Commercial flights could be running between Bendigo and Melbourne by April.
Two pilots have been employed by newly registered company Gold Air Pty Ltd as negotiations over airport access are under way with the City of Greater Bendigo and Essendon Airport owner Lindsay Fox.
Gold Air managing director Marcel Nolet said it had taken almost four years and about
$1 million to reach this stage and said the service would have huge economic benefits.
“We want to make sure this is going to be a long term operation, not a fly-by-night operation,” he said.
“We’re looking for further funding of $1 million at this stage as well... we’re looking for business people in Bendigo who will take a share of the airline.
“We hope to start employing people in March, looking for senior managers, airport staff and call center staff.
“It will absolutely build Bendigo into a major, major city...we believe Bendigo will be a central Victorian hub, that’s our long term intention.”
Twice daily return flights and two weekend return flights are planned.
Principal consultant Neil Hansford said the airport terminal needed minor upgrades and that was separate to long-term plans for runway extensions.
“We’ve basically got to take over the terminal and convert it for scheduled services,” he said.
“Everything is in place, it’s ready, and the council needs to spend money converting the terminal back to a terminal.
“That’s got to be approved by councilors.”
The service would be aimed at business people flying to and from Melbourne, which could expand to Canberra, Adelaide and Mildura, then Sydney, Brisbane, Coolangatta and Hobart if the runway was extended.
Bendigo Business Council executive officer Patrick Falconer noted the difficulty of people traveling to Bendigo to conduct business.
“There will be a lot of skeptics because these services have been in Bendigo before,” he said.
“But that was when Bendigo was smaller with lot fewer businesses.
“I think given the size of Bendigo, the city does need an airlink and I think this is the start of the growth in air services in Bendigo.”
The company will start advertising in March with flights ranging from $130 to $180.
City of Greater Bendigo chief executive Craig Niemann said the council would be taking a cautious approach to the plans.
“As always, if any ratepayer money is to be expended we will ensure that it is done so in a responsible manner on projects that benefit our community,” he said.
“Council is yet to make any decisions on the type of assistance that might be needed.”
Mr Hansford said the size of the planes to be used meant security screening and baggage carousels weren’t needed.
Story and Photo: http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au
Monday, January 7, 2013
Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL) expansion must benefit all, including workers
U.S. REP. BOB BRADY
Posted: Monday, January 7, 2013, 3:01 AM
AS PHILADELPHIA gets ready to spend billions of dollars expanding our airport, we must make sure that the project benefits the community and not just big business.
The Philadelphia International Airport is a major economic engine for the city and region. It supports over 141,000 jobs in the Philadelphia region, and brings more than $14 billion in economic activity to the area. But many of the jobs at the airport fail to contribute to our economy or our communities.
The workers who clean terminals and aircraft, push wheelchairs, help passengers with their baggage, and perform security services to keep passengers safe are paid as little as $7.25 an hour with no access to affordable health benefits or sick days. Because they earn so little, too many are unable to provide for their families and have to resort to taxpayer-funded assistance for health care and food. This is a disgrace.
Philadelphia's unemployment rate is well above the national average. It is vital that we ensure that people in our city who find work don't have to settle for dead-end jobs that fail to provide a path out of poverty.
Unless we make sure that workers share in the wealth they help create, especially at vital economic hubs like the airport, our city and neighborhoods will be unable to escape this cycle of poverty.
The good news is that workers at the airport are organizing and demanding respect for themselves and their communities. Airport workers, clergy and community supporters will testify in front of City Council members to make the case to expand the 21st Century Minimum Wage Ordinance to the airport.
This is the right thing to do. It's also good business. When workers are paid fair wages and benefits, they have more money to spend at supermarkets, clothing stores and other local businesses. They also pay more in taxes, and need less government assistance. All of this contributes to economic growth for our city and state.
Raising standards for airport workers could result in an additional $5.7 million in annual earnings for Pennsylvania residents and in the creation of more than 165 new jobs a year in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia needs this and we should make sure it happens.
Bob Brady represents Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District, which includes Philadelphia International Airport.
Source: http://www.philly.com
http://www.airnav.com/airport/PHL
Posted: Monday, January 7, 2013, 3:01 AM
AS PHILADELPHIA gets ready to spend billions of dollars expanding our airport, we must make sure that the project benefits the community and not just big business.
The Philadelphia International Airport is a major economic engine for the city and region. It supports over 141,000 jobs in the Philadelphia region, and brings more than $14 billion in economic activity to the area. But many of the jobs at the airport fail to contribute to our economy or our communities.
The workers who clean terminals and aircraft, push wheelchairs, help passengers with their baggage, and perform security services to keep passengers safe are paid as little as $7.25 an hour with no access to affordable health benefits or sick days. Because they earn so little, too many are unable to provide for their families and have to resort to taxpayer-funded assistance for health care and food. This is a disgrace.
Philadelphia's unemployment rate is well above the national average. It is vital that we ensure that people in our city who find work don't have to settle for dead-end jobs that fail to provide a path out of poverty.
Unless we make sure that workers share in the wealth they help create, especially at vital economic hubs like the airport, our city and neighborhoods will be unable to escape this cycle of poverty.
The good news is that workers at the airport are organizing and demanding respect for themselves and their communities. Airport workers, clergy and community supporters will testify in front of City Council members to make the case to expand the 21st Century Minimum Wage Ordinance to the airport.
This is the right thing to do. It's also good business. When workers are paid fair wages and benefits, they have more money to spend at supermarkets, clothing stores and other local businesses. They also pay more in taxes, and need less government assistance. All of this contributes to economic growth for our city and state.
Raising standards for airport workers could result in an additional $5.7 million in annual earnings for Pennsylvania residents and in the creation of more than 165 new jobs a year in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia needs this and we should make sure it happens.
Bob Brady represents Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District, which includes Philadelphia International Airport.
Source: http://www.philly.com
http://www.airnav.com/airport/PHL
Frontier Airlines continues rapid expansion at Trenton Mercer Airport (KTTN), New Jersey
EWING -- Frontier Airlines plans to add flights from Trenton-Mercer Airport to five additional cities -- Atlanta, Chicago (Midway), Columbus, Detroit and Raleigh-Durham -- starting in April.
The expansion plan comes just weeks before Frontier begins flights to Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa, Fla, and New Orleans later this month. The airline has been flying to Orlando, Fla. since November.
The new flights are expected to be announced at a press conference at 11 a.m. today at the Mercer County airport, but the route list is already available on Frontier's website: www.flyfrontier.com.
Frontier officials said in November that the early sales on the Orlando flights with low cost fares ranging from $69 to $89 each way prompted the company to expand to three additional Florida cities and New Orleans.
Trenton-Mercer Airport is roughly equidistant between Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport, but has struggled for years to find an airline that could make the airport a viable alternative.
Fourteen other commercial airlines have come and gone from the county airport since 1983.
The Fort Lauderdale route will begin Feb. 2 and include flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Fort Myers flights begin Jan. 31 and will fly on Thursdays and Sundays. The Tampa flights begin Jan. 31 and will fly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The New Orleans flights begin Feb. 1 and will fly on Mondays and Fridays.
Story and Photos: http://www.nj.com
Frontier Airlines: http://www.flyfrontier.com
Trenton Mercer Airport (KTTN), NJ: http://www.airnav.com/KTTN
The Sunday Times apologizes and pays 'substantial' damages for claiming Ryanair broke safety violations 1,201 times
The Sunday Times has been forced to pay Ryanair ‘substantial' damages after it wrongly reported that the airline had broken safety violations 1,201 times.
The newspaper printed an apology to the airline and paid out an undisclosed amount having printed a story in September that wrongly cited a report from the Spanish air safety agency stating that Ryanair had broken safety rules on 1,201 occasions.
It was also wrongly stated within the same article that three emergency landings were reported due to bad weather diversions from Madrid to Valencia and that most of the airlines pilots were freelance and under pressure through ‘monthly fuel league tables’.
The damages will be paid to The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation at the request of Ryanair.
The full apology printed in the Sunday Times yesterday can be read below:
An article (headlined “Ryanair accused of 1,201 safety violations”, Travel, September 23, 2012) stated that, according to a leaked report from the Spanish air safety agency (AESA), Ryanair planes broke safety rules 1,201 times in Spanish airspace in the first six months of 2012. We now accept that this was incorrect; there was no such report and Ryanair did not commit 1,201 breaches of safety rules.
In the same article we also reported three emergency landings which arose due to bad weather diversions from Madrid to Valencia on July 26, 2012. The article described these flights as having insufficient fuel to remain in holding patterns and reported claims that Ryanair was routinely abusing the mayday protocol to jump landing queues. We accept that all these allegations were untrue and apologize to Ryanair for the damage caused by this article. We have agreed to pay Ryanair substantial damages, which at the company’s request will be paid to the charity The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation.
Finally, we reported in our article “Most Ryanair pilots are freelance” (News, ¬September 30, 2012) union claims that pilots feel under pressure to fly when ill and pilots’ claims that they are rostered for fewer flights if they fall into the bottom 20% of Ryanair’s monthly fuel league tables. We now accept Ryanair’s statements that pilots are not put under any such pressure and that the fuel-burn league tables are designed to improve fuel performance, which makes flights safer.
We also accept the Irish Aviation Authority’s assurance that Ryanair’s safety is “on a par with the safest airlines in Europe”.
Source: http://www.thedrum.com
Ryanair: http://www.ryanair.com/en
WEST WINDSOR, NEW JERSEY: Town files appeal over police helicopter lessons
Yet that’s the bill taxpayers face this year, thanks to
vague language in the contract. In the contract, officers are allowed
tuition reimbursement for educational courses that would better them in
their career field.
