Cessna 150G, N3257J: Arkansas judge dismisses lawsuit over plane crash

 

Spencer Tirey 

Aaron Cooper, left, watches as Garrett Bradley empties a gasoline tank Feb. 15, 2011, on a single-engine 1966 Cessna 150G that crashed on the lawn of the Jones Center. Cooper and Bradley of Dawson Aircraft in Clinton were hired to take the plane to their facility.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A Washington County judge has dismissed a lawsuit over an airplane crash in Springdale on procedural grounds. 

The Northwest Arkansas Times (http://bit.ly/P1S09S) reports Circuit Court Judge Joanna Taylor threw out the case on Thursday, saying plaintiff Barry Gilbow's attorneys didn't present evidence of what caused the crash during the trial.

Gilbow was seeking $250,000 in damage from Jimmy Crawford. At issue was whether Gilbow or Crawford was responsible for the accident.

A National Transportation Safety Board investigation determined the plane ran out of fuel Feb. 12, 2011, but neither side put the agency's report into evidence.

Gilbow's attorney, Mark Ford, asked Taylor to allow him to reopen his case and present more evidence, but she said there was no basis in state law that would allow her to do that.
 
Information from: Northwest Arkansas Times, http://www.nwaonline.com 

NTSB Identification: CEN11LA188
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, February 12, 2011 in Springdale, AR
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/13/2011
Aircraft: CESSNA 150G, registration: N3257J
Injuries: 2 Minor.

While on final approach to the destination airport, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose low attitude and came to rest adjacent to a fence, several hundred yards short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage. During the recovery of the airplane a total of 1.75 gallons of fuel was recovered from both wing fuel tanks. The fuel tanks had not been compromised and had an unusable fuel total of 3 gallons. The commercial pilot reported to law enforcement personnel that they had not refueled prior to the return flight.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

 Full narrative available

Beechcraft F33A Bonanza, ZS-TVR: Plane crash victims identified - Cato Ridge, in KwaZulu-Natal - South Africa

Durban - The three people killed in a light aircraft crash near Nagle Dam in KwaZulu-Natal were identified by Agri SA on Friday. 

 President of Agri SA Johannes Möller identified the victims as Jannie Boshoff, Jannie Kemp and Theuns van Rensburg who were all members of the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) - an affiliate of Agri SA.

“They had attended the congress of Kwanalu. I spoke to them during the congress and their death is not only a loss for Kwanalu but also for Agri SA,” said Möller.

They were killed on Thursday after their plane crashed in bushes and caught fire.

ER24 said the incident happened at around 5.30pm.

After arriving on the scene, three paramedics and a firefighter set out on foot to locate the aircraft, said ER24 spokeswoman Vanessa Jackson.

“After about an hour of walking up the mountain through dense bush, they arrived at the crash site, where they found the wreckage of a light fixed wing aircraft, extensively damaged...”

It was still unclear what caused the crash. - Sapa

Three Newcastle farmers died yesterday afternoon when their light aircraft crashed outside Cato Ridge.
Statements issued by ER24 spokeswoman, Vanessa Jackson, said that the crash occured on September 13 at around 5.30pm.

"Paramedics from Durban and Pietermaritzburg immediately set off to find the scene, which was explained as being in the Valley of a Thousand Hills," she said.

It took paramedics close to an hour to reach the crash site, she added, as they had to walk up the mountain through dense bush. The bodies of the victims were burnt beyond recognition, continued Ms Jackson.

National media coverage explained that witnesses had reported seeing black smoke coming from the plane shortly before it crashed in dense bush and mountainous terrain in the vicinity of Nagle Dam.

The plane, which was believed to have been a Beechcraft F33 Bonanza, was apparently on its way to Newcastle after taking off from the Pietermaritzburg airport.

However, it has been confirmed that the three victims were from Newcastle, and were well known farmers in the community.

Updates to follow.

Cape Town - Emergency personnel on Thursday made a grisly discovery when they responded to reports of a plane crash in the vicinity of Cato Ridge, in KwaZulu-Natal.

After reports came in around 17:30 that an aircraft crashed in the Valley of a Thousand Hills, paramedics from Durban and Pietermaritzburg rushed to the scene, ER24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said.

The scene was inaccessible by vehicle, and the paramedics and a fire official had to hike for half an hour up the mountain where they found the wreckage of a light aircraft, extensively damaged and ablaze, Jackson said.

"All that they could make out was the charred remains of three people, and due to their extensive burns, it was not possible for them to be made out as adults or children, men or women," she said.

"It is not clear as to what caused the aircraft to crash, but locals who were the first to find the wreckage said that it appeared that black smoke was coming from the plane before it crashed."

She said thorough investigations will need to be conducted into the cause of the crash.

This is the second light aircraft crash in the KZN area this week, after a plane crashed near Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.

American Airlines posts new 'Behind the Scenes' video on delivery of plane

 

September 12, 2012 by American Airlines

Behind the Scenes @AmericanAir video series: Our employees answer customer questions in this in-depth and genuine view of our airline.

Aviation dean discusses future of industry

ENTERPRISE, Ala. --

Aviation is a strong and steadily growing industry in the area, but may manifest itself a little bit differently in the next few years, an expert said Wednesday.

Speaking to the Enterprise Lions Club, Tucson Roberts, dean of Aviation and Workforce at the Alabama Aviation Center, said aviation has been a longtime staple in southern Alabama’s economy with Fort Rucker’s presence. With impending defense spending cuts and the announcement of Airbus’ new plant in Mobile, the aviation industry may move more to the private sector.

“With impending cuts -- and there will be cuts -- (aviation) defense will remain stable at best,” he said. “What’s happened in aviation is the civil/commercial side slowed during the recession. As we come out of the recession, I think there will be more opportunities (there).”

In July, Airbus announced plans to build a Mobile plant that will be used to build jets, a move that is expected to generate 3,000 jobs, according to a Mobile Press-Register report.

Read more: http://www2.eprisenow.com

New Vancouver Seaplane Terminal Means More Cost to Island Travelers

 

 NANAIMO - The price for convenient travel off Vancouver Island just got a bit more expensive. Earlier this week, Harbour Air and the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre finally reached an agreement that will move Harbour Air to the newly constructed floatplane terminal attached to the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Canada's largest seaplane company had disputed making the move to the new terminal, citing increased rental fees and safety concerns. But with an expiring lease on its existing facility, the company finally agreed to move its ticketing and administrative operations to the new terminal.

