the aircraft, two homes, two cars, a garage and the pilot was killed. / Scott Anderson - Journaltimes
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N3224G
http://registry.faa.gov/N3224G
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo
KANSASVILLE, Wis. (AP) - The Federal Aviation Administration says the pilot was killed when a plane crashed into a yard along Eagle Lake in Kansasville in southeastern Wisconsin.
FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro says the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza was flying from Chicago Executive Airport to Minocqua in north-central Wisconsin when it crashed and hit a building around noon Sunday. He says the pilot, who was the only person on board, was killed and the plane was destroyed, but no injuries on the ground were reported.
Molinaro says the cause of the crash is unknown, but the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
The pilot's name has not been released.
Witnesses report hearing the plane flying low and then a loud boom. They describe seeing the plane, cars, sheds and trees on fire.
Racine County Sheriff’s Department along with the Kansasville Fire Department are on scene in the 24000 block of Kennedy Drive in the area of Eagle Manor/Eagle Lake for a plane crash. MABAS Alerts have gone out for towns across the area including, Raymond, Kansasville, Union Grove, Burlington, Salem, Bristol and numerous others. The Racine Fire Bells have been dispatched to the accident scene.
There is damage to homes and vehicles, radio reports that the plane did hit buildings. Numerous sheriff’s are on scene for crowd control. Reports that the plane is severely damaged and burned. There are multiple vehicles that were on fire along with at least 2 structures. Deputies are trying to keep onlookers away from the scene, radio reports that there are a lot of low hanging power lines in the area from the accident. WE Energies has been contacted. Radio reports that a 2 seater plane is missing off the radar.
Investigators are on scene, numerous first responders on scene. WE Energies is on scene.
12:36 p.m.- Some tankers are being allowed to return to service, enough fire units on scene. Mabas alert is being canceled, Union Grove and Kansasville FD’s remain on scene. Residents report seeing 2 planes shortly before the crash, unconfirmed at this time with RCSD. FAA needs information regarding the plane and number of passengers, authorites report that with the severe damage they are unable to provide this information at this time. Residents report that it appears no one on the ground was injured, citizens were unable to gain access to the plane due to the intensity of the flames.
1:01 p.m.- Residents report that the news media is starting to show up (TMJ4)
1:06 p.m. – Radio reports that the Medical Examiner is on scene now.
http://racineuncovered.org
TOWN OF DOVER – It could take authorities months to determine the preliminary cause of Sunday’s fatal plane crash near Eagle Lake, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said Monday.
The pilot of a small plane, who authorities say was a man in his mid-50s from northern Illinois, was killed when he crashed into a yard near Eagle Lake at about noon on Sunday.
“Parts of the plane were strewn about 60 yards,” said Sgt. David Coughlin of the Racine County Sheriff’s Office, who was at the scene Monday.
Due to the extent of the “catastrophic injuries,” Coughlin said they are unable to identify the man based on his remains. Authorities have been able to identify the pilot based on his travel plans and the plane’s route, Coughlin said, but the sheriff’s office has received a request from the pilot’s son not to release his father’s name until more family can be notified.
The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza was flying from Chicago Executive Airport to Minocqua in north-central Wisconsin when it crashed and hit a building, FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said.
The crash ignited the aircraft, two homes, two cars, a garage and more, according to Chief Chad Franks of the Kansasville Fire Department.
Molinaro said Monday the FAA is investigating along with the National Transportation Safety Board. In a week or two a preliminary report could be released, but it likely will not include the cause, Molinaro said.
Based on the extent of the injuries, Coughlin said it is very unlikely authorities will ever know if the man died because of the impact or if he had a medical emergency that led to the crash.
The pilot was the only person on board, authorities said, and no injuries on the ground were reported.
The scene, following the crash, was described as a large ball of fire with flames everywhere.
“It was just flames,” said Brian Block, who lives along Lakeshore Drive close to the crash scene in the 24000 block of Kennedy Avenue.
Block, 54, was sitting in his living room just before the crash when he heard the sound of a plane engine, louder than normal and close by.
“Then ‘kaboom!’ The whole house shook,” he said.
Block jumped in his car and drove a block to the scene where he saw major flames coming from a small plane now sitting in a neighbor’s yard.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 09, 2012 in Kansasville, WI
Aircraft: BEECH A36, registration: N3224G
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 9, 2012, at 1153 central daylight time, a Beech A36, N3224G, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Kansasville, Wisconsin. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Chicago Executive Airport (PWK), Wheeling, Illinois, at 1137, with an intended destination of Lakeland Airport (ARV), Minocqua, Wisconsin.