WEST WINDSOR — When a state appointed arbitrator settled a police contract in 2011, the town never thought it would be paying more than $80,000 by 2013 for helicopter lessons.
However the classes they can take are not specified and two officers took that as a green light to take aviation lessons.
West Windsor is now seeking legal action to prevent having to repay the money for lessons involving a vehicle it does not own.
Recently the town filed an appeal with the Superior Court in hopes of proving the violation and overturning an arbitrator’s Nov. 19 ruling that denied the town of abstainment.
”The intent of educational expense reimbursement for officers is to reimburse them on courses that have to do with their jobs,” said Township Attorney Michael Herbert. “We hope the court sees that the taxpayers of West Windsor are being sandbagged by this arbiter’s decision.”
The town was forced to arbitration when the council decided not to take action on the contract recommendations made by the administration a couple of years ago. Because council did not vote, the contract’s decision was automatically left to the state-appointed arbiter. According to Mr. Herbert, arbiters usually rule in favor of the police.
Since then, the arbiter has ruled the town must honor the contract and repay the helicopter lessons. Just in 2011, the two police officers racked up a $14,860 flight school bill. According to Councilman Bryan Maher, there is also $38,000 outstanding in requests, bringing the current total to $53,000 for the lessons.
”This is not the end of hearing about this issue moving into next year,” said Mr. Maher at the Dec. 17 meeting. “I think it’s abusive.”
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh confirmed the officers are continuing their aviation courses, which could make that bill jump to $83,000 in 2013 if the court does not rule in the townships’ favor.
”This is the first time we have had this kind of situation and I’m very disappointed with the officers, especially since they know the township doesn’t have helicopters,” said Mayor Hsueh. “I hope the Appellate Division makes a reasonable decision, but until then there’s not much we can do about it.”
Under the advice of the attorney, the mayor said he could not give the names of the two officers.
Mr. Herbert was not only disappointed with the arbiter’s decision, but frustrated the police officers continue to waste taxpayer dollars for what appears to be a hidden agenda.
”The intent of the police officers is to go retire with a comfortable pension and then get a job as a helicopter pilot — all on the backs of the West Windsor taxpayers,” he said. “It’s a real outrage and we want to take every action possible to have this overturned.”
The court is reviewing the case and will decide whether it will pursue a hearing. If West Windsor ends up losing, Mr. Herbert said they would explore the option of filing a petition with the New Jersey Supreme Court. Mayor Hsueh was unsure of the legal expenses associated with the legal action.
The police contract is up in 2013, which will bring another round of negotiations to the table. Mayor Hsueh said he was confident this time council would vote in support of the administration’s recommendations to prevent another arbitration intervention.
This time around, the mayor wants to tighten the requirements for tuition reimbursement by having Business Administrator Marlena Schmid decide what educational courses are allowed to be taken.
The helicopter lesson situation is almost certain to impact the upcoming police contract negotiations. It appears the two officers may have made it harder for their colleagues to be reimbursed for classes in the future.
”The next time in negotiations police officers will get nothing. There’s going to be some real restrictions on any real tuition reimbursements,” said Mr. Herbert. “In the end, it really hurts the whole police force and the officers who are making legitimate requests for reimbursement.”
West Windsor Police Pay: http://php.app.com
Story and reaction/comments: http://m.centraljersey.com
WEST WINDSOR — When a state appointed arbitrator settled a police contract in 2011, the town never thought it would be paying more than $80,000 by 2013 for helicopter lessons.
However the classes they can take are not specified and two officers took that as a green light to take aviation lessons.
West Windsor is now seeking legal action to prevent having to repay the money for lessons involving a vehicle it does not own.
Recently the town filed an appeal with the Superior Court in hopes of proving the violation and overturning an arbitrator’s Nov. 19 ruling that denied the town of abstainment.
”The intent of educational expense reimbursement for officers is to reimburse them on courses that have to do with their jobs,” said Township Attorney Michael Herbert. “We hope the court sees that the taxpayers of West Windsor are being sandbagged by this arbiter’s decision.”
The town was forced to arbitration when the council decided not to take action on the contract recommendations made by the administration a couple of years ago. Because council did not vote, the contract’s decision was automatically left to the state-appointed arbiter. According to Mr. Herbert, arbiters usually rule in favor of the police.
Since then, the arbiter has ruled the town must honor the contract and repay the helicopter lessons. Just in 2011, the two police officers racked up a $14,860 flight school bill. According to Councilman Bryan Maher, there is also $38,000 outstanding in requests, bringing the current total to $53,000 for the lessons.
”This is not the end of hearing about this issue moving into next year,” said Mr. Maher at the Dec. 17 meeting. “I think it’s abusive.”
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh confirmed the officers are continuing their aviation courses, which could make that bill jump to $83,000 in 2013 if the court does not rule in the townships’ favor.
”This is the first time we have had this kind of situation and I’m very disappointed with the officers, especially since they know the township doesn’t have helicopters,” said Mayor Hsueh. “I hope the Appellate Division makes a reasonable decision, but until then there’s not much we can do about it.”
Under the advice of the attorney, the mayor said he could not give the names of the two officers.
Mr. Herbert was not only disappointed with the arbiter’s decision, but frustrated the police officers continue to waste taxpayer dollars for what appears to be a hidden agenda.
”The intent of the police officers is to go retire with a comfortable pension and then get a job as a helicopter pilot — all on the backs of the West Windsor taxpayers,” he said. “It’s a real outrage and we want to take every action possible to have this overturned.”
The court is reviewing the case and will decide whether it will pursue a hearing. If West Windsor ends up losing, Mr. Herbert said they would explore the option of filing a petition with the New Jersey Supreme Court. Mayor Hsueh was unsure of the legal expenses associated with the legal action.
The police contract is up in 2013, which will bring another round of negotiations to the table. Mayor Hsueh said he was confident this time council would vote in support of the administration’s recommendations to prevent another arbitration intervention.
This time around, the mayor wants to tighten the requirements for tuition reimbursement by having Business Administrator Marlena Schmid decide what educational courses are allowed to be taken.
The helicopter lesson situation is almost certain to impact the upcoming police contract negotiations. It appears the two officers may have made it harder for their colleagues to be reimbursed for classes in the future.
”The next time in negotiations police officers will get nothing. There’s going to be some real restrictions on any real tuition reimbursements,” said Mr. Herbert. “In the end, it really hurts the whole police force and the officers who are making legitimate requests for reimbursement.”
West Windsor Police Pay: http://php.app.com
Story and reaction/comments: http://m.centraljersey.com
Delivery of Boeing Dreamliners to China held up
HONG KONG | Mon Jan 7, 2013 7:07am EST
(Reuters) - China said it has yet to approve U.S. planemaker Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, which has put on hold the delivery of the jet to the world's fastest growing aviation market.
China Southern Airlines Co Ltd, which has outstanding orders for 10 Dreamliner B787s, had expected to receive its first plane in 2012, but that has been delayed as the U.S. company has yet to receive certification from Chinese authorities.
Another Chinese airline, Hainan Airlines, which aimed to get five B787 airliners last year, also had to push back its schedule due to delayed certification, local media reported.
China has been increasingly assertive when it comes to exercising its right to independently certify the airworthiness of western-built aerospace equipment, such as engines, industry sources said.
Any aircraft has to obtain a certificate of airworthiness from the Civil Aviation Administration of China before it can enter the country.
"The approval process for the certification for the Boeing 787 aircraft is still in progress," the regulator said in an email reply to Reuters on Monday.
"The timing of the issue of the certificate will very much depend on the degree of cooperation of Boeing and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Currently the process is progressing smoothly," it added.
The Boeing 787 has already been certified by the FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency.
Boeing declined comment on its customers' delivery plans.
"We are working closely with our customers to finalize the delivery and ensure successful EIS (entry into service) of the 787 with our customers in China," it said in an emailed reply.
The aircraft, the first Boeing jet to be globally outsourced to suppliers around the world, was first delivered to Japan's All Nippon Airways in 2011 after being delayed for 3-1/2 years due to technical and other problems.
Boeing said China had firm orders for 35 B787 including 10 each from China Southern and Hainan Airlines, and another 15 from Air China Ltd.
In addition, Xiamen Airlines also announced orders for six 787s, pending government approval, it said.
Source: http://www.reuters.com
(Reuters) - China said it has yet to approve U.S. planemaker Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, which has put on hold the delivery of the jet to the world's fastest growing aviation market.
China Southern Airlines Co Ltd, which has outstanding orders for 10 Dreamliner B787s, had expected to receive its first plane in 2012, but that has been delayed as the U.S. company has yet to receive certification from Chinese authorities.
Another Chinese airline, Hainan Airlines, which aimed to get five B787 airliners last year, also had to push back its schedule due to delayed certification, local media reported.
China has been increasingly assertive when it comes to exercising its right to independently certify the airworthiness of western-built aerospace equipment, such as engines, industry sources said.
Any aircraft has to obtain a certificate of airworthiness from the Civil Aviation Administration of China before it can enter the country.
"The approval process for the certification for the Boeing 787 aircraft is still in progress," the regulator said in an email reply to Reuters on Monday.
"The timing of the issue of the certificate will very much depend on the degree of cooperation of Boeing and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Currently the process is progressing smoothly," it added.
The Boeing 787 has already been certified by the FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency.
Boeing declined comment on its customers' delivery plans.
"We are working closely with our customers to finalize the delivery and ensure successful EIS (entry into service) of the 787 with our customers in China," it said in an emailed reply.