In order to help subsidize the cost, the airline will be forced to increase the price of all tickets in-and-out of Vancouver's Downtown Harbour by $9.50.

The fee increase will take place as early as next Monday, September 17th with Harbour Air hoping to move into the new terminal by the end of the year.

Orlando, Florida: Temporary flight restrictions during high profile political visits have one small business taking a financial hit every time

ORLANDO –  It’s common knowledge that Central Florida is crucial to winning the presidential election.

The area has been playing host to visits from the president, Mitt Romney and many others.

But one small business is taking a financial hit from all of the high profile visits.

It’s called a TFR, or temporary flight restriction, and it works like a roadblock for the skies.

“We get the same type of thing in flying in that they are going to close down airspace that’s over the area where the president is, whether it is flying into and landing or as we saw this past weekend where they are traveling along the ground as well,” said Jeff Alungseth, with Flight Instruction Air Orlando.

It goes into effect whenever someone important enough, like the president, visits Central Florida.

And lately that has been happening a lot, and when it does, it means one thing for Air Orland at the executive airport.

“We close the doors, send everybody home. Pack it up and that was it,” said Air Orlando CEO Mike Terfur.

The school trains pilots and offers charter flights, but lately political and VIP visits have triggered many airspace shutdowns, inevitable stalling the business bottom line.

“A lost day is $10,000 revenue, so,” said Terfur.

Read more: http://www.baynews9.com

UPDATE: Flight Design CTLS, N566FD: "Minor incident ... Major repair" - Incident occurred July 16, 2012 in Marysville, Ohio

 
Formation Flying and maneuvers with a Flight Design CTLS, N566FD 

Video published on September 8, 2012 by Anticept

 

N566FD, named Sunshine, had an accident on the 16th of July, 2012. After a month and a half of repairs, we flew formation with her from Connecticut back to the Ohio State University Airport, where she is based.

Video begins at 0:36

NOTICE:  Maneuvers performed are by professionals, and are very dangerous without training. Please do not attempt without proper instruction!

Accident details:  A tire rim separated, and the aircraft ran off the runway. The damage was relatively minor. However, the recovery company put a hole in the windshield with a forklift... This turned a minor incident into a major repair, and had to be shipped to a specialized facility to repair it.

NTSB Identification: CEN12IA451
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Incident occurred Monday, July 16, 2012 in Marysville, OH
Aircraft: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS, registration: N566FD
Injuries: 1 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 used data provided by various sources and may not have traveled in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft incident report.

On July 16, 2012, about 1855 eastern daylight time, a Flight Design Gmbh model CTLS, N566FD, sustained minor damage during a runway excursion on takeoff at Union County Airport (MRT), Marysville, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The aircraft was registered to B S Aviation LLC and operated by New Flyers Association under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from Ohio State University Airport (OSU) about 1805.

The pilot reported that after departing OSU, he proceeded to the local practice area and completed several training maneuvers. He then flew to MRT in order to practice takeoffs and landings. After entering the traffic pattern, he landed on runway 27 (4,218 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) without incident and taxied back for departure. During the subsequent takeoff roll, the pilot reported feeling a “jolt” and heard a “thumping” sound from the left main wheel. The airplane immediately veered to the left and departed the runway pavement. The airplane came to rest about 20 yards from the edge of the runway, after striking a Precision Approach Path Indicator light.

A postincident examination revealed that a section of the left main wheel flange had failed, compromising the assembly and allowing the tire to deflate. Airplane damage was limited to the left main landing gear, engine cowling, and propeller assembly. The pilot reported a similar failure of the right main wheel on this airplane. A detailed examination of the left main wheel assembly is pending.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N566FD

http://www.zoneaviation.com/forsale_n566fd.html

http://registry.faa.gov/N566FD

http://www.flickr.com/photos

Cessna T210N Turbo Centurion, registered in Mexico as XB-LLD: Cocaine found in one pilot in crash – Accident occurred November 2011 in Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

Click here to see full crash report

 http://www.cayman27.com

By Kevin Watler
Thursday, 13 September 2012 1:10 pm  

The UK Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has issued their findings on the aircraft accident that occurred on Cayman Brac on Sunday 13th November 2011. Two men died in the crash. The report says the aircraft probably suffered an electrical failure.

One of the men killed was Jose Santos Castaneda Castrejon, 35, from Mexico. The other man was Fernando Duran Garcia, 56, from Colombia.

While the report does not provide the identity of the pilots, one can easily figure it out. One of the pilots was issued his Commercial Pilot’s License by the state of Columbia in 1976. Due to the age of the pilots, Fernando Duran Garciais is the only one that could have received his license in 1976.

Post-mortem examinations conducted on behalf of the Cayman Island’s Coroner revealed Castrejon was positive for the presence of cocaine metabolites with associated compounds and chlorphenamine, a substance commonly used in anti-histamines. Garciais’ results were negative.

Castrejon was listed as the pilot in command, according to a flight plan recovered from the aircraft.

The AAIB’s report “There was insufficient evidence to determine the purpose of the flight, but there were indications that it was intended to be clandestine, including the modified fuel system, the intended route and the unidentified flight plan destination.”

“Both pilots were commercial pilots from their respective countries of Mexico and Columbia,” said RCIPS Air Operations Commander Steve Fitzgerald.” Therefore, they would have been fully aware of the International requirements of flight planning and the risks associated with unauthorised fuel modifications, together with flying a single engine aircraft over a 1,000 miles over sea and at night. The addition into the cabin of plastic open fuel containers is an incredible risk that both pilots must have been aware of.”

The AAIB’s report concluded, “The aircraft probably suffered an electrical failure which prevented use of the modified fuel system intended to provide additional range. The aircraft then deviated from its original flight path, possibly because the crew intended to divert to Cuba, and its track passed over Cayman Brac. Evidence indicates that the pilot attempted to land on a road. The aircraft was destroyed when it encountered obstacles, including poles, beside the road.”

It also states, “The manner of operation of this aircraft, including extended flights over water and the modified fuel system, introduced risks to the flight of which the crew must have been aware.”