At 1146, the flight established contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Milwaukee Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility en route to ARV. The airplane was in cruise flight at 6,000 feet mean sea level. At 1148, the flight was cleared direct to the destination airport. About 1152, radar contact with the accident airplane was lost. The air traffic controller's attempts to contact the flight were not successful. The pilot did not advise the controller of any anomalies prior to the loss of contact, nor was any distress call from the pilot received.
A witness reported observing the airplane on a north-northwest course when it "tipped forward" and descended into the ground. The airplane appeared to be intact at the time and she did not recall seeing any flames or smoke prior to impact. Several additional witnesses reported observing the airplane in a steep nose down attitude prior to impact.
The main accident site was about 40 feet in diameter. It encompassed portions of four residential backyard areas within a residential subdivision. A postimpact fire consumed portions of the airframe. The propeller and engine were embedded about 3 feet into the ground. The adjacent residential structures sustained thermal damage from the postimpact fire. However, there did not appear to be any impact related damage. There were no reports of any injuries to individuals on the ground.
DOVER — The Racine County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the pilot killed in Sunday’s plane crash near Eagle Lake.
The pilot, who was the lone occupant of the plane, has been identified as John David Brock, 67, of Chicago, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
He would have turned 68 this Sunday.
Brock’s single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza was flying from Chicago Executive Airport to Minocqua in north-central Wisconsin when it crashed and hit a building, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The crash ignited the aircraft, two homes, two cars, a garage and was described as a large ball of fire with flames everywhere.
The FAA is investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board. In a week or two a preliminary report could be released, but it could take months to determine a preliminary cause.
The pilot, who was the lone occupant of the plane, has been identified as John David Brock, 67, of Chicago, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
He would have turned 68 this Sunday.
Brock’s single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza was flying from Chicago Executive Airport to Minocqua in north-central Wisconsin when it crashed and hit a building, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The crash ignited the aircraft, two homes, two cars, a garage and was described as a large ball of fire with flames everywhere.
The FAA is investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board. In a week or two a preliminary report could be released, but it could take months to determine a preliminary cause.
The burned-out hulks of two cars and a charred skeleton of a garage are all that remain after a Beechcraft A-36 plane crashed into the back yard of a home on Kennedy Drive near Eagle Lake at about noon on Sunday. The crash ignited the aircraft, two homes, two cars, a garage and the pilot was killed. / Scott Anderson - Journaltimes
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 3224G Make/Model: BE36 Description: 36 Bonanza
Date: 09/09/2012 Time: 1653
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: RACINE State: WI Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. RACINE, WI
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: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: MILWAUKEE, WI (GL13) Entry date: 09/10/2012
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N3224G
http://registry.faa.gov/N3224G
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo
Photos courtesy of B. Hinzpeter
KANSASVILLE, Wis. (AP) - The Federal Aviation Administration says the pilot was killed when a plane crashed into a yard along Eagle Lake in Kansasville in southeastern Wisconsin.
FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro says the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza was flying from Chicago Executive Airport to Minocqua in north-central Wisconsin when it crashed and hit a building around noon Sunday. He says the pilot, who was the only person on board, was killed and the plane was destroyed, but no injuries on the ground were reported.
Molinaro says the cause of the crash is unknown, but the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
The pilot's name has not been released.
Witnesses report hearing the plane flying low and then a loud boom. They describe seeing the plane, cars, sheds and trees on fire.
Racine County Sheriff’s Department along with the Kansasville Fire Department are on scene in the 24000 block of Kennedy Drive in the area of Eagle Manor/Eagle Lake for a plane crash. MABAS Alerts have gone out for towns across the area including, Raymond, Kansasville, Union Grove, Burlington, Salem, Bristol and numerous others. The Racine Fire Bells have been dispatched to the accident scene.
There is damage to homes and vehicles, radio reports that the plane did hit buildings. Numerous sheriff’s are on scene for crowd control. Reports that the plane is severely damaged and burned. There are multiple vehicles that were on fire along with at least 2 structures. Deputies are trying to keep onlookers away from the scene, radio reports that there are a lot of low hanging power lines in the area from the accident. WE Energies has been contacted. Radio reports that a 2 seater plane is missing off the radar.
Investigators are on scene, numerous first responders on scene. WE Energies is on scene.