The aircraft, the first Boeing jet to be globally outsourced to suppliers around the world, was first delivered to Japan's All Nippon Airways in 2011 after being delayed for 3-1/2 years due to technical and other problems.
Boeing said China had firm orders for 35 B787 including 10 each from China Southern and Hainan Airlines, and another 15 from Air China Ltd.
In addition, Xiamen Airlines also announced orders for six 787s, pending government approval, it said.
Source: http://www.reuters.com
King Aviation a Family Affair: Mansfield Municipal Airport (1B9), Massachusetts
Kelley Dineen never intended to work in the flight industry, you could say she just kind of fell into it.
http://www.king1b9.com
http://www.airnav.com/airport/1B9
Dineen, president of King Aviation, said she originally went to
Johnson and Wales University in Providence for hotel and restaurant
management, but in the recession of 1991, there wasn’t much work in
those fields. She said her father, already an accomplished pilot and was
running the flight school.
“When I graduated no one was hiring,” she said. “I took the summer and waitressed down the cape, but come September I had to have a job and he said go help your brother.”
The flight school has a small number of its own airplanes for instruction. Dineen said that she and her brother David run the flight school.
Dineen said that her father’s love of flying, and subsequently her own, started when he took it up as a hobby when she was about six or seven years old.
“I like the peace and quiet about it,” she said. “Even with the hum of the engine it’s quiet, I find it very relaxing.”
Dineen said that the airport itself has an array of two and four-seat planes, mostly owned by private flyers. The planes makes range from the 1940s up to modern times, including a Boeing-Steerman two-wing navy training biplane.
“They still work,” she said. “They do last longer than a car as long as you take car of them.”
Dineen said that all airplanes in the airport, including KA’s planes, go under rigorous inspection every year.
“It’s not like getting a sticker from the Mobil station,” she said. “It can take a week two sometimes three depending if they have do to repairs.”
Dineen said that while the planes are very interesting, the biggest part of the business, like most businesses, is the people.
"You need to adapt to everybody else you can’t expect people to adapt how you operate," she said. "You need to talk, listen and anticipate problems. You definitely have to be able to multitask to do this job.
Dineen said that, as a pilot herself, her favorite planes would be for what is called a low-wing aircraft.
“I like the old old airplanes witht hose big loud radial engines,” she said with a grin. “If I could buy one of those I would, like one of the Cessna 195s… with an old big loud engine. It’s really a gas-guzzler.”
Dineen said that while the airport is used primarily for private owners, occasionally musicians, professional sports players and other celebrities come through.
She said that Jimmy Buffett, Elton John, Rush, The Rolling Stones, The Offspring, Donald Trump, Boomer Esiason, Joe Gibbs, Kyle Brady, the New Kids on the Block and Joe Andruzzi.
Story and Photos: http://mansfield-ma.patch.com
“When I graduated no one was hiring,” she said. “I took the summer and waitressed down the cape, but come September I had to have a job and he said go help your brother.”
The flight school has a small number of its own airplanes for instruction. Dineen said that she and her brother David run the flight school.
Dineen said that her father’s love of flying, and subsequently her own, started when he took it up as a hobby when she was about six or seven years old.
“I like the peace and quiet about it,” she said. “Even with the hum of the engine it’s quiet, I find it very relaxing.”
Dineen said that the airport itself has an array of two and four-seat planes, mostly owned by private flyers. The planes makes range from the 1940s up to modern times, including a Boeing-Steerman two-wing navy training biplane.
“They still work,” she said. “They do last longer than a car as long as you take car of them.”
Dineen said that all airplanes in the airport, including KA’s planes, go under rigorous inspection every year.
“It’s not like getting a sticker from the Mobil station,” she said. “It can take a week two sometimes three depending if they have do to repairs.”
Dineen said that while the planes are very interesting, the biggest part of the business, like most businesses, is the people.
"You need to adapt to everybody else you can’t expect people to adapt how you operate," she said. "You need to talk, listen and anticipate problems. You definitely have to be able to multitask to do this job.
Dineen said that, as a pilot herself, her favorite planes would be for what is called a low-wing aircraft.
“I like the old old airplanes witht hose big loud radial engines,” she said with a grin. “If I could buy one of those I would, like one of the Cessna 195s… with an old big loud engine. It’s really a gas-guzzler.”
Dineen said that while the airport is used primarily for private owners, occasionally musicians, professional sports players and other celebrities come through.
She said that Jimmy Buffett, Elton John, Rush, The Rolling Stones, The Offspring, Donald Trump, Boomer Esiason, Joe Gibbs, Kyle Brady, the New Kids on the Block and Joe Andruzzi.
Story and Photos: http://mansfield-ma.patch.com
http://www.king1b9.com
http://www.airnav.com/airport/1B9
Police: David LaPrade burgles airport restaurant, leaves underwear behind - Lambert-St Louis International (KSTL), St Louis, Missouri
ST. LOUIS COUNTY (KSDK) - A bold burglar hit a restaurant in the last place you'd expect this week; the airport.
The alleged burglar busted into the Pasta House at Lambert when it was closed late Sunday night and left his cell phone and alcohol-drenched underwear behind.
Airport police arrested David LaPrade for the crime.
"He went in and he started drinking. It was later in the night as he got more intoxicated," said airport Police Chief Paul Mason. "What he did is he rearranged the stools to block any view and then he was behind the bar. And I think as he drank more and more his activity became more animated."
LaPrade was allegedly there to catch a flight the next morning. Chief Mason says he also stole chewing tobacco and cigarettes. They used video from surveillance cameras inside the restaurant to catch him. However, Mason says they can't release that video.
"We got a photograph and we put the photograph out and he was still at the airport when we caught him," he said.
He says the terminal is deserted at that time of night. Still, the burning question was how did nobody hear this, or see this? NewsChannel 5 asked airport police for an answer.
"The officer assigned to cover that beat was making an arrest of another person that he had discovered in the terminal. And again, he hid behind the bar for a good portion of the time," Mason said.
He says this was an isolated incident. This was in a part of the airport before the security checkpoints. Mason assures there was no threat to security.
"There was no danger to security at the airport because this is in a public area where the public has access to. Any of the secured portion of the airport, in addition to having whatever barriers we have up, we have 24 hour a day surveillance cameras being monitored by airport police department alarm room," said Mason. "So if someone was to do something like this to one of the gates, or attempt to do something like this to one of the gates or doors that led to the secure area of the airport, they would be immediately detected."
David LaPrade was arrested and booked into St. Louis County Jail. He's charged with second-degree burglary and property damage.
Story, video, reaction/comments: http://www.ksdk.com
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSTL
Runway restaurant closes up shop: Trenton Mercer Airport (KTTN), New Jersey
EWING
— Behind locked glass doors, stacked tables and chairs and a few
cardboard boxes are all that is left of The Runway, the restaurant for
the last four years in the terminal at Trenton-Mercer Airport.
The restaurant’s managers and county officials had agreed to the closure and the space was vacated yesterday, Mercer County spokeswoman Julie Willmot said. The lease was terminated after the management was unable to pay the minimum rental amount owed to the county, she said.
“The lease was procured competitively and therefore Mercer County was unable to negotiate lower rent,” Willmot said.
County officials said they will consider the financial viability and demand for a restaurant at the airport before putting the lease out to bid again.
“The county is always evaluating the configuration of the air terminal to maximize the operational needs of the airport,” Willmot said. “The viability of any restaurant will be a consideration in determining whether it is an appropriate fit for the terminal space.”
Willmot said county officials will strive to provide access to some level of food service at the airport. When asked if the county might use the former Runway space for something other than a restaurant, she said the county would consider all options.
Art Adams, who ran the restaurant with his wife, Sue Adams, and his mother, Carol Adams, was working to clear out the last of their things at the restaurant yesterday. He declined to comment on the restaurant’s closing.
Posted on both doors to The Runway’s dining room was a letter from the management and staff, saying they were closing the restaurant with “heavy hearts.”
“While we have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to serve the community here in Mercer County over these past four years. It is now time for us to pursue other business opportunities,” the letter read. “Every one of you has touched our lives and we are most grateful for your friendship.”
One of those patrons, Mervin Dissinger of Lower Makefield, Pa., said he was disappointed to find the restaurant shuttered when he visited on Wednesday. The retired pilot said he enjoyed watching the planes take off and land while he grabbed a bite to eat.
“It was all locked up,” Dissinger said. “They always provided me good service.”
Dissinger said he thought that with the success of Frontier Airlines’ new commercial flights the restaurant might have been able to turn a profit.
Frontier Airlines began flying out of the Ewing airport in November, offering cheap flights to Orlando, Fla. The Denver company has already announced it will expand service to Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers, Fla. and to New Orleans. The company said yesterday it will make another announcement on expanded service on Monday but did not provide further details.
The Runway restaurant had been struggling, and in September county officials said they had received only partial rental payments for six months. The freeholder board voted to end the lease agreement with the restaurant’s management early, giving the county the option of putting the lease out to bid and finding a new tenant.
At that time Sue Adams said the family was not making enough money to pay the $96,460 a year in rent. The annual rent had been negotiated down from $99,354, county attorney Sarah Crowley said in September. Any loss in revenue would have to be passed on to the taxpayer, Crowley said.
The Runway opened in December 2008 after Carol Adams made the sole bid on the five-year lease.
The restaurant became available when General’s Quarters, which previously occupied the space, closed abruptly earlier that year.