There was evidence pilots using these GPS Units in the weeks prior had made long distance flights from Central America into Venezuela, returning into unrecognized landing sites in Guatemala, Belize and Mexico. At no time was there any evidence that previous or intended routes included the Cayman Islands, or passing close to the Islands.

“Following liaison with all the RCIPS partner agencies in the region including those in the United States, the RCIPS investigators conclusion is that the aircraft’s intended destination was not Cayman Brac but, as indicated in the AAIB report, was as a result of technical problems and the need to reach land. As both pilots died instantly, it will always be a matter of conjecture the reason for the deviation, and indeed the purpose of the flight,” a police spokesperson said.
A full search of the scene and the aircraft at the time confirmed that no cargo, other than the fuel containers, was found at the scene.

We’ll have more on this story in our 6 p.m. newscast.

Click here to see full crash report

NTSB Identification: ERA12WA072
14 CFR Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Accident occurred Monday, November 14, 2011 in Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands
Aircraft: CESSNA 210, registration: XB-LLD
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
 
On November 14, 2011, at 0525 universal coordinated time, a Cessna 210, registered in Mexico as XB-LLD, was substantially damaged when it struck wires and trees under unknown circumstances at Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands. The pilot and his passenger were fatally injured.

This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of the United Kingdom. Further information may be obtained from:

Air Accidents Investigation Branch
Berkshire Copse Road
Aldershot, Hampshire
GU11 2HH, United Kingdom

This report is for informational purposes only and contains information released by or obtained from the Government of the United Kingdom.

Cirrus SR22 GTS X G3, N221DV: Accident occurred September 01, 2012 in Falmouth, Massachusetts

NTSB Identification: ERA12FA540 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 01, 2012 in Falmouth, MA
Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22, registration: N221DV
Injuries: 1 Fatal,2 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 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 1, 2012, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, N221DV, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during a landing attempt at Falmouth Airpark (5B6), Falmouth, Massachusetts. The flight instructor was fatally injured, and the student pilot and passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight from Tweed-New Haven Airport (NVN), New Haven, Connecticut. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

While the student pilot and a passenger survived the accident, due to the extent of their injuries, they could not be interviewed. According to several witnesses, the airplane completed a right downwind for runway 7. The final approach over trees was described as "unstable, with rocking wings," and one witness asked another if he thought the airplane was going to go around.

Exact recollections differed, but in general, witnesses recalled that as the airplane neared the runway, there were some additions and reductions in power. The airplane started veering to the left, there was an addition of power, and the left wing almost hit the ground. The airplane then touched down in the grass to the left of the runway, went through the last section of a wooden fence, entered some woods and burst into flames.

An examination of the accident site revealed skid marks in the grass to the left of the runway, with the mark attributed to the position of the left main landing gear appearing first. The marks commenced about 80 feet left of the runway, 300 feet from the approach end, and headed about 030 degrees magnetic, toward the woods. The airplane's left wing was found separated from the rest of the airplane at the first large tree in the woods, and the airplane came to rest about 80 feet beyond that tree, upside down.

The airplane was mostly consumed by fire. Evidence of all flight control surfaces was found at the scene, and continuity was confirmed from the cockpit along the lengths of all flight control cables. The flap actuator indicated that the flaps were at 50 percent.

The engine exhibited severe fire damage, and the crankshaft could not be rotated. Two of the three metal propeller blades exhibited torsional bending, and one blade could be rotated in the hub. The third propeller blade was straight, but had cut into the propeller spinner toward the direction of rotation. The spinner also had a large concave indentation in it, similar in shape to a tree trunk.

Data chips were not recovered from the primary flight display and multifunction display, which were charred and jelled together. The tail-mounted remote data module was recovered and forwarded to the NTSB Recorders Laboratory; however, the unit was thermally damaged internally and no data extraction was possible. The unit's memory chip was then extracted and attempts to restore it are ongoing. 

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 221DV        Make/Model: SR22      Description: SR-22
  Date: 09/01/2012     Time: 1502

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

LOCATION
  City: FALMOUTH   State: MA   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE WERE 3 PERSONS ON 
  BOARD, 1 WAS FATALLY INJURED, 2 SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, NEAR FALMOUTH, 
  MA

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   3     Fat:   1     Ser:   2     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: BOSTON, MA  (EA61)                    Entry date: 09/04/2012

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N221DV

http://registry.faa.gov/N221DV

http://flightaware.com/photo

http://www.flickr.com/photos

http://www.airnav.com/airport/5B6

  

Aaron Mentkowski

Published: Thursday, September 13, 2012, 9:10 AM 

By Bruce Geiselman, Sun News
 
BAY VILLAGE - Aaron Mentkowski, a 2006 Bay High School graduate, died September 1 while doing what he loved — flying.

Aaron’s goal was to become an airline or a corporate jet pilot. In the meantime, the 2010 Bowling Green State University graduate was working as an instructor for an East Haven, Connecticut, flight school.

He had temporarily relocated to Connecticut, his family said.

Aaron, 24, died in a single-engine plane crash at Falmouth Air Park in Falmouth, Massachusetts. The plane had two other people on board, a 55-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman. The two, who are from Guilford, Conn., survived the crash but were taken to Boston-area hospitals with serious injuries, including severe burns, according to Falmouth police.

The aviation company for which Aaron worked stated on its Facebook page that one of the survivors was a flight student.

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

 

Cirrus SR22 GTS X G3, N221DV: Accident occurred September 01, 2012 in Falmouth, Massachusetts

  

F-15: Fantastic video!

2012 Raytheon Award Video  from Jersey on Vimeo.

This video was created to commemorate the 67FS winning the 2011 Raytheon Trophy for outstanding aerial achievement, given to the top air-to-air squadron in the USAF.

The footage was shot over 1 year of flying with a Sony HD Handycam and GOPRO Hero. The footage was shot entirely by pilots, no combat camera personnel were used. The video was edited with Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD over 2 weeks by Jersey. Footage includes flying and aircraft from both the 67FS "Fighting Cocks" and the 44FS "Vampire Bats", entirely on location at Kadena AB, Japan. Most of the over water footage was filmed while we were raging like demons from hell in the skies over the pacific ocean like our brothers did 70 years before us.