12:36 p.m.- Some tankers are being allowed to return to service, enough fire units on scene. Mabas alert is being canceled, Union Grove and Kansasville FD’s remain on scene. Residents report seeing 2 planes shortly before the crash, unconfirmed at this time with RCSD. FAA needs information regarding the plane and number of passengers, authorites report that with the severe damage they are unable to provide this information at this time. Residents report that it appears no one on the ground was injured, citizens were unable to gain access to the plane due to the intensity of the flames.
1:01 p.m.- Residents report that the news media is starting to show up (TMJ4)
1:06 p.m. – Radio reports that the Medical Examiner is on scene now.
http://racineuncovered.org
TOWN OF DOVER – It could take authorities months to determine the preliminary cause of Sunday’s fatal plane crash near Eagle Lake, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said Monday.
The pilot of a small plane, who authorities say was a man in his mid-50s from northern Illinois, was killed when he crashed into a yard near Eagle Lake at about noon on Sunday.
“Parts of the plane were strewn about 60 yards,” said Sgt. David Coughlin of the Racine County Sheriff’s Office, who was at the scene Monday.
Due to the extent of the “catastrophic injuries,” Coughlin said they are unable to identify the man based on his remains. Authorities have been able to identify the pilot based on his travel plans and the plane’s route, Coughlin said, but the sheriff’s office has received a request from the pilot’s son not to release his father’s name until more family can be notified.
The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza was flying from Chicago Executive Airport to Minocqua in north-central Wisconsin when it crashed and hit a building, FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said.
The crash ignited the aircraft, two homes, two cars, a garage and more, according to Chief Chad Franks of the Kansasville Fire Department.
Molinaro said Monday the FAA is investigating along with the National Transportation Safety Board. In a week or two a preliminary report could be released, but it likely will not include the cause, Molinaro said.
Based on the extent of the injuries, Coughlin said it is very unlikely authorities will ever know if the man died because of the impact or if he had a medical emergency that led to the crash.
The pilot was the only person on board, authorities said, and no injuries on the ground were reported.
The scene, following the crash, was described as a large ball of fire with flames everywhere.
“It was just flames,” said Brian Block, who lives along Lakeshore Drive close to the crash scene in the 24000 block of Kennedy Avenue.
Block, 54, was sitting in his living room just before the crash when he heard the sound of a plane engine, louder than normal and close by.
“Then ‘kaboom!’ The whole house shook,” he said.
Block jumped in his car and drove a block to the scene where he saw major flames coming from a small plane now sitting in a neighbor’s yard.
Piaggio P.180 Avanti, N146SL: During landing the aircraft veered off the runway - Teterboro Airport (KTEB), New Jersey
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 146SL Make/Model: P180 Description: P-180 Avanti
Date: 09/09/2012 Time: 1618
Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: TETERBORO State: NJ Country: US
DESCRIPTION
DURING LANDING THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY. TETERBORO, NJ
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 2 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: TETERBORO, NJ (EA25) Entry date: 09/10/2012
http://registry.faa.gov/N146SL
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N146SL.html
http://flightaware.com/photos
MITSU YASUKAWA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Officials stand by after a private plane veered off the runway onto the grass at Teterboro Airport on Sunday.
A pilot deliberately swerved his plane off a runway at Teterboro Airport and into nearby grass in order to stop after his brakes failed during an emergency landing Sunday, authorities said.
Neither the pilot nor the co-pilot was injured, said Jackie Yodashkin, a spokeswoman for the Port Authority, which runs the airport. There were no passengers.
The incident happened shortly after the Piaggio P180 Avanti turbo-prop had taken off from Teterboro. The pilot radioed that he was experiencing “technical problems” with the plane and requested permission to land back at Teterboro, Yodashkin said.
When the pilot touched down around 12:20 p.m., he was unable to stop the plane on a 6,000-foot runway and instead veered it off the runway into the grass where it slowed to a stop.
Port Authority officials did not release the name of the pilot, how many years he has been flying or where the plane was bound. Officials said they didn’t know where the plan was headed.
Investigators are “looking to see if it was a hydraulic problem,” Yodashkin said.
The plane was built in 2004 and received an “airworthiness certification” last week, according to a Federal Aviation Administration database.
The plane is owned by Avantair Inc. of Clearwater, Fla., according to the FAA.
Avantair leases planes and offers “fractional ownership” to customers. The Avanti can hold seven passengers and is the world’s fastest turbo-prop plane, rivaling the speed of many small jet planes, according to Avantair’s website. Company executives didn’t return a phone call Sunday seeking comment.