Story and Reaction/Comments: http://www.nj.com
September 2012: Trenton-Mercer Airport's Runway restaurant could lose its lease
The Runway Restaurant: http://therunwayonline.com
Trenton Mercer Airport (KTTN), New Jersey: http://www.airnav.com/KTTN
The restaurant’s managers and county officials had agreed to the closure and the space was vacated yesterday, Mercer County spokeswoman Julie Willmot said. The lease was terminated after the management was unable to pay the minimum rental amount owed to the county, she said.
“The lease was procured competitively and therefore Mercer County was unable to negotiate lower rent,” Willmot said.
County officials said they will consider the financial viability and demand for a restaurant at the airport before putting the lease out to bid again.
“The county is always evaluating the configuration of the air terminal to maximize the operational needs of the airport,” Willmot said. “The viability of any restaurant will be a consideration in determining whether it is an appropriate fit for the terminal space.”
Willmot said county officials will strive to provide access to some level of food service at the airport. When asked if the county might use the former Runway space for something other than a restaurant, she said the county would consider all options.
Art Adams, who ran the restaurant with his wife, Sue Adams, and his mother, Carol Adams, was working to clear out the last of their things at the restaurant yesterday. He declined to comment on the restaurant’s closing.
Posted on both doors to The Runway’s dining room was a letter from the management and staff, saying they were closing the restaurant with “heavy hearts.”
“While we have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to serve the community here in Mercer County over these past four years. It is now time for us to pursue other business opportunities,” the letter read. “Every one of you has touched our lives and we are most grateful for your friendship.”
One of those patrons, Mervin Dissinger of Lower Makefield, Pa., said he was disappointed to find the restaurant shuttered when he visited on Wednesday. The retired pilot said he enjoyed watching the planes take off and land while he grabbed a bite to eat.
“It was all locked up,” Dissinger said. “They always provided me good service.”
Dissinger said he thought that with the success of Frontier Airlines’ new commercial flights the restaurant might have been able to turn a profit.
Frontier Airlines began flying out of the Ewing airport in November, offering cheap flights to Orlando, Fla. The Denver company has already announced it will expand service to Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers, Fla. and to New Orleans. The company said yesterday it will make another announcement on expanded service on Monday but did not provide further details.
The Runway restaurant had been struggling, and in September county officials said they had received only partial rental payments for six months. The freeholder board voted to end the lease agreement with the restaurant’s management early, giving the county the option of putting the lease out to bid and finding a new tenant.
At that time Sue Adams said the family was not making enough money to pay the $96,460 a year in rent. The annual rent had been negotiated down from $99,354, county attorney Sarah Crowley said in September. Any loss in revenue would have to be passed on to the taxpayer, Crowley said.
The Runway opened in December 2008 after Carol Adams made the sole bid on the five-year lease.
The restaurant became available when General’s Quarters, which previously occupied the space, closed abruptly earlier that year.
Story and Reaction/Comments: http://www.nj.com
September 2012: Trenton-Mercer Airport's Runway restaurant could lose its lease
The Runway Restaurant: http://therunwayonline.com
Trenton Mercer Airport (KTTN), New Jersey: http://www.airnav.com/KTTN
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Reported engine fire appears to be false alarm: Des Moines International Airport (KDSM), Iowa
A reported airplane engine fire at Des Moines' airport sent emergency crews to the scene Sunday afternoon, but no fire was seen.
The report came after an indicator light warned of a possible engine fire at approximately 3:15 p.m., said Ken McCoy, director of operations for Des Moines International Airport
The airport's fire department responded to the call, McCoy said, and no indication of a fire was found on the plane when they arrived. There were no injuries.
McCoy identified the plane as Allegiant Air flight 497, scheduled to depart for Las Vegas, Nev., at 1:45 p.m. according to the airport's website. The flight had 157 passengers and crew on board, McCoy said.
McCoy said the plane was on the taxiway at the time of the alarm, though he had no information on whether it was preparing to take off or was taxiing.
The airline and airport would run through their protocols to make sure the plane was safe for takeoff in the future, McCoy said.
There is currently no information available on plans for the passengers and whether they will be rerouted to their destination or another plane will fly to Des Moines to take them to Las Vegas, McCoy said.
McCoy was unable to comment on the frequency of alarms like this, as often problems with instruments are handled internally by the airlines themselves, he said.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com
http://www.dsmairport.com
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KDSM
The report came after an indicator light warned of a possible engine fire at approximately 3:15 p.m., said Ken McCoy, director of operations for Des Moines International Airport
The airport's fire department responded to the call, McCoy said, and no indication of a fire was found on the plane when they arrived. There were no injuries.
McCoy identified the plane as Allegiant Air flight 497, scheduled to depart for Las Vegas, Nev., at 1:45 p.m. according to the airport's website. The flight had 157 passengers and crew on board, McCoy said.
McCoy said the plane was on the taxiway at the time of the alarm, though he had no information on whether it was preparing to take off or was taxiing.
The airline and airport would run through their protocols to make sure the plane was safe for takeoff in the future, McCoy said.
There is currently no information available on plans for the passengers and whether they will be rerouted to their destination or another plane will fly to Des Moines to take them to Las Vegas, McCoy said.
McCoy was unable to comment on the frequency of alarms like this, as often problems with instruments are handled internally by the airlines themselves, he said.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com
http://www.dsmairport.com
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KDSM
Saskatchewan air ambulance ready to fly again
The Saskatchewan air ambulance that slid off the runway in Maple Creek in 2011 has been repaired.
The air ambulance that slid off the runway in Maple Creek in 2011 has been repaired and is once again ready to fly.
While the plane was being repaired, the Government of Saskatchewan lent one of their three executive aircrafts to the service. Now that the air ambulance is repaired, politicians can have their plane back.
However, going without one executive plane has saved the province money. Cabinet ministers took fewer flights in 2012, and the NDP are suggesting the government’s plane could remain in air ambulance service.
Across Saskatchewan, the demand for air ambulance service has increased sharply, even with the introduction of STARS. The number of government ambulance flights in southern Saskatchewan has actually increased by 15%.
The air ambulance slid off the runway in January 2011 after a wheel got caught in a ridge of snow while the plane was landing.
The plane was then shipped to Red Deer for repairs, which cost nearly $2 million and were covered by insurance.
Story and Photo: http://regina.ctvnews.ca
Ajit Singh to have final say on jet import
NEW DELHI: In yet another move to overrule the Prime Minister's office, the Ajit Singh-led aviation ministry has decided that the Jat leader will be the final approving authority for anyone wishing to import aircraft to India.
The aviation ministry used to have an empowered aircraft acquisition committee (AAC) headed by its additional secretary-cum-financial advisor that would clear requests from airlines, charter companies and private individuals to bring in aircraft. The empowered status of the AAC was withdrawn some months back and UPA's crucial alliance partner, Ajit Singh, was made the final approving authority. The PMO on October 30 had sent a letter to the aviation ministry, asking it to keep "in abeyance" its decision to give the Jat leader the final authority to clear the recommendations of the AAC. The letter stated that this structure could delay aircraft acquisition and bring in a license raj.
Sources close to Ajit Singh said he "did not even take cognizance" of the letter sent by a director of the PMO and aviation secretary K N Shrivastava took up the issue with the PMO. The ministry prevailed and issued an order — dated October 31 — that Singh will be the "approving authority" and AAC a "recommending authority" for aircraft acquisition requests by schedule airlines, regional airlines, charter companies and private individuals. The aviation secretary will be the approving authority for import requests by flying clubs; for extending initial import permissions and to replace aircraft when seating capacity of new planes is 10% more than the old ones.
This is the second time in six months when the aviation ministry has over-ruled the PMO. In July, it sacked director general of civil aviation Bharat Bhushan just after the PMO granted him an extension.
Aviation ministry officials say the decision to make the AAC empowered taken during the NDA rule was "bad in law". "The ministry clarified to the PMO that the final approval authority for importing aircraft is with the minister. Ajit Singh feels that low cost carriers which started in India were also meant to promote regional connectivity by connecting small towns to metros and have small planes to inter-connect small towns. In past few years, airlines have been allowed to import 100 plus aircraft and these airlines do not have small planes for regional connectivity. His aim to be the final approver was to ensure regional connectivity is not lost sight of while clearing airlines' request to bring in planes," a top official said.
Ajit Singh said: "Someone complained in the PMO that minister being final approving authority will mean delays. There is no question of that happening under me. Also, the decision to have the minister as approving authority was taken by my predecessor (Vayalar Ravi) in March 2011. There was no legal status for the AAC to be an empowered agency. I have spoken to the PM on this issue and it has been laid to rest."
Story and reaction/comments: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The aviation ministry used to have an empowered aircraft acquisition committee (AAC) headed by its additional secretary-cum-financial advisor that would clear requests from airlines, charter companies and private individuals to bring in aircraft. The empowered status of the AAC was withdrawn some months back and UPA's crucial alliance partner, Ajit Singh, was made the final approving authority. The PMO on October 30 had sent a letter to the aviation ministry, asking it to keep "in abeyance" its decision to give the Jat leader the final authority to clear the recommendations of the AAC. The letter stated that this structure could delay aircraft acquisition and bring in a license raj.
Sources close to Ajit Singh said he "did not even take cognizance" of the letter sent by a director of the PMO and aviation secretary K N Shrivastava took up the issue with the PMO. The ministry prevailed and issued an order — dated October 31 — that Singh will be the "approving authority" and AAC a "recommending authority" for aircraft acquisition requests by schedule airlines, regional airlines, charter companies and private individuals. The aviation secretary will be the approving authority for import requests by flying clubs; for extending initial import permissions and to replace aircraft when seating capacity of new planes is 10% more than the old ones.