Credits.
-All Tower footage filmed by Jersey
-Unrestricted Climb ground view camera: Wreck and Switch
-Backseat Unrestricted climb pilot: Egg
-GO Pro captains: Blue, Hozen,Egg
-Go Pro Majors: Jersey, Lips, Crusher
- 2 ship BFM footage pilots: Jersey, Hozen, Snizzler, Trip, Wreck
- Large Force Engagement Radio Voices: Cock 1: Jersey, Cock 2: Match, Cock 3: Flash, Cock 4: Blaze
- BFM radio voices: Guano and Jersey

All editing by Jersey.

GREAT images and a fantastic video! 
Hat tip to Rob "Biz Jets" for sharing!

Seaplane between Malta and Gozo stops flying

All flights between Malta and Gozo provided by the seaplane operated by Harbourair have been “suspended without further notice.” 

Employees working with the service have been made redundant and the Canadian and Norwegian crew have been sent back home.

The company that used to operate the service says that it is suspending it as it plans to get a new seaplane in 2013.

Harbourair Seaplanes operated daily scenic flights around Malta and Gozo from the Valletta Waterfront and Sliema The Strand. They used to accommodate 14 passengers and ran a daily schedule service between the islands of Malta and Gozo. The company boasted of being “the largest all seaplane company in the world and safety, comfort and service is a priority.”

It started operating in July 2007 and had planned to extend the service by provide a link to Sicily.

Source:   http://www.maltastar.com

Caribbean Airlines gets OK for Georgetown-Toronto flights

Guyana has granted approval for Caribbean Airlines to fly non-stop from Georgetown to Toronto for the next three years.

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon told a news conference that the airline will operate a twice weekly non-stop scheduled service for the period September 10, 2012 to September 9, 2015, according to the state-run Government Information Agency (GINA).

On August 24, 2011 the airline commenced a freight service on the Miami-Port of Spain- Georgetown route, with its B767 aircraft which has a maximum payload of 90,000 lbs.

EZjet airlines began servicing the Guyana/New York route in December 2011 from the JFK airport and in July, introduced its non-stop flight to Canada. It is estimated that there is a market of 50,000 people travelling between the latter destination and Guyana.

Fly Jamaica, which was recently granted an Air Operators Certificate (AOC),  hopes to offer scheduled flights to Georgetown, New York and Toronto in the coming months.

Over the years, there has been a growing demand for the transportation of services within and without the Caribbean.

Delta Airlines entered the Guyana market in June 2008 with its 758 aircraft, but in the peak season the airline chipped in with a larger aircraft, the 767 that has the capacity to accommodate 240 passengers.

In April, as a result of improved bilateral relations between Suriname and Guyana, Surinam Airways made a return after a six-year hiatus, flying non-stop from Georgetown to Miami, Florida, USA.

Source:   http://www.demerarawaves.com

Robinson R22 Beta, N281RG: Accident occurred September 10, 2012 in Houston, Texas

NTSB Identification: CEN12FA621 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, September 10, 2012 in Houston, TX
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA, registration: N281RG
Injuries: 2 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 10, 2012, at 1545 central daylight time, N281RG, a Robinson R22 Beta, was substantially damaged when it impacted a dirt service road in a steel pipe storage yard in Houston, Texas. The commercial pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Helicopter Services, Incorporated, Spring, Texas. No flight plan was filed for the aerial photo flight that departed Baytown Airport (HPY), Baytown, Texas, approximately 1345. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91.

The helicopter departed David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH), Houston, Texas, about 1300, and flew to Baytown where the pilot purchased 22.9 gallons of fuel at 1329. Around 1345, the pilot and the passenger departed and were observed about two hours later by several witnesses maneuvering over the steel pipe yard in south-east Houston.

A witness was driving west on Highway 90 toward the beltway when he first observed the helicopter. He said it was about a mile away and at first he thought it was a remote controlled helicopter. The witness said the helicopter was “way up there” and estimated that is was approximately 400-500 feet above the ground. The helicopter was spinning slowly around the main rotor shaft and was descending straight down vertically about 70-80 miles per hour. There was no smoke or parts coming off the helicopter as it descended. The main rotor blades were turning "slower than expected" and were not deflected upwards. The tail rotor did not appear to be turning. The helicopter then impacted the ground resulting in a large dust cloud. The witness stopped his vehicle and proceeded to run towards to the helicopter. After he negotiated a chain link fence, he and another witness used fire extinguishers to contain the post-impact fire until the fire department arrived.

Another witness was driving east on Highway 90 toward the Beltway when he first observed the helicopter about a mile away. It was 70 to 100 feet-above the ground and was slowly spinning counter clockwise around the main rotor shaft and was in a slow vertical descent. It seemed like it was in “slow-motion.” When the helicopter was approximately 40 to 50 feet above the ground, its descent rate increased rapidly before it impacted the ground. The witness thought the pilot was trying to land and he did not observe any smoke coming from the helicopter. He noted that the main rotor blades were turning “pretty slow” and it seemed “like he lost power.” The body of the helicopter was level and the main rotor blades were not deflected upwards. The witness could not hear the helicopter prior to the impact, which occurred just as he was stepping out of his vehicle. After the impact, he observed a large dust plume as he was running to the steel yard. As he was trying to crawl under a chain link fence he saw a fireball coming from the helicopter. He and another responder used fire extinguishers to contain the post-impact fire until the fire department arrived.

The helicopter came to rest upright on a heading of 195 degrees magnetic on a dirt road located in the steel pipe storage yard. The entire helicopter was accounted for at the site and the fuselage was consumed by post-impact fire. The skids were spread and level with the belly of the fuselage. The body of the helicopter was listed to the right. The helicopter was moved to a secure storage facility for further examination.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate for rotorcraft-helicopter. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) First Class medical was issued on December 16, 2011. The pilot had applied to attend the Robinson Pilot Safety Course a week before the accident. According to his application, he reported a total of 740 hours, of which 600 hours were in the R22B.

Weather reported at Ellington Field (EFD), Houston, Texas, approximately 16 miles southwest of the accident site, at 1550, was wind 130 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, temperature 93 degrees F, dewpoint 62 degrees F, and an altimeter setting of 30.02 inches HG.
MIDWEST CITY, Okla. — Joyce Ates from Midwest City was not the typical grandmother. 