The plane was not damaged. There was no disruption to service as other planes continued to land and take off at the airport Sunday afternoon while Port Authority police responded to the scene.
“We’ll see where the investigation moves forward,” Yodashkin said Sunday afternoon. “Right now we’re deciding where to move the plane. “
Teterboro has long been the focus of concern from residents in its flight path as it has evolved from a small general aviation airstrip into one of the busiest airports in the country.
In 2005, a jet plane with too much weight overran the runway, crashed through the airport’s barrier, ran across Route 46 and slammed into a warehouse during an aborted takeoff. A year after the crash, the Port Authority installed an arrestor bed — a stretch of aerated cement that acts like flypaper for planes — on the northeast side of the runway. In October 2010, an arrestor bed was credited with stopping and preventing the crash of an out-of-control jet that had landed on the 6,000-foot runway.
http://www.northjersey.com
Tl Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT, N898N - Aircraft on landing, prop separated from hub - Accident occurred September 01, 2012 in Longmont, Colorado
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 898N Make/Model: LSA Description: STINGSPORT
Date: 09/01/2012 Time: 1746
Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: LONGMONT State: CO Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, PROP SEPARATED FROM HUB, LONGMONT, CO
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 1 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: 09/04/2012
http://www.airport-data.com
http://registry.faa.gov/N898N
Foreign airlines ferry 82 percent of India’s cargo traffic
New Delhi: Foreign airlines carry a whopping 82 percent of India's air cargo traffic, which is projected to grow at 10-12 percent rate over the next five years.
Official figures showed foreign carriers flew out 83.1 percent of international cargo from India in 2009-10, 83.7 percent in 2010-11 and 82.5 percent in 2011-12.
Indian carriers marginally increased their presence in this area raising their cargo carriage vis-a-vis their foreign competitors from 16.9 and 16.3 percent in 2009-10 and 2010-11 to 17.5 percent in 2011-12, the data showed.
The percentage share of domestic cargo carried by all the private carriers put together was 79.8, 81.4 and 83.8 percent during the same period, as Air India's share declined from 20.2, 18.6 and 16.2 percent.
Expressing concern that almost the entire chunk of international air cargo from India were being carried by foreign carriers, official sources said while most airlines carried cargo in aircraft bellies, there was negligible presence of dedicated cargo airlines in the country.
All major airports, from where majority of air cargo is flown out, also saw a decline of 12.3 percent in cargo handling in 2011-12, primarily due to the global slowdown and the Eurozone crunch, the sources said. These airports were Chennai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi and Mumbai.
While total cargo handled at these and other airports had grown by 11.8 percent in 2009-10 and 7.1 percent in 2010-11, but declined by 12.3 percent last year, the data showed.
Source: http://post.jagran.com
Official figures showed foreign carriers flew out 83.1 percent of international cargo from India in 2009-10, 83.7 percent in 2010-11 and 82.5 percent in 2011-12.
Indian carriers marginally increased their presence in this area raising their cargo carriage vis-a-vis their foreign competitors from 16.9 and 16.3 percent in 2009-10 and 2010-11 to 17.5 percent in 2011-12, the data showed.
The percentage share of domestic cargo carried by all the private carriers put together was 79.8, 81.4 and 83.8 percent during the same period, as Air India's share declined from 20.2, 18.6 and 16.2 percent.
Expressing concern that almost the entire chunk of international air cargo from India were being carried by foreign carriers, official sources said while most airlines carried cargo in aircraft bellies, there was negligible presence of dedicated cargo airlines in the country.
All major airports, from where majority of air cargo is flown out, also saw a decline of 12.3 percent in cargo handling in 2011-12, primarily due to the global slowdown and the Eurozone crunch, the sources said. These airports were Chennai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi and Mumbai.
While total cargo handled at these and other airports had grown by 11.8 percent in 2009-10 and 7.1 percent in 2010-11, but declined by 12.3 percent last year, the data showed.
Source: http://post.jagran.com
I Shop Therefore I Am: Pitts S-2B pilot shops while rescue workers look for him - Sheffield Township, Ohio
By CARL E. FEATHER - Star Beacon
SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP — A report of a plane crash south of Plymouth Ridge Road late Friday morning back fired.
Kingsville firefighters were dispatched to the Gageville Country Store at the corner of Route 193 and Gageville-Monroe Road shortly before 11:30 a.m. A woman who lives about 1.5 miles east of Route 193 reported hearing the roar of an airplane over her house and then what sounded like an explosion. Another caller, to the west of Route 193, reported hearing an aircraft flying very low over her home at Plymouth-Brown and Carson roads.