This is the second time in six months when the aviation ministry has over-ruled the PMO. In July, it sacked director general of civil aviation Bharat Bhushan just after the PMO granted him an extension.
Aviation ministry officials say the decision to make the AAC empowered taken during the NDA rule was "bad in law". "The ministry clarified to the PMO that the final approval authority for importing aircraft is with the minister. Ajit Singh feels that low cost carriers which started in India were also meant to promote regional connectivity by connecting small towns to metros and have small planes to inter-connect small towns. In past few years, airlines have been allowed to import 100 plus aircraft and these airlines do not have small planes for regional connectivity. His aim to be the final approver was to ensure regional connectivity is not lost sight of while clearing airlines' request to bring in planes," a top official said.
Ajit Singh said: "Someone complained in the PMO that minister being final approving authority will mean delays. There is no question of that happening under me. Also, the decision to have the minister as approving authority was taken by my predecessor (Vayalar Ravi) in March 2011. There was no legal status for the AAC to be an empowered agency. I have spoken to the PM on this issue and it has been laid to rest."
Story and reaction/comments: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport (KIXA), Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina: Enjoys growth
Della Rose | The Daily Herald
Andrew Roy, right, shares a conversation with Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport Manager Ralph Johnson and Aviation Safety Specialist Tom Freeman.
HALIFAX — Andrew Roy, manager of Pelican Packaging in Halifax, uses Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport at least a couple of times a week for business and pleasure, saying the airport helped make the decision to move the company from its Rocky Mount facility.
“Our business was established,” Roy said.
He and his brothers live in Rocky Mount. When they needed to expand, they talked with several counties.
“But in talking with Halifax County, it was a no brainer where we should go,” he said.
Pelican Packaging has a single-engine four-seat Cyrrus. Roy’s personal aircraft is a Cessna 150. He said about 60 percent of his flying is personal, but from a business standpoint, time makes all the difference.
With the firm located less than five minutes from the airport, it saves him a lot of time doing business in other states.
“Doing business in Winchester, Va., takes five and a half hours to drive one way, but by plane, only 45 minutes,” he said. “So we can make a thing like that in less than a day.”
Roy said he can cover his customers’ concerns and still get in a half day of work in the Halifax facility. He also has customers come in to visit using the airport.
The increased use by Roy and other business people like him have helped the airport, which opened in 2009, reach new heights.
Growth
Airport Authority Chairman David King said the airport has shown steady growth in its use and ability to become self sustaining.
According to Airport Manager Ralph Johnson, the airport performed nearly 2,000 operations in 2012 — up from 1,726 in 2011, and sold more than 27,000 gallons of fuel — up from 23,000 in 2011. He said the airport is busy year round, with local and state training activities, group tours and an annual fly-in.
The Civil Air Patrol meets regularly at the airport, where they learn about aircraft and airports.
“We actually get them up and let them fly a plane,” Johnson said.
Johnson is proud to serve the airport, which he compares to an exit on the Interstate. He said having the airport makes the county more attractive for new business.
Eagle Home Medical owner Jeff Peedin uses the airport two to three times per month for business. He said frequently there is bad weather on his return flight and he has to use a manual approach to land.
“It is a vast improvement over the other facility we had,” he said, adding the improved instrument approach allows pilots to land in Halifax during bad weather where previously pilots would have made it for Rocky Mount. “An airport’s manual approach can make a huge difference in whether a pilot chooses to use an airport or goes on to the next. “This airport allows the pilot to get down to 400 feet. The better the approach, the more usable it is. There’s nothing bad I can say about the airport.”
There are 72 publicly owned airports in North Carolina according to an Institute for Transportation Research and Education study released through North Carolina State University called Economic Contribution of North Carolina Airports.
According to the study, Halifax-Northampton Regional produced $10,190,000 total output dollars. While the facility employs three, it provides for 30 jobs in the area. The study said it impacts $990,000 in payroll and brings in $377,000 total state and local taxes.
Amenities
The $14.5 million facility is state of the art, according to King, and is in its final phase of construction with the addition of the Precision Instrument Approach lighting system scheduled for completion this year.
“It allows airplanes to land with a 200-foot ceiling and half-mile visibility,” he said. “It’s the lowest minimums of any airport in the country. Our technology will rival any general aviation airport in the nation.”
The airport also boasts a 5,500 feet runway that can accommodate private and corporate aircraft.
The modern terminal facilities include a spacious lobby and vending area, visitor information center, operations room, offices, conference room, pilot lounge, quiet room and other amenities found at larger airports.
All of the 18 T-Hangars are currently leased. The self-service fuel farm operates 24 hours a day, and offers Jet A and 100 LL fuels, corporate hangar facilities, a parallel taxi way and Approach Lighting System.
An Automated Weather Observing System offers minute-to-minute weather updates by VHF radio at 119.975 radio, and off-site users can call in for data.
Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott said the economy is rebounding and there is more air travel for business and pleasure. Also, users of airports are finding out about the facility and make it a stop along their way. Finally she said, people that were using other airports in the area are using Halifax-Northampton.
“Ralph Johnson does a great job in managing the airport and accommodating pilots and guests,” Scott said. “(The airport) is extremely important in our business recruitment efforts. We have had several companies visit us in their site selection process that fly in to the airport. We meet in the airport conference room, then go visit sites and various community assets, and they get back on their plane.”
King said people are traveling to the East Coast and stopping off for fuel even though they are not staying in the Roanoke Valley.
“The airport, as with any business, is beholden to the ebbs and flows of the national economy,” he said. “As the economy picks up steam, our business will pick up proportionately. I’m hopeful — not only for the airport, but also the local economy.”
Story and Photos: http://www.rrdailyherald.com
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KIXA
Colombian Navy helicopter crash kills one, injures five
BOGOTA, Jan. 6 -- A
Colombian navy helicopter crashed into the waters on Sunday, leaving one
dead and five others injured in the country's southwestern Narino
region bordering Ecuador, Navy authorities said.
The accident occurred early Sunday morning when the helicopter Bell 212 was on a medical mission where it reported an emergency at a place known as Bajito Vaqueria in a rural area nearby Tumaco city.
The helicopter plunged into the waters, where sadly perished the marine John Jairo Ocoro. Coastguard and naval aviation crew evacuated, taking the injured to a hospital in Tumaco, where they are being treated," said the Navy report.
Authorities are investigating into the cause of the crash.
The accident occurred early Sunday morning when the helicopter Bell 212 was on a medical mission where it reported an emergency at a place known as Bajito Vaqueria in a rural area nearby Tumaco city.
The helicopter plunged into the waters, where sadly perished the marine John Jairo Ocoro. Coastguard and naval aviation crew evacuated, taking the injured to a hospital in Tumaco, where they are being treated," said the Navy report.
Authorities are investigating into the cause of the crash.
Group has high-flying hopes for Corsair, and the ancient hangar it will call home
Andrew King, executive director of the Connecticut Air & Space Center in Stratford, discusses the planned renovation of the historic Curtiss hangar on Thursday, December 13, 2012.
Photo: Brian A. Pounds / Connecticut Post
STRATFORD -- The long-neglected Curtiss hangar at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, which has seen the likes of Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh, may yet have its best days ahead.
The reason is the Corsair fighter plane that for three decades adorned the entrance to Sikorsky Memorial Airport might find the 84-year-old hangar as its next home.
The hopeful group of volunteers operating the Connecticut Air and Space Center, now busily restoring the Corsair and other aircraft, say that the Curtiss hangar, on the Main Street side of the airport, would make the perfect home for the center's planned aviation museum, which would include other displays on the state's contributions to powered flight.
The Curtiss hangar isn't much to look at. In fact, the city of Bridgeport, which owns the airport along with the old hangar, had expressed a desire to tear down the building several times over the years -- the wrecking ball stalled only by a failure to appropriate money for demolition.
But Andrew King, executive director of the center, says that the hangar only suffers from "gingerbread issues," and that aside from a new roof deck, the cracked brickwork and broken windows can be replaced without too much fuss.
"It's built on a steel frame, and an engineer told us that it's fine," King said, adding that the center will lease the hangar from the city for $1 per year.
The hangar, sometimes called Hangar No. 2, was the home of the Curtiss Flying School from 1929 until about 1935. After that, it was run by the Bridgeport Flight Service.
There were about 16 Curtiss Flying Schools around the nation, but only one other Curtiss hangar survives, in South Carolina, and King said it might be demolished soon.
"The hangar is part of the golden age of aviation," he said.
The hangar's restoration will become the centerpiece of a revival of the eastern end of the airport, neglected since the mid-1960s, supporters say.
"When people come and see the hangar here, they'll know that they'll be looking at a historic airport," King said. "Charles Lindbergh was here, Amelia Earhart was here. Igor Sikorsky. Howard Hughes."
Money is always a problem, he said. The entire project could run more than $1 million, although the building will be made weather tight for much less. Supporters are hoping for corporate and private donations to carry much of the load.
"The steel doors are really special," said Mark Corvino, the chief fabricator for the Corsair project. "They run on tracks, and the entire span can be opened up if need be."
The hangar took a beating from Superstorm Sandy, but Corvino said that it has actually worked to the group's advantage. The parts of the roof that blew off will actually save some money because there's less of it to strip off now.
The F4U Corsair is still across the street in the former Avco Lycoming Army Engine Plant. The wings, engine and a few other parts are in Building 53. The fuselage and the rest of the plane is in another building in the Avco complex that was used as a tool shed and storage.
During World War II, the plant was used by the Chance Vought Division of United Aircraft, and it was there that 3,250 Corsairs were built. Hundreds were churned out every month at the height of the war.