She loved her grandkids; she also loved to fly.

The 60-year-old woman died when the helicopter she was in went down near Houston Monday afternoon.

The pilot, 40-year-old Christopher Yeager, was killed as well.

Witnesses said the chopper was spinning out of control before it crashed into a pipe yard and burst into flames. 

Ates’ family said that she was an aerial photographer on a shoot.

She loved to be in the air and had been shooting aerial photos for around 15 years.

At one point, Ates even flew her own glider.

Her nephew, Terrell Monks, said she was an amazing woman.

“She was a wonderful person. She had a great mind. She was very smart. Her children were her whole world to her, until grandchildren came along,” he said.

Monks said his aunt was able to do everything and continually amazed him.

Read more:   http://kfor.com

NTSB Identification: CEN12FA621

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 281RG        Make/Model: R22       Description: R-22
  Date: 09/10/2012     Time: 2100

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

LOCATION
  City: HOUSTON   State: TX   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. HOUSTON, TX

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   2
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   2     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: HOUSTON, TX  (SW09)                   Entry date: 09/11/2012 

http://registry.faa.gov/N281RG

Monroe Regional Airport (KMLU), Louisiana: Phillips stood out from other airport manager finalists

New Monroe Regional Airport manager Ron Phillips’ management and strategic planning skills elevated him from four other finalists for the job who had more aviation experience, those who selected him said.

As first reported at thenewsstar.com Wednesday, Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo will officially named Phillips, who has been the interim director for 10 months, during an 11 a.m. Thursday news conference at City Hall.

“I’ve been in business 35 years and I’ve never seen someone who was more prepared in an interview,” said Ouachita Parish auto dealer Steve Taylor, who was among those on a selection committee who interviewed the finalists. “I’m thoroughly convinced Ron is the right man for this job.”

Progressive Bank President George Cummings, who was also a member of the advisory committee that recommended Phillips, was similarly impressed.

“He made a thoughtful, solid presentation and has also already clearly addressed issues at the airport,” Cummings said.

Other selection committee members included Mayo, Public Works Director Tom Janway and businessman Robert Clark.

The city paid Tupelo, Miss.-based PACE Group $27,000 to conduct the search. That firm interviewed 10 candidates and presented a list of five finalists.

Other finalists included:
 
Joe Wheeler, manager of the Greater LaFourche Port Commission airport;

Lane Rodgers, former manager of the Greenville, Miss., airport;

Terry Anderson, former manager of the Tupelo, Miss., airport;

and Kyle Greenwood of Troy, Ala., who has extensive experience in military aviation operations.

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

He flew his beloved Beechcraft Bonanza for years - Alexander Shukis, 92, of Peachtree City

Alexander Shukis of Peachtree City passed away September 6, 2012 after 92 years of a wonderful life.
 
He was married to the late Betty Shukis and is survived by his children Peter Shukis of Houston Texas, Sally Shukis of Long Branch N.J., Julie Adams of Peachtree City, and beloved son Patrick Shukis.

Al was known for his generosity, thoughtfulness, and desire to make others happy. He was an Army Air Corps veteran who flew the B-17 and B-29 during the war.  He also flew his beloved Beechcraft Bonanza for years and was best known as the dawn patrol for his early morning flights. The last 15 years of his life playing golf with all his buddies here in Peachtree City were filled with wonderful memories and was a truly cherished time for him.

Throughout his late life Al was best known as gramps to many, with seven grandchildren and another seven great-grandchildren. He was loved by all and will be truly missed.

Source:   http://www.thecitizen.com

Cleared for takeoff: New Mexico State University flight program broadens travel options

 

Richard Clayton, pilot and director of University Flight Operations at New Mexico State University, sits in the cockpit of a six-passenger King Air E90 airplane at the Las Cruces International Airport. Clayton said the aircraft is used by university officials throughout the school year and September is a busy month for flights. (Shari V. Hill/Sun-News)

LAS CRUCES — The one-man department behind the wings of NMSU's Flight Operations program described the flight service as an "excellent efficiency tool" that saves time and money on university-related business trips. 

Richard Clayton, 59, NMSU's flight operations director and pilot of the university's King Air E-90, has more than 20,000 hours in the air, flying planes for 33 years.

Currently, Clayton can be found in the cockpit of the twin turbine aircraft, taking NMSU officials to conduct business across the state.

"The service is absolutely a time-saver, especially if you have to travel to Santa Fe or Carlsbad with a group of administrators for a one- to two-hour meeting," said Ricardo Jacquez, NMSU dean of the College of Engineering. "With driving time, you've committed an entire day. If you fly for an afternoon meeting, you can be back by 5 p.m., but still have your morning to take care of business at the office."

Read more:   http://www.lcsun-news.com

Disaster Drill This Saturday: Greater Rochester International Airport (KROC), New York

They come and go dozens of times a day, almost always without incident.

That doesn't mean the folks at Greater Rochester International assume takeoffs and landings will always go as planned.

"We are preparing for the worst,” said Mike Giardino, Airport Director.

This weekend, an airport runway will prove that.

"Casualties, the disaster, fire potentially. Wreckage."

Read more:    http://rochester.ynn.com

Streamline Air to Suspend Service at Trenton Mercer Airport (KTTN), Trenton, New Jersey

Streamline Air has announced that effective Friday, Sept. 14, it will suspend passenger flight operations between Trenton Mercer Airport and Bedford Hanscom Field. 

An automated recording at Streamline Air, a subsidiary of Charter Air Transport Inc., offers passengers the following message:

“As of Sept. 14, streamline air will be suspending service between Trenton Mercer and Bedford Hanscom Field. Any passengers with reservations past the 14th will be refunded to their original method of payment.”

Read more:  http://lawrenceville.patch.com

State OKs $5 million road, fencing project at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin

The state approved a $5 million project to construct a perimeter road and install security fencing at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

The perimeter road will limit public access to the airport property while providing internal access for airport maintenance vehicles, said Terry Ripp, airport engineering specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, in a news release. The security fence will restrict unauthorized personnel and wildlife from interfering with aircraft operations. Currently, the northern part of the airport is fenced off, but the southern part has open access.