“It sounded like it was right on top of my house. I said ‘Holy ---! What the --- is that?’” she said.
Kingsville firefighters drove around the neighborhood east of Route 193 in search of debris or a fire. They were assisted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department.
When Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department’s President Bob Smith heard the report, he became a little suspicious. Smith knew that there was a private airfield off Gageville-Monroe Road, and he called the cell phone of the pilot who flies out of there.
Smith’s hunch was on the money. The pilot, Jim Victor, and his father had taken their Pitts S-2B plane up that morning. After doing some high-altitude acrobatics, they re-fueled at the Northeast Ohio Regional Airport in Denmark Township and landed about the time the “crash” was heard. Victor then drove to Home Depot in Ashtabula Township, which was where he was when Smith called.
Victor stopped at the staging area on his way back from the store and told a Highway Patrol Trooper that he had used a different approach, from the north, than what he normally uses because of wind conditions. Further, he usually flies in the evening, so the neighbors would not have been accustomed to hearing his aircraft at that time of the day.
He said that the engine of the airplane might have back fired or made a racket as he pulled back for the landing.
“It’s not uncommon for that engine to crackle and pop a little,” he said.
The description of the red, white and blue plane matched that provided by the caller, and the Highway Patrol and Kingsville firefighters called off the search.
Victor said his aircraft was flying at a safe altitude so he did not know what the caller to the west heard. He was certain of one thing, however.
“We’re done flying for today,” Victor said as he headed home.
Source: http://starbeacon.com
SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP — A report of a plane crash south of Plymouth Ridge Road late Friday morning back fired.
Kingsville firefighters were dispatched to the Gageville Country Store at the corner of Route 193 and Gageville-Monroe Road shortly before 11:30 a.m. A woman who lives about 1.5 miles east of Route 193 reported hearing the roar of an airplane over her house and then what sounded like an explosion. Another caller, to the west of Route 193, reported hearing an aircraft flying very low over her home at Plymouth-Brown and Carson roads.
“It sounded like it was right on top of my house. I said ‘Holy ---! What the --- is that?’” she said.
Kingsville firefighters drove around the neighborhood east of Route 193 in search of debris or a fire. They were assisted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department.
When Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department’s President Bob Smith heard the report, he became a little suspicious. Smith knew that there was a private airfield off Gageville-Monroe Road, and he called the cell phone of the pilot who flies out of there.
Smith’s hunch was on the money. The pilot, Jim Victor, and his father had taken their Pitts S-2B plane up that morning. After doing some high-altitude acrobatics, they re-fueled at the Northeast Ohio Regional Airport in Denmark Township and landed about the time the “crash” was heard. Victor then drove to Home Depot in Ashtabula Township, which was where he was when Smith called.
Victor stopped at the staging area on his way back from the store and told a Highway Patrol Trooper that he had used a different approach, from the north, than what he normally uses because of wind conditions. Further, he usually flies in the evening, so the neighbors would not have been accustomed to hearing his aircraft at that time of the day.
He said that the engine of the airplane might have back fired or made a racket as he pulled back for the landing.
“It’s not uncommon for that engine to crackle and pop a little,” he said.
The description of the red, white and blue plane matched that provided by the caller, and the Highway Patrol and Kingsville firefighters called off the search.
Victor said his aircraft was flying at a safe altitude so he did not know what the caller to the west heard. He was certain of one thing, however.
“We’re done flying for today,” Victor said as he headed home.
Source: http://starbeacon.com
Take a ride with a crop duster - Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, N370JB
Sit back and enjoy while the Daily News gives you a ride on the wing and in the cockpit of crop dusting pilot Dale Bitner's plane.
The Norfolk Daily News covers Northeast and North Central Nebraska.
Hudson, Ohio: CEO’s company offers unique opportunity to combine jets, luxury cars
Hudson -- People who had the chance to tour private jets at Cuyahoga County Airport in early August at the "Road to the Runway" event got a taste of the business run by Hudson resident Mike Silvestro.
Silvestro, who learned to fly years ago, teamed up with his friend and college classmate Kenn Ricci, who founded Flight Options in 1988. Ricci is chairman of the company.
Flight Options in Richmond Heights, where Silvestro is the CEO, offers fractional ownership of jet planes to companies and executives.
"It's a rather unique business," Silvestro said. "It's functional and fun."
He described his duties as CEO as numerous.