The Corsair has a special place in the state's aviation history because it was almost entirely produced here.
Named after the notorious sailing ships of the Barbary pirates, the F4U Corsair was the first U.S. fighter to fly faster than 400 mph. Deliveries began in July 1942. Although designed as a carrier-based fighter, it usually was based on the tiny inlands of the Pacific Theater because it was a difficult plane to land on a carrier deck owing to poor forward visibility. For that reason, it was more commonly flown by Marine, as opposed to Navy pilots.
Despite this handicap, it quickly became the fighter most feared by the Japanese, with a claimed kill ratio of 11 to 1.
By the end of World War II, it was used also as a fighter-bomber, and was key to the victories at Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Marshall Islands.
Nearly the entire plane was built in Connecticut -- the airframe, the massive Pratt & Whitney 18-cylinder R-2800 radial engine, even the propeller.
After World War II, the Corsair saw service in Korea, and the French used Corsairs extensively in the Indochina War. Production ceased in 1955.
The Air and Space Center also is restoring about a dozen other aircraft. Its latest undertaking is a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane helicopter. It's an early variant, powered by a pair of P&W Twin Wasps, a newer version of the Corsair's power plant.
When the F4U was taken off its pedestal in 2008, those involved in the project said that they were eager to get the Corsair restored and back up on its concrete perch. But months of loving disassembly and restoration have made them question whether returning it to that spot, out in the salt air of the airport, would be wise. Hence, the need to restore the old hangar.
Today the Corsair is in pieces -- wings in one place, fuselage in another, engine in a third. It's covered in yellow primer. Soon it will be painted Navy blue, and it will eventually look like it did when Corsairs rolled out of the Chance Vought plant in the 1940s.
The group has had its setbacks, though. Bill Digney, of Fairfield, one of the older fabricators working on the Corsair, died on Nov. 18. And former state Sen. George "Doc" Gunther, a major supporter of the project, died in August.
Story and Photos: http://www.ctpost.com
Kingfisher Airlines may lose international rights, slots
NEW DELHI: Kingfisher may
theoretically have two years to restart operations but top aviation
ministry sources say that unless the airline does so in the next month
or two, it could well be the end of the road for it. For the airline's
international flying rights—which remain in demand even when domestic
traffic is dipping sharply—are going to be given to other Indian
carriers, along with its airport slots, in the coming summer schedule if
KFA shows no sign of life soon.
And then Kingfisher, which in its eagerness to start flying abroad before completing five years had bought Air Deccan to do so on its permit, will have to wait endlessly for foreign rights. "After that an airline will be able to get more foreign routes only when India and other countries enhance their bilateral flying. If Kingfisher has to start flying , it must do so in the coming weeks. Both state-run Airports Authority of India and private metro airports are also not going to reserve its slots, both domestic and international , forever," said a senior official.
Aviation authorities handling the Kingfisher crisis say they do not see any urgency among promoters to raise funds to restart flying. While the airline's license was expiring in the New Year, the management simply submitted an 'unsatisfactory' revival plan. Director general of civil aviation Arun Mishra had called the airline's VP Hitesh Patel on December 29 (a Saturday) to point out the various loopholes in the plan. The idea: the airline must have a working day (December 31, a Monday) to resubmit if it had anything concrete to offer.
"The airline management just gave an unsatisfactory plan and did not even bother to find out what our response to that was. We really wonder if they can raise funds and have any concrete plans to do so because of the dire condition the airline is in with a collective debt-cum-loss of over Rs 15,000 crore," said an official.
Sources indicate that the promoters wanted to somehow make the airline fly again so that they can sell it off. "Who is going to put in money in a grounded airline? Without putting funds, the management wanted us to give the nod to fly again and then get an investor. We have very clearly told them that get funds first either through an investor or through internal group funding, pay off employees and others and then fly," said an official.
END OF THE ROAD?
Aviation authorities, which are handling the Kingfisher crisis, say they do not see any urgency in the promoters to raise funds. While the airline's licence was expiring in New Year, the management submitted an 'unsatisfactory' revival plan. Kingfisher, which in its eagerness to start flying abroad before completing five years had bought Air Deccan to do so on its permit, will have to wait endlessly for foreign rights. "Both state-run Airports Authority of India and private metro airports are also not going to reserve its slots, both domestic and international, forever," said a senior official.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
And then Kingfisher, which in its eagerness to start flying abroad before completing five years had bought Air Deccan to do so on its permit, will have to wait endlessly for foreign rights. "After that an airline will be able to get more foreign routes only when India and other countries enhance their bilateral flying. If Kingfisher has to start flying , it must do so in the coming weeks. Both state-run Airports Authority of India and private metro airports are also not going to reserve its slots, both domestic and international , forever," said a senior official.
Aviation authorities handling the Kingfisher crisis say they do not see any urgency among promoters to raise funds to restart flying. While the airline's license was expiring in the New Year, the management simply submitted an 'unsatisfactory' revival plan. Director general of civil aviation Arun Mishra had called the airline's VP Hitesh Patel on December 29 (a Saturday) to point out the various loopholes in the plan. The idea: the airline must have a working day (December 31, a Monday) to resubmit if it had anything concrete to offer.
"The airline management just gave an unsatisfactory plan and did not even bother to find out what our response to that was. We really wonder if they can raise funds and have any concrete plans to do so because of the dire condition the airline is in with a collective debt-cum-loss of over Rs 15,000 crore," said an official.
Sources indicate that the promoters wanted to somehow make the airline fly again so that they can sell it off. "Who is going to put in money in a grounded airline? Without putting funds, the management wanted us to give the nod to fly again and then get an investor. We have very clearly told them that get funds first either through an investor or through internal group funding, pay off employees and others and then fly," said an official.
END OF THE ROAD?
Aviation authorities, which are handling the Kingfisher crisis, say they do not see any urgency in the promoters to raise funds. While the airline's licence was expiring in New Year, the management submitted an 'unsatisfactory' revival plan. Kingfisher, which in its eagerness to start flying abroad before completing five years had bought Air Deccan to do so on its permit, will have to wait endlessly for foreign rights. "Both state-run Airports Authority of India and private metro airports are also not going to reserve its slots, both domestic and international, forever," said a senior official.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
Oklahoma insurance commissioner logging lots of time in state-owned planes
OKLAHOMA CITY - Insurance
Commissioner John Doak has crisscrossed the state in state-owned
aircraft on his mission to educate the public and reach out to
constituents.
Doak is the top statewide elected official using state-owned aircraft, behind Gov. Mary Fallin. The costs billed to his agency are $3,462.
His predecessor, Kim Holland, did not use state-owned aircraft to travel, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Doak said he is the only insurance commissioner to visit each of the state's 77 counties each year.
He said the voices of people in Grove, Antlers and Woodward are just as important as those in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
Fallin, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb and Doak are the only statewide elected officials to use state-owned aircraft.
Lamb used the aircraft on June 5 to travel to western Oklahoma. The cost was $2,264, according to DPS.
"The criteria for usage of state aircraft by the lieutenant governor include the availability of state aircraft, while maximizing his time on behalf of Oklahoma and striking the balance of safety, security and time efficiency," said Ashley Kehl, a Lamb spokesman.
Doak, who has been in office two years, said his use of state-owned aircraft is infrequent. He said he only uses the plane when it is available and when he travels to multiple counties.
Doak used state-owned aircraft in April to view damage caused by a tornado.
He said he didn't travel with Fallin because they were not on the same schedule.
Other trips included speaking engagements and meetings with chambers of commerce, local leaders, insurance agents and consumers.
Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, criticized Doak after the insurance commissioner purchased shotguns, body armor and police cars for his anti-fraud unit. Two Chevrolet Tahoe four-wheel-drive vehicles and five Dodge Chargers - all equipped with a "police equipment package" - cost a total of $170,960. The equipment was bought with money from the department's anti-fraud revolving fund, which comes from fines, settlements, fees and penalties.
Coates, a pilot, said Doak is trying to promote himself rather than serve as a regulator.
Doak disagreed with Coates' characterization.
"I am a statewide elected official, which is a job I take very seriously," Doak said. "I will continue to serve the people of Oklahoma and meet with them around the state."
Coates said there needs to be legislation specifying when statewide elected officials can use state aircraft.
Lt. George Brown, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, said the state has seven Cessna-type planes, one King Air reserved for the governor and her staff, and two helicopters.
He said his agency does permit travel for statewide elected officials and agency heads.
He said the aircraft are used to promote the agency's mission to protect the public.
"At this point, it hasn't compromised the mission, but we don't want to get to that point," Brown said.
He said the agency has turned down one request by Doak because a pilot was not available.
Brown said Doak's office inquired about using the King Air but was told it was reserved for Fallin and her staff.
Story and Reaction/Comments: http://www.tulsaworld.com
Doak is the top statewide elected official using state-owned aircraft, behind Gov. Mary Fallin. The costs billed to his agency are $3,462.
His predecessor, Kim Holland, did not use state-owned aircraft to travel, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Doak said he is the only insurance commissioner to visit each of the state's 77 counties each year.
He said the voices of people in Grove, Antlers and Woodward are just as important as those in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
Fallin, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb and Doak are the only statewide elected officials to use state-owned aircraft.
Lamb used the aircraft on June 5 to travel to western Oklahoma. The cost was $2,264, according to DPS.
"The criteria for usage of state aircraft by the lieutenant governor include the availability of state aircraft, while maximizing his time on behalf of Oklahoma and striking the balance of safety, security and time efficiency," said Ashley Kehl, a Lamb spokesman.
Doak, who has been in office two years, said his use of state-owned aircraft is infrequent. He said he only uses the plane when it is available and when he travels to multiple counties.