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

Singapore Air inks $400 mln in-flight entertainment deal

(Reuters) - Singapore Airlines Ltd has signed an agreement worth nearly $400 million to equip its aircraft with advanced in-flight entertainment and communication systems in a bid to gain an edge over other carriers.
 
Under the agreement, Panasonic Avionics will equip over 40 SIA planes on order with a system that can provide broadband internet and global live television in the Airbus A350s and the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, the Singapore flag carrier said on Wednesday.

Panasonic Avionics, which is based in the United States, is part of Japan's Panasonic.

Source:   http://www.reuters.com

Airport Workers Stole 100K Liquor Bottles: District Attorney - John F Kennedy International (KJFK), New York

 

Massive mini-bottle liquor theft ring at JFK

 DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG  

Authorities say workers at John F. Kennedy International Airport stole 100,000 mini liquor bottles as well as as duty-free items such as larger bottles of liquor, perfume and cigarettes. Eighteen employees were arrested Wednesday on charges including larceny and possession of stolen property. The arrests came after a five-month investigation dubbed "Operation Last Call.'' Fifteen of the defendants are current or former truck drivers for Sky Chef, the food and beverage subsidiary of American Airlines.  The other three are security guards. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said they stole more than $750,000 worth of liquor and other items. He said a search warrant at the home of one retired truck driver turned up more than 500 garbage bags filled with mini liquor bottles. 

Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com

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

Crop Duster Pit Stop: Olivia Regional Airport (KOVL), Minnesota

 

September 4, 2012 by RiverHeightsMedia

 "I was at the Olivia regional airport and shot this short video of some crop sprayers. Special thanks to Chuck, Richard and Turner for showing me some behind the scenes footage of what it takes to keep the aerial spraying business flying. The pit stops only took 5-10 minutes to re-load the material to treat the sweet corn. Stay safe guys."

Westlock, Alberta, Canada - Pilot survives crash into power pole

Doug Neuman/WN 

A crop-duster hit some power lines near Jarvie last Wednesday afternoon, knocking out power to most of Westlock County for about an hour. The pilot was taken to hospital in Westlock and was later airlifted to Edmonton. 

Much of Westlock and Westlock County was left without power for about an hour last Wednesday afternoon after a crop-duster crashed, taking a power pole with it.

Emergency crews, including RCMP, Westlock EMS, the Westlock Fire Department and the Jarvie Fire Department, responded to the scene of the crash near Jarvie at about 1:30 p.m.

Westlock RCMP Staff Sgt. Bryan Clayton said police are investigating the incident in consultation with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which oversees enforcement of the Aeronautics Act.

The plane, described as a small crop-duster, was taking off from a farmer’s field when it hit some power lines, says police.

The 44-year-old pilot, a man from the Westlock area, then appeared to lose control of the plane and crash into a field near Township Road 632 and Range Road 12.

The pilot sustained injuries in the crash and was transported to hospital in Westlock.

He was later transferred by STARS Air Ambulance to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton.

Cam Heke, a spokesperson for STARS, said crews accepted a call for an inter-hospital transfer in Westlock just after 6 p.m., and confirmed the patient had been involved in a plane crash.

“He was in critical condition en route to the University of Alberta Hospital with life-threatening injuries,” he said.

Clayton said this type of incident is rare in the Westlock area — this is the first plane crash he recalls Westlock members having responded to in his time here.

“I’d say it’s very rare,” he said.

Westlock RCMP continue to investigate the crash, and it is not yet known if any charges will be laid.

“The whole matter is still under investigation. We’re investigating with the TSB; it will be their decision,” he said.

“I don’t know if charges would even apply, or if there are other measures that would be in place.”

Source:   http://www.westlocknews.com

Cessna 402B, Italian registration I-EJRA: Accident occurred September 07, 2012 in Rome, Italy

A Cessna plane from Brescia Montichiari impacted the terrain in a car wrecking facility near the airport of Roma Ciampino. The pilot Alfred Segariol and passenger Antonio Savoldi were killed in the crash - September 7th, 2012 by Fabrizio Lasorsa

See photo gallery:   http://www.demotix.com

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

NTSB Identification: ERA12WA556 
14 CFR Unknown
Accident occurred Friday, September 07, 2012 in Rome, Italy
Aircraft: CESSNA 402, registration: I-EJRA
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

On September 7, 2012, about 1100 Universal Time Coordinate (UTC), a Cessna 402B, Italian registration I-EJRA, operated by Rilievi Aerofotogrammetrici, impacted the ground near Rome, Italy. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and flight plan information was unknown for the local aerial photography flight that departed from Montichiari Airport – Rome Urbe (LIBR), Rome, Italy. The airplane was destroyed due to impact and postcrash fire. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated about 0715 UTC.

According to Italian authorities, the airplane impacted the terrain in a car wrecking facility and a postcrash fire ensued. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo (ANSV) of Italy. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:

Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo
Via A. Benigni, 53-00156
Telephone: +39 06 82 078 229
Fax: +39 06 8273672

This report is for informational purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained from the Government of Italy.

Mammoth, sunken Nazi WWII plane discovered in Sardinia: Only known example of 'Gigant'

Cagliari, September 12 – The wreckage of the only known example of a mammoth, Nazi-era, German airplane was found by a diver in waters near the Italian island of Sardinia. The Me-323 "Gigant" was the largest land-based transport aircraft used in World War II. The German airforce produced about 200 models of the plane, which had a 55-metre wingspan and six engines. 

Read more here: http://www.gazzettadelsud.it

Air India exploring adding more planes

-- Air India sets up committee to look into adding more planes
-- Air India will add more planes only if convinced about profitability
-- Defers decision on taking delivery of three Boeing 777-300 jets
-- Air India replacing more business-class seats with economy class

NEW DELHI--Air India Ltd. is exploring the possibility of adding more planes, Chairman Rohit Nandan said Wednesday, even as the loss-making national carrier takes steps to cut costs and post a turnaround.

Mr. Nandan said Air India has set up a committee headed by him and that includes all its directors to consider the global aviation scenario and the future aircraft requirement for the company.

"The committee will look into the markets and whether we should move at the same pace or whether we should be conservative," Mr. Nandan said. "It's a very dynamic market. So, you will have to look at it every month and you will have to place any order at least one year in advance."

The committee will decide on any fresh aircraft orders only after it is convinced that the move would be profitable for the airline, he added.