Silvestro said he spends a lot of time with customers. He added it is a serious business, complying with FAA regulations, maintenance and scheduling of a fleet of 100 jets all across the country.
Flight Options, based in Richmond Heights, collaborated with Collection Auto Group, based in North Olmsted, which deals with luxury auto sales and leases, to bring "Road to the Runway" to Cuyahoga County Airport in August.
Read more here: http://www.hudsonhubtimes.com
Silvestro, who learned to fly years ago, teamed up with his friend and college classmate Kenn Ricci, who founded Flight Options in 1988. Ricci is chairman of the company.
Flight Options in Richmond Heights, where Silvestro is the CEO, offers fractional ownership of jet planes to companies and executives.
"It's a rather unique business," Silvestro said. "It's functional and fun."
He described his duties as CEO as numerous.
Silvestro said he spends a lot of time with customers. He added it is a serious business, complying with FAA regulations, maintenance and scheduling of a fleet of 100 jets all across the country.
Flight Options, based in Richmond Heights, collaborated with Collection Auto Group, based in North Olmsted, which deals with luxury auto sales and leases, to bring "Road to the Runway" to Cuyahoga County Airport in August.
Read more here: http://www.hudsonhubtimes.com
Photo essay: Pilots fly the skies at the 2012 Virginia Air Show
Front Royal - Talented pilots took to the skies at the annual Virginia Air Show that takes place at the Warren County Airport in Front Royal, Va.
As the day went on, the weather was questionable, however the show went on, at least for a time, before the wind and rain rolled in.
The gates to the Virginia Air Show opened at 7 a.m., however this reporter didn't arrive until just short of 11 a.m. In the early morning on the day's schedule of events was listed the arrival of the pilots and the aircraft they would be showcasing during their performances later in the day.
Still, there was plenty of time to walk around the airport grounds and explore this annual community event. On display were many small and vintage aircraft. For cars, several Mustangs were on display, along with some other models. Additionally, there were military vehicles, helicopters and World War II memorabilia for visitors to enjoy.
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com
Reno Air Races start Wednesday
The TravelNevada.com Reno National Championship Air Races will return Wednesday to Northern Nevada for the 49th annual event, and will include a tribute to the people who lost their lives at last year's event.
“The last year has been a true test to our organization, our fans, both the northern Nevada and aviation communities and those who were directly impacted by the tragedy of last year,” said Mike Houghton, president and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association. “We have worked hard to bring this historic event back to Reno and we look forward to remembering and celebrating as we, once again, gather for an aviation event unlike any other.”
Reno Mayor Bob Cashell and Sparks Mayor Geno Martini will join Houghton, in a recognition of first responders, victims and fans.
“We are grateful for the tremendous leadership from our state and community leaders, local businesses and our sponsors for remaining by our side through a difficult time but we will truly never forget the incredible display of courage that was shown in a moment of tragedy last year by the first responders, victims and fans,” said Houghton. “This year's event will pay tribute to everyone who was impacted or who provided support during this trying time and we have a very special and exciting week planned to properly remember and celebrate these heroes and the spirit of aviation.”
As part of its return, the TravelNevada.com National Championship Air Races welcome back the F-22 Raptor.
Further, the event will feature civilian air show performers and additional military demonstration teams. The F/A-18E Super Hornet will perform a demonstration and legacy flight Friday through Sept. 16 and the Patriot Jet Team will return to the Reno Air Races beginning Thursday. Kent Pietsch, Clay Lacy and Jim Pietz will also perform aerobatics throughout the week.
For more information on this year's event or to purchase tickets, visit www.airrace.org or call (775)972-6663.
Source: http://www.recordcourier.com
Piece by piece, Goodyear’s new airship arrives at Wingfoot hangar: Wingfoot Lake Airship Operations Balloonport (4OH6), Akron/Suffield, Ohio
Sep 7, 2012 by Akron Beacon
Ed Ogden of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. talks about the arrival of the first parts of a new, state-of-the-art Goodyear blimp. Employees will start building the new blimp in early 2013 in Goodyear's Wingfoot Lake hangar in Suffield Townshjp, Ohio. Its first flight likely will be in early 2014. The new airship will be a semi-rigid Zeppelin, with parts from Germany. For the full story, go to www.ohio.com/news/local/piece-by-piece-goodyear-s-new-airship-arrives-at-wingfoot-hangar-1.332411. Video by Akron Beacon Journal Business Writer Jim Mackinnon, using an Apple iPhone 4.