Doak used state-owned aircraft in April to view damage caused by a tornado.
He said he didn't travel with Fallin because they were not on the same schedule.
Other trips included speaking engagements and meetings with chambers of commerce, local leaders, insurance agents and consumers.
Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, criticized Doak after the insurance commissioner purchased shotguns, body armor and police cars for his anti-fraud unit. Two Chevrolet Tahoe four-wheel-drive vehicles and five Dodge Chargers - all equipped with a "police equipment package" - cost a total of $170,960. The equipment was bought with money from the department's anti-fraud revolving fund, which comes from fines, settlements, fees and penalties.
Coates, a pilot, said Doak is trying to promote himself rather than serve as a regulator.
Doak disagreed with Coates' characterization.
"I am a statewide elected official, which is a job I take very seriously," Doak said. "I will continue to serve the people of Oklahoma and meet with them around the state."
Coates said there needs to be legislation specifying when statewide elected officials can use state aircraft.
Lt. George Brown, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, said the state has seven Cessna-type planes, one King Air reserved for the governor and her staff, and two helicopters.
He said his agency does permit travel for statewide elected officials and agency heads.
He said the aircraft are used to promote the agency's mission to protect the public.
"At this point, it hasn't compromised the mission, but we don't want to get to that point," Brown said.
He said the agency has turned down one request by Doak because a pilot was not available.
Brown said Doak's office inquired about using the King Air but was told it was reserved for Fallin and her staff.
Story and Reaction/Comments: http://www.tulsaworld.com
Plane charters flying high for Elite Jets
Captain Hani Salman Ahmad, better known in the aviation industry as Captain Salman, chief executive officer of local charter broker Elite Jets Sdn Bhd, said more people are looking at chartering flights for their convenience and to suit their own schedules.
He notes that business for Elite Jets has been growing rapidly since he founded the company three years ago.
Air charters were initially designed as an alternative to the high cost and continuing expenses of aircraft ownership. Chartering a private jet offers the same convenience, flexibility and luxury as owning a jet, but without the cost of owning and maintaining it.
The ownership of private planes was booming back in the 1990s and early 2000s. But in the aftermath of the global economic downturn, the industry suffered contraction and deliveries of private aircraft dropped by some 30% as companies cut their fleets and individual owners sold their jets.
This shifted the attention of executives from ownership to chartering. Nonetheless, the air charter business did not get much of a boost from this change as the industry was also badly hit by the economic crisis and has only recently shown smalls signs of recovery.
Various reports note that the private-jet industry is inching its way up and chartered flights should be able to enjoy steady, albeit slow, growth over the next five years.
A report by market researcher IBISWorld says that the charter-flights market in the US, one of the largest in the world, had been growing 0.7% annually to about US$15bil last year.
According to Salman, Malaysia is also riding the growth of the private-charter business.
Salman has been in the aviation industry for over 20 years as a private pilot. He started Elite Jets after receiving numerous queries from friends and acquaintances on how and where to charter planes.
Elite Jets is a charter broker, which means the company does not own any aircraft or lease any planes. Charter companies do not necessarily own planes as the cost of owning and maintaining planes is high. Most companies lease planes from aircraft owners.
“We don’t own any aircraft and we don’t usually fly the planes either. At this point in time, we are mainly doing brokerage whereby we help clients charter planes from the aircraft owners for a margin of about 7% to 15%,” Salman said.
Gaining altitude
With the economy picking up and growth still taking place in emerging-market caountries, Salman expects demand for air charters to continue growing this year.
In fact, he calls the corporate jet business an untapped gold mine.
“Year on year, we see good growth in the number of requests we get for air charters. Now, we get an average of 17 requests a day from around the region,” he said.
Elite Jets saw a total of 183 aircraft movements in 2011 which grew to 186 by December last year.
While the bulk of its business comes from overseas clients, Salman notes that domestic demand is also picking up fast. Currently, about 30% to 35% of its turnover comes from vibrant air charter markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore and about 15% from Indonesia.
According to Salman, a plane can clock a minimum of 400 hours of flight a year. At an average price of US$8,000 (RM24,100) per hour, an aircraft can generate a minimum annual income of US$3.2mil.
Currently, Elite Jets has about 30 aircraft at its disposal.
Reports note that private jets in the US average about 30 to 50 hours of flying time a month, which works out to about 360 to 600 hours a year, while an Indonesian charter firm claims to do 75 hours a month.
Aircraft chartering in Asia is clearly a growing business. According to CNBC, although still a relatively small private-jet market compared to the rest of the world, Asia is expected to account for 16% or US$40bil of total orders over the next 10 years.
In Malaysia, Elite Jets is one of the main players in charter brokerage.
Salman says the company’s advantage lies in its ability to provide a quick quotation for clients thanks to its established network with other charter providers.
Most of its business is derived from business and executive travel, but Salman adds that Elite Jets also caters a lot to VIP and leisure flights.
In short supply
As business takes off for plane charters and brokers, Salman notes that the main obstacle for growth is the lack of local-based aircraft that are available for charter services.
“While the prospects for plane charters and brokering are extremely good, there are not enough planes based in Subang that can be legally chartered out.
“Thus, we have to pay a ‘mobilizing fee’ to bring in aircraft from overseas for charter if the clients want to take the planes from here. And this means higher cost for clients and a longer waiting time for the aircraft to be brought in for use. This is the main issue we face in trying to meet the growing demand,” Salman said.
Although there are quite a number of planes parked in Skypark, Subang, he explained that most of them are privately owned aircraft and licensed exclusively for the use of the owner.
There are generally two categories of plane ownership: private ownership where the aircraft can only be used by the owner and cannot be chartered out; and public planes where the aircraft is purchased to be legally chartered out.
Despite the bright prospects of the air charter business, Salman laments that not many see the opportunities as business owners who can afford to purchase or lease planes are not tapping into the available demand. Elite Jets hopes to someday have its own fleet of aircraft to ensure availability of aircraft at the snap of a finger.
However, Salman said funding an aircraft is no easy task as reports note that some short-range planes can still cost about US$8mil to US$10mil, which is slightly more than half the prices they were going for at the pre-crisis peak.
“Being a pure broker on the other hand, we don’t need to carry the cost of plane ownership on our balance sheet. So we need to weigh it out and see if it is really a viable option for us to own aircraft,” Salman said.
Additionally, a report by US-based private jet charter brokerage, DukeJets, noted that the price of a private jet is only a small fraction of the operational costs of keeping and maintaining a private jet. There is also the cost of hiring and training pilots, hanger fees, fuel costs, ramp fees and so on, noting that the purchase “can be a money pitf like you never anticipated”.
For now, Salman is satisfied with growing Elite Jets’ brokerage business which is turning in impressive annual growth of more than 25%.
“We are growing and this is only the beginning. Things are going well for us. We definitely look forward to more business this year,” he said.
Story and Photos: http://thestar.com.my
Far East banks fly into aircraft leasing market as cost for airlines rises
Airlines and aircraft
leasing companies will have to pay more to buy their planes in the year
ahead, according to a report published today.
Orders for airplanes have hit record highs, but cash-strapped European banks are pulling out of the aircraft leasing market, a study by accountancy firm PwC said.
Lenders from China, Japan and the United States are filling the gaps in the market, but the financing costs for airlines and companies that lease aircraft are taking off, the report concluded.
Neil Hampson, PwC’s global head of aerospace and defence, said: “The industry is experiencing unprecedented levels of orders for aircraft that are more fuel efficient. Our research highlights that, whilst financing will be available, it will be at a higher price.
“As competition to secure financing intensifies, the question remains as to who will be picking up the cost.”
PwC financial services partner Shamshad Ali added: “There are a number of headwinds in the aircraft finance market that may make these orders more difficult to finance and more expensive.
“With the cloud of economic uncertainty still hovering around Europe, we are seeing banks there retreating from the market, and interest from Asian investors is increasing.
“We are already seeing banks from China and Japan snapping up aviation assets and we think this trend will only accelerate.”
Source: http://www.scotsman.com
Orders for airplanes have hit record highs, but cash-strapped European banks are pulling out of the aircraft leasing market, a study by accountancy firm PwC said.
Lenders from China, Japan and the United States are filling the gaps in the market, but the financing costs for airlines and companies that lease aircraft are taking off, the report concluded.
Neil Hampson, PwC’s global head of aerospace and defence, said: “The industry is experiencing unprecedented levels of orders for aircraft that are more fuel efficient. Our research highlights that, whilst financing will be available, it will be at a higher price.
“As competition to secure financing intensifies, the question remains as to who will be picking up the cost.”
PwC financial services partner Shamshad Ali added: “There are a number of headwinds in the aircraft finance market that may make these orders more difficult to finance and more expensive.
“With the cloud of economic uncertainty still hovering around Europe, we are seeing banks there retreating from the market, and interest from Asian investors is increasing.
“We are already seeing banks from China and Japan snapping up aviation assets and we think this trend will only accelerate.”