The airline has deferred a decision on taking the delivery of three Boeing Co. BA -0.36% 777-300 Extended Range planes and is also reconfiguring some of its Airbus A320 planes by adding economy-class seats in line with lower demand for business-class seats, Mr. Nandan told Dow Jones Newswires. He didn't say why the airline has deferred the decision.

Air India is seeking to add new planes such as Boeing's fuel-efficient Dreamliner and taking measures like cutting staff through a voluntary retirement scheme as part of efforts to reduce expenditure and turnaround the company. It has posted losses for five straight years since 2007, when the government merged Air India and the erstwhile Indian Airlines to create the current entity.

The first of 27 Dreamliner jets Air India has ordered was unveiled to the Indian press Wednesday. Five more are scheduled to reach by the end of December and the rest in four years through 2016.

For Air India, one of the first customers for the airliner and the fifth airline globally to own a Dreamliner, the new planes are crucial as they will allow it to start flights to new foreign destinations and try and regain market share ceded to rivals such as Emirates Airline, Deutsche Lufthansa AG (DLAKY) and Singapore Airlines Ltd. (SINGY).

Although the Dreamliner will start flying to domestic destinations such as Kolkata and Chennai on Sept. 19, its overseas services on routes like Sydney, Melbourne, Paris and Japan will happen only in about two-three months, Mr. Nandan said.

The new jet is considered to be among the most fuel-efficient aircraft, with Boeing saying it uses 20% less fuel than similarly sized planes. The aircraft can carry up to 256 passengers and fly without stopping for up to 15,200 kilometers.

Air India plans to replace its older, fuel-guzzling aircraft with the Dreamliners. However, its plan to lease out five of its eight 777-200 long-range planes hasn't met with success due to their seating capacity.

"The number of seats in the 777-200 is about 246 but the cost of operations is the same as a 330-seat aircraft," Mr. Nandan said. "So, per-seat cost becomes very expensive. That's why we are trying to lease them out."

He said Air India can decide by 2015-2016 on taking the delivery of the three 777-300 extended-range planes.

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

Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show: Parking to be restricted for 167th Airlift Wing air show

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Airlift Wing is hosting the Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show on Saturday and Sunday.

All motorists approaching the 167th Airlift Wing are encouraged to use the alternate travel route of Interstate 81 to bypass the base during the event days, according to a news release.

U.S. 11 from Novak Drive to Paynes Ford Road will remain open for this year’s event.

Parking will be prohibited on the following streets from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday:

U.S. 11 from Novak Drive to Paynes Ford Road

Business Park Drive from Novak Drive to I-81 bridge

Stewart Avenue from Wren Street to Winchester Avenue

Kelly Island Road from Paynes Ford Road to base entrance

Paynes Ford Road from U.S. 11 to Airport Road

n Airport Road from Paynes Ford Road to Novak Drive

Novak Drive from U.S. 11 to Airport Road

No parking will be allowed in the Orgill business lot on Business Park Drive, the Polo Ralph Lauren lot on Novak Drive and the park-and-ride lot near the I-81 bridge.

Parking on the base is limited to VIP, vendors, volunteers and performers.

No RV parking will be available.

Handicapped parking is available at the Sino parking lot on Novak Drive. There will be a bus shuttle service that will drop off spectators near the flight line on the base.

http://articles.herald-mail.com

First Solo Flight: Cessna 152 on September 9, 2012 at Bangor International Airport (KBGR), Maine

Embry-Riddle Reduces Airplane Noise with New Mufflers

Response to neighbors' complaints makes Embry-Riddle first large flight organization in nation to install noise reducing system in its fleet of Cessna 172 training aircraft. 

Daytona Beach, Fla. (PRWEB) September 11, 2012

After an investment of $250,000 and five years of research, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has found a way to address local residents’ concerns about noise from its training aircraft. The university has installed new noise reduction exhaust systems and is continuing to conduct research on new quieter propellers in its Daytona Beach campus fleet of Cessna 172 training aircraft.

“We’ve listened to our community and spent many hours trying to come up with solutions – serving on local noise committees, developing alternate procedures, producing noise abatement handouts and training videos – whatever it took to try to resolve this,” said Ken Byrnes, chairman of flight operations at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus. “But it always came back to a mechanical solution.”

After testing and analyzing a variety of airplane exhaust systems and experimental propellers for the past two years, Byrnes said his department got the best results with an exhaust system from Gomolzig Company in Germany and a resized propeller. The study and installation effort has involved more than a dozen faculty, staff and students at the campus.

“We are the first large flight training organization in the nation to install a noise-reducing system in our fleet of Cessna 172 training aircraft,” Byrnes said. The campus uses 41 of the planes to train students.

Read more:    http://www.prweb.com

Batesville, Indiana: Hill-Rom, Hillenbrand Closing Private Airport

(Batesville, Ind.) - A local airport is being shut down, grounding three private jets and more than a dozen jobs.

Hill-Rom Holdings and Hillenbrand, Inc. operate a private air strip in Batesville, located northwest of town off Enochsburg Road.

The decision was made by company executives Monday to close the airport, Hill-Rom Senior Vice Presidents of Corporate Support Services John Dickey told the Batesville Herald-Tribune.

The closure means that 18 people who work on three private company jets at the airport are being laid off. The newspaper reported that some of those employees, who were notified of the decision Monday, may be hired for other positions with Hill-Rom or Hillenbrand.

Company executives say regulations prevent them from using a private aviation program for customer visits, and it is no longer cost-effective.

“Hill-Rom has decided we will not be using charter services or any special private aircraft services ... only commercial aviation” for future travel needs, Dickey told the Herald-Tribune.

The companies plan to sell the jets. Once that is accomplished, it will look to unload the airport property.

Read more:  http://batesvilleheraldtribune.com/local/x2056640220/Companies-close-local-airport

Bird club: 'Kalapati,' not avian sanctuary, are real threat to Ninoy Aquino International Airport planes

Beware the pigeons.

Wild birds, including those that migrate long distances to roost in Metro Manila's only avian sanctuary, do not pose a danger to airplanes, said the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines at a press conference on Wednesday.

Instead, aviation authorities should be more worried about domesticated pigeons, or kalapati, raised as pets by many urban residents and frequently permitted to fly free.