SUFFIELD TWP.: A truck carrying the first container of German-made parts for a newer, larger and faster Goodyear airship backed slowly past the Spirit of Goodyear blimp inside the Wingfoot Lake hangar base Thursday afternoon.
Starting in January, those parts — with lots more to come — will be assembled into a state-of-the-art airship. By early 2014, the Spirit of Goodyear and its late 1960s-era design will be retired and taken apart.
The $63 million overhaul of the iconic Goodyear blimp fleet, first announced in May 2011, is under way.
“It’s a new beginning,” said Ed Ogden, who heads public relations for the Spirit of Goodyear.
Almost the entire Wingfoot hangar base turned out to watch the tractor-trailer work its way slowly through the open hangar, then through large doors to a work area for unloading.
Read more here: http://www.ohio.com
Take a Hike: Airplane Monument Trail
The Airplane Monument
Trail in Cuyamaca has far-reaching views from its Japacha Ridge vantage
point, as well as a memorial that marks “the site of one of the most
sought after crash sites in U.S. military history,” wrote Alexander D.
Bevil in the Journal of San Diego History.
After climbing uphill nearly 800 feet, the trail reaches the monument: A bronze plaque at the base of a battered, stone-mounted Liberty V-12 engine reads “In memory of Col. F.C. Marshall and 1st Lt. C.L. Webber who fell at this spot Dec. 7, 1922.”
The two military officers had left North Island in a twin-seat Army DeHaviland DH4B model biplane early that morning, Webber, 26, sat at the rear-seat controls with Marshall, 55, the forward-seat passenger on a fact-finding inspection tour of cavalry posts throughout the Southwest. Marshall was a decorated World War I veteran and Webber was an expert pilot in what were still the early days of aviation.
Their crash would also become associated with several notable people who went on to play major roles in U.S. military aviation history, Bevil said.
During a two-week period in July-August 1922, Webber and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Virgil Hines, logged almost 4,000 miles in a DH4B exploring and mapping potential air routes.
“Arguably, the most historic use of DH4Bs occurred on June 26, 1923, when North Island Army pilots Virgil Hine and Frank W. Seifert made the first successful aerial refueling from their plane to that of fellow pilots’ Lieutenants Lowell H. Smith and John Paul Richter beneath them.”
Within just two months, Hine, Seifert, Smith and Richter were all establishing new world flight records for distance, speed, and duration, including flying some 1,250 miles over San Diego for 37 hours and 15 minutes, using in-flight refuelings.
All of these pilots had tried to help locate the crash site of Webber and Marshall when the two failed to reach their destination on that Dec. 7.
“By Dec. 17, the search for Webber and Marshall had evolved into the largest combined air and ground search in U.S. military history during peacetime,” wrote Bevil.
But it wasn’t until May 4, 1923, that the wreckage and the pilots’ remains were discovered by local rancher George W. McCain when he was riding on horseback along Japacha Ridge.
Read more here: http://www.utsandiego.com
After climbing uphill nearly 800 feet, the trail reaches the monument: A bronze plaque at the base of a battered, stone-mounted Liberty V-12 engine reads “In memory of Col. F.C. Marshall and 1st Lt. C.L. Webber who fell at this spot Dec. 7, 1922.”
The two military officers had left North Island in a twin-seat Army DeHaviland DH4B model biplane early that morning, Webber, 26, sat at the rear-seat controls with Marshall, 55, the forward-seat passenger on a fact-finding inspection tour of cavalry posts throughout the Southwest. Marshall was a decorated World War I veteran and Webber was an expert pilot in what were still the early days of aviation.
Their crash would also become associated with several notable people who went on to play major roles in U.S. military aviation history, Bevil said.
During a two-week period in July-August 1922, Webber and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Virgil Hines, logged almost 4,000 miles in a DH4B exploring and mapping potential air routes.
“Arguably, the most historic use of DH4Bs occurred on June 26, 1923, when North Island Army pilots Virgil Hine and Frank W. Seifert made the first successful aerial refueling from their plane to that of fellow pilots’ Lieutenants Lowell H. Smith and John Paul Richter beneath them.”
Within just two months, Hine, Seifert, Smith and Richter were all establishing new world flight records for distance, speed, and duration, including flying some 1,250 miles over San Diego for 37 hours and 15 minutes, using in-flight refuelings.
All of these pilots had tried to help locate the crash site of Webber and Marshall when the two failed to reach their destination on that Dec. 7.