Source: http://www.scotsman.com
Beechcraft H35 Bonanza, N375B: Accident occurred January 04, 2013 in Palm Coast, Florida
NTSB Identification: ERA13FA105
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, January 04, 2013 in Palm Coast, FL
Aircraft: BEECH H35, registration: N375B
Injuries: 3 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 January 4, 2013 at 1419 eastern standard time, a Beechcraft H35, N375B, was destroyed when it impacted a house during a forced landing in Palm Coast, Florida. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Saint Lucie County International Airport (FPR), Fort Pierce, Florida, and was destined for Knoxville Downtown Island Airport (DKX), Knoxville, Tennessee. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to preliminary air traffic control voice communication information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot contacted Daytona Approach control, and reported vibrations in the propeller and engine. The FAA Daytona Approach controller advised the pilot that the airports in the area were instrument flight rules with cloud ceilings of 900 to 1000 feet above ground level. The pilot received radar vectors for an airport surveillance radar (ASR) approach to guide him to runway 29 at Flagler County Airport (XFL), Palm Coast, Florida. The ASR was not a published approach, however the pilot did hold an instrument rating. Several minutes later, the pilot reported that the engine oil pressure was zero with "cool cylinders." Radar vectors from Daytona Approach continued and the pilot was cleared to land. At 2 miles from runway 29, no further transmissions from the airplane were received.
According to witnesses, the airplane was visually observed on final approach at an unusually low altitude. About 1 mile from the approach end of runway 29, the witnesses lost sight of the airplane behind tall pine trees.
The accident site was located about 4,200 feet southeast of XFL. The initial impact point (IIP) was identified as a tree with broken limbs, with various components of wreckage extending from that point on a heading of 288 degrees magnetic for 50 feet. Following the IIP, the majority of the airplane impacted the roof of a detached single family home and a large fire ensued, which destroyed most of the airplane and dwelling.
The airplane wreckage was moved to a nearby storage facility for examination. An engine examination will be conducted at the manufacturer’s facility at a later date.
Dozens of neighbors gathered and sang songs and shared prayers at the vigil.
PALM COAST -- Neighbors surrounding the site of a plane crash organized a vigil to remember the three people killed Friday.
A woman, inside the home at the time, escaped by climbing out a window to safety.
A neighbor reflected on just how close his own home came to disaster.
He lives right behind the home that was damaged and said if the plane would have nosedived a few hundred feet that way, the plane would have crashed into his house.
The vigil was planned by those neighbors.
It was held outside the crash site around 6 p.m.
Organizers said they will be remembering the three victims:
Dozens gathered to sing songs and share prayers. Neighbors are glad the woman who lives in the home, Susan Crockett, made it out safely without a scratch.
“My wife and neighbors and everything are just shaking our heads and blessed that it wasn’t us. I feel for the people who lost their lives in the plane crash. I just don’t know what to say,” said neighbor Tom Arnold.
Investigators said a preliminary report about why the plane crashed will be released later this month.
Earlier Sunday, Crockett's church came together to help her. It was there, at Mt Calvary Baptist Church, friends said her survival was a miracle.
They also pulled out their checkbooks to help.
The plane crash set her house on fire, gutting everything inside.
A 911 call shows she was on the phone with her daughter during the moment of impact.
Crockett was rushed to the hospital, but was treated and released.
At church, Crockett felt healthy enough to join her fellow choir members.
“Say what you want, but this is a miracle. She may not want our praise, but we will. Thank you Jesus,” said Pastor Edwin Coffie. Crockett, a Sunday school teacher, lost everything from clothes, appliances, to food and a bed to sleep on.
Right now, she is staying in a hotel.
The congregation was called upon to help and they acted with pen in hand.
“So here's what we're going to do today for her, show her our benevolence for sister Susan, we're going pull out our checkbooks,” said Pastor Coffie.
The response was so overwhelming it brought Crockett to tears.
Pastor Coffie announced the church will also set up a bank account so people outside the church can donate.
One church worker printed out a gift card suggestion list to help in the meantime:
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, January 04, 2013 in Palm Coast, FL
Aircraft: BEECH H35, registration: N375B
Injuries: 3 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 January 4, 2013 at 1419 eastern standard time, a Beechcraft H35, N375B, was destroyed when it impacted a house during a forced landing in Palm Coast, Florida. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Saint Lucie County International Airport (FPR), Fort Pierce, Florida, and was destined for Knoxville Downtown Island Airport (DKX), Knoxville, Tennessee. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to preliminary air traffic control voice communication information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot contacted Daytona Approach control, and reported vibrations in the propeller and engine. The FAA Daytona Approach controller advised the pilot that the airports in the area were instrument flight rules with cloud ceilings of 900 to 1000 feet above ground level. The pilot received radar vectors for an airport surveillance radar (ASR) approach to guide him to runway 29 at Flagler County Airport (XFL), Palm Coast, Florida. The ASR was not a published approach, however the pilot did hold an instrument rating. Several minutes later, the pilot reported that the engine oil pressure was zero with "cool cylinders." Radar vectors from Daytona Approach continued and the pilot was cleared to land. At 2 miles from runway 29, no further transmissions from the airplane were received.
According to witnesses, the airplane was visually observed on final approach at an unusually low altitude. About 1 mile from the approach end of runway 29, the witnesses lost sight of the airplane behind tall pine trees.
The accident site was located about 4,200 feet southeast of XFL. The initial impact point (IIP) was identified as a tree with broken limbs, with various components of wreckage extending from that point on a heading of 288 degrees magnetic for 50 feet. Following the IIP, the majority of the airplane impacted the roof of a detached single family home and a large fire ensued, which destroyed most of the airplane and dwelling.
The airplane wreckage was moved to a nearby storage facility for examination. An engine examination will be conducted at the manufacturer’s facility at a later date.
Dozens of neighbors gathered and sang songs and shared prayers at the vigil.PALM COAST -- Neighbors surrounding the site of a plane crash organized a vigil to remember the three people killed Friday.
A woman, inside the home at the time, escaped by climbing out a window to safety.
A neighbor reflected on just how close his own home came to disaster.
He lives right behind the home that was damaged and said if the plane would have nosedived a few hundred feet that way, the plane would have crashed into his house.
The vigil was planned by those neighbors.
It was held outside the crash site around 6 p.m.
Organizers said they will be remembering the three victims:
- 57-year-old Michael Anders, from Kentucky
- 59-year-old Duane Shaw, from Kentucky
- 42-year-old Charissee Peoples, from Indiana
Dozens gathered to sing songs and share prayers. Neighbors are glad the woman who lives in the home, Susan Crockett, made it out safely without a scratch.
“My wife and neighbors and everything are just shaking our heads and blessed that it wasn’t us. I feel for the people who lost their lives in the plane crash. I just don’t know what to say,” said neighbor Tom Arnold.
Investigators said a preliminary report about why the plane crashed will be released later this month.
Earlier Sunday, Crockett's church came together to help her. It was there, at Mt Calvary Baptist Church, friends said her survival was a miracle.
They also pulled out their checkbooks to help.
The plane crash set her house on fire, gutting everything inside.
A 911 call shows she was on the phone with her daughter during the moment of impact.
911 Operator: What's going on over there?
Daughter: I was on the phone with my mom and she says a plane crashed into her house.
911 Operator: Into her house?
Daughter: Yeah. I was on the phone with and the phone got really fuzzy. And she said call 911, a plane crashed into the house.
At church, Crockett felt healthy enough to join her fellow choir members.
“Say what you want, but this is a miracle. She may not want our praise, but we will. Thank you Jesus,” said Pastor Edwin Coffie. Crockett, a Sunday school teacher, lost everything from clothes, appliances, to food and a bed to sleep on.
Right now, she is staying in a hotel.
The congregation was called upon to help and they acted with pen in hand.
“So here's what we're going to do today for her, show her our benevolence for sister Susan, we're going pull out our checkbooks,” said Pastor Coffie.
The response was so overwhelming it brought Crockett to tears.
Pastor Coffie announced the church will also set up a bank account so people outside the church can donate.
One church worker printed out a gift card suggestion list to help in the meantime:
- Stores:
- Publix
- Walmart
- Walgreens
- Ross
- Food/Restaurants
- Subway
- Firehouse subs
- Outback Steakhouse
- Red Lobster
- Ruby Tuesday
- Longhorn Steakhouse
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 375B Make/Model: BE35 Description: 35 Bonanza
Date: 01/04/2013 Time: 1930
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: BUNNELL State: FL Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE, THE 3 PERSONS ON BOARD WERE
FATALLY INJURED, BUNNELL, FL
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 3
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 2 Fat: 2 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: ORLANDO, FL (SO15) Entry date: 01/07/2013
Flight carrying former finance minister diverted to Kolkata
KOLKATA: An Air India flight carrying 166 passengers, including former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, from Delhi to Ranchi was diverted to Kolkata on Sunday evening following thick fog cover over the Jharkhand capital.
The flight hovered over Ranchi and then travelled to Kolkata when the weather showed no signs of improvement. It landed at the NSCBI Airport at 4.30pm. While 38 passengers chose to return to Delhi in a flight that left Kolkata at 6.30pm, the rest, including Sinha, decided to travel by road. While Air India arranged two Volvo coaches for the journey, state police deputed two armed security guards in each bus on Sinha's request.
The buses had to journey through Jangalmahal area in West Bengal and Jharkhand where Maoist rebels, though depleted, are still active.
Recently, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's flight to Patna had similarly been diverted to Kolkata due to bad weather and he had then taken a train to the Bihar capital.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The flight hovered over Ranchi and then travelled to Kolkata when the weather showed no signs of improvement. It landed at the NSCBI Airport at 4.30pm. While 38 passengers chose to return to Delhi in a flight that left Kolkata at 6.30pm, the rest, including Sinha, decided to travel by road. While Air India arranged two Volvo coaches for the journey, state police deputed two armed security guards in each bus on Sinha's request.
The buses had to journey through Jangalmahal area in West Bengal and Jharkhand where Maoist rebels, though depleted, are still active.
Recently, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's flight to Patna had similarly been diverted to Kolkata due to bad weather and he had then taken a train to the Bihar capital.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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