Philippine Airlines president Ramon Ang recently denounced the presence of a bird sanctuary in coastal Parañaque, or a "Critical Habitat," a few kilometers from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. “That endangers the life of all passengers that go to Naia,” Ang said.

The national bird-watching club said that it holds the safety of airplane passengers "paramount," but added, "[T]here is not a shred of evidence that the Critical Habitat is in any way connected with any bird strikes in Metro Manila."

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

Pilatus PC-12 into Weather (FL260)

 

 by Dustin Barrett 

"Coming back from KRME we had to shoot the hole between cells - Lightning @ 5:13 or so, icing, choppy, etc"

Reno Air Races: Tour of Unlimited Class Pit on September 8, 2012

United States Coast Guard: Fisherman Rescued After Night Adrift in Fish Bin

 

Published on September 11, 2012 by Associated Press

The Coast Guard rescued 19-year-old fisherman Ryan Harris, after he spent a night adrift off Alaska in a 4x4 fish bin. He got into the plastic bin when his boat sank. A second fisherman was also rescued.

Wyoming Fire Burns 24 Square Miles

 

Published on September 12, 2012 by Associated Press 

Wyoming's Casper Mountain fire has destroyed seven homes and burned 24 square miles. The Horsethief fire near Jackson Hole has burned four square miles.

Editorial: Reno Air Races are safer if everyone's more careful

Hey, let’s be careful out there.

Thirty years ago, that was a signature line from TV’s “Hill Street Blues,” a popular police drama set in an unnamed city that might have been Chicago. But it could just as well be the theme of this year’s Travelnevada.com Reno Air Races, which gets under way at Reno Stead Airport this afternoon.

Last year’s tragedy that saw the deaths of 10 spectators and pilot Jimmy Leeward in a fiery crash forced everyone involved in the annual event to take a good, hard look at everything that goes on during the five days of the races, from inspections of aircraft that sometimes reach 500 mph to the layout of the course to the location of a fuel truck on standby.

The races remain inherently risky, especially for the pilots. There are simply too many unknowns involved in racing high-powered machines for the event to be perfectly safe. But thanks to the recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board and consultants hired by the Reno Air Racing Association, this year’s event should be the safest ever, for pilots and spectators alike.

Read more here:  http://www.rgj.com

The man who gave 9/11 terrorists flying lessons

Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston  


HOUSTON (FOX 26) -  Houston is now home to a man who unwittingly trained two of the 9/11 terrorists to fly.
 
Rudi Dekkers owned Huffman Aviation in Venice, Florida.  And for six months he and his instructors worked with Mohamed Atta and Marwan Al-Shehhi, the hijackers who were at the controls of the planes that later took out the twin towers.

Dekkers says he met Atta on Independence Day of 2000 when the pair first inquired about flying lessons, and he immediately sensed an evil aura about him.

"The only thing that I ask myself sometimes is, ‘Should I have listened to my inner self'?" Dekkers told FOX 26 News. "You don't like that guy.  Should you train him?  But you know what?  If I would not have trained him, they would have been trained somewhere else."

Dekkers says he had no idea what the two men were really up to.  After several run-ins, he eventually kicked them out of his flight school.

He never heard from them again until the FBI came asking about Atta and Al-Shehhi on September 12, 2001.

In the wake of 9/11, through the whispers that followed, Rudi Dekkers says he lost nearly everything.

He wrote a book – "Guilty By Association" – and moved to Houston to nourish his new career as a keynote speaker.

When asked, "Do you think you'll ever outrun the shadow of this event?" Dekkers immediately shot back: "Yeah. When I die."

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

LMI Aerospace expands its Savannah operation

LMI Aerospace, a leading supplier of structural components, assemblies and kits to the aerospace industry, is expanding its Savannah facility, which provides kits and assemblies to both Gulfstream Aerospace and Aviation Partners Boeing, general manager Phil Lajeunesse told the board and advisory council of the Savannah Economic Development Authority Tuesday.

“We started in 2003 with Gulfstream, developing fuselage skin kit assemblies that worked with their lean, just-in-time manufacturing process,” he said.

Over the years, LMI’s reputation for quality and reliability allowed them to deliver the kits directly to the assembly line on the manufacturing floor for the shift they would be needed, Lajeunesse said.

Five years ago, the company added Aviation Partners Boeing to its client list, producing a kit that supports the installation of winglets on the Boeing 737, 757 and 767.

Read more here:   http://savannahnow.com

FCC attempts to shut down Florida cable operator for violating signal leakage, EAS rules

The FCC said Thursday that it was fining Florida cable operator St. George Cable $236,500 for allegedly violating rules governing signal leakage and the Emergency Alert System, and for failing to adhere to an order to cease operations. 

According to an FCC notice, an inspector from its Tampa office discovered 33 leaks on aeronautical frequencies emanating from the cable system on St. George Island during a visit on Sept. 7, 2011. The commission ordered the system to cease operations, but the cable system remained in operation.

"We conclude St. George's actions were egregious—given the potential public safety hazard, its blatant disregard for Commission authority, and a demonstrated pattern of failing to maintain its cable system," the FCC wrote in the order.
 
The FCC said its inspectors returned to the system in October and March, and once again found signal leaks that could interfere with frequencies used by emergency locator transmitters on airplanes and emergency radio beacons on boats. The commission said it also discovered that St. George Cable had never installed Emergency Alert System equipment needed to relay messages to subscribers. St. George has also never registered its cable system at the FCC, according to the FCC notice.

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

Reno, Nevada: Air Races Medical Staff Hopes for Best, Prepares for Worst

As the aviation community gears up for the 49th annual National Championship Air Races, it's not just the pilots looking back at last year's event.

Doctors, nurses, and EMTs are preparing to staff the medical tent at the Reno-Stead Airport this year. The medical professionals said normally, that job includes handing out band aids and sunscreen, and making sure people stay hydrated.

But with the memory of last year still fresh in their minds, they are hoping for the best, while preparing for the worst.

"You always learn to expect something like [last year's crash], to prepare for something like this," Saint Mary's Regional Health Center Doctor Jenny Wilson said, "and sometimes you're going through drills and you're thinking 'Why am I doing this?' And we got our question answered."

Read more:   http://www.ktvn.com