“By Dec. 17, the search for Webber and Marshall had evolved into the largest combined air and ground search in U.S. military history during peacetime,” wrote Bevil.
But it wasn’t until May 4, 1923, that the wreckage and the pilots’ remains were discovered by local rancher George W. McCain when he was riding on horseback along Japacha Ridge.
Read more here: http://www.utsandiego.com
AGL Action Rescue Helicopter: Mid-air fire on chopper
AUTHORITIES have praised the quick thinking of AGL Action Rescue Helicopter crew who protected their patient and safely landed the helicopter after the drama on Friday night.
The helicopter was transporting an elderly man from Toowoomba Base Hospital to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital at 8.20pm when the fire broke out.
Flying over Brisbane's CBD, crew members considered landing the helicopter on a nearby football field but with the hospital in sight, decided to press on.
Pilot Al Carsons, who has more than 20 years' experience, focused on safely landing the helicopter while his crew worked to protect their patient and contain the fire.
Action Rescue chief executive Dave Donaldson said although the helicopter was fitted with fire extinguishers, using them in a confined space was dangerous as they could create toxic fumes.
"As soon as the helicopter landed, crew chief Tony Preston and flight doctor Andy Haggerty pulled the smouldering equipment from the back of the aircraft, taking it as far from the helicopter as possible," Mr Donaldson said.
Paramedic Donna Williams was also on board.
The patient suffered a small burn to his lower leg but was sedated at the time and unaware of the incident.
The helicopter suffered smoke damage and was inspected by AGL Action Rescue Helicopter engineers, a CASA safety officer and cleared by Queensland Health before it was safely flown back to the Maroochydore Hangar yesterday morning.
"A fire in an aircraft is a very serious incident and the crew has done an amazing job managing the situation, dealing with the risks and protecting the patient," Mr Donaldson said.
The equipment at the centre of the drama - a Niki T34L syringe pump - is used to automatically control the amount of drugs given to the patient.
"We've done a thorough check of the aircraft, it wasn't damaged in any way and we are now fully operational with back-up medical equipment providing full capabilities," Mr Donaldson said.
"The piece of equipment which caught alight has been removed from all Queensland aeromedical aircraft pending an investigation into the exact cause of the fire."
Mr Donaldson said officials were now working with the equipment manufacturers and investigating all electrical connections.
"I think the ramifications are to make sure all other operators know what happened and as soon as we know the details we will send that information out to them." The pump in question had been in use on the helicopter for less than 12 months.
Mr Donaldson said mid-air fire drills were part of normal training and helicopter crews were regularly tested.
Source: http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au
Seaplane tour of San Francisco
September 4, 2012 by rrz518
"rrz518 and Mom Z enjoy a sunny afternoon seaplane tour of San Francisco, Sausalito, and the San Francisco Bay. Imagine the thrill of a water take-off and landing from the beautiful San Francisco Bay. Enjoy incredible views of San Francisco, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Ocean, Point Bonita Lighthouse & more. There is a 2-person minimum to book this tour."
King Air C90: Aircraft crashed, No injuries - Lohegaon Airport
A seven-seater private aircraft with three crew member on board crash-landed after it undershot at the Lohegaon Airport on Friday night . Sources informed that the plane crashed into the approach lights on runway 28.
The plane was on a local flight. However, sources said, services remained unaffected and the runaway was cleared immediately. Fortunately, the pilot, co-pilot and another crew member managed to come out of the seven-seater aircraft safely. The plane was damaged beyond repair.
Speaking to Mirror, D Prasad, deputy general manager (Operations), Pune Airport, said, “Yes, a Finolex C90 King Air plane crashed after landing on Friday at 8 pm. The pilot and co-pilot are safe and no one was injured. The plane has been badly damaged .” Prasad refused to give further details. Similarly, other airport authorities declined to comment on the identity of the occupants.
Source: http://www.punemirror.in
The plane was on a local flight. However, sources said, services remained unaffected and the runaway was cleared immediately. Fortunately, the pilot, co-pilot and another crew member managed to come out of the seven-seater aircraft safely. The plane was damaged beyond repair.
Speaking to Mirror, D Prasad, deputy general manager (Operations), Pune Airport, said, “Yes, a Finolex C90 King Air plane crashed after landing on Friday at 8 pm. The pilot and co-pilot are safe and no one was injured. The plane has been badly damaged .” Prasad refused to give further details. Similarly, other airport authorities declined to comment on the identity of the occupants.
Source: http://www.punemirror.in
Saturday, September 8, 2012
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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'
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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