Practicing stunt planes perturb some residents: Marion County Airport (X35), Dunnellon, Florida

 

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Some Marion County residents say they're being harassed by pilots. 

Some people living near the Dunnellon-Marion County Airport don't like that planes are allowed to perform stunts there. And some think their complaints may have only made things worse.

In rural Marion County near Dunnellon peace and quiet are highly prized.

"Love it. Love it. It is so nice when they don't fly," said homeowner Valerie Wienke.

But when they do, residents said it is noisy.

Pilots are allowed to practice stunt maneuvers over the airport.

Wienke said the noise drives her up the wall.

"It's the constant 20 or 30 minutes of vroom, vroom, vroom," said Wienke.

She said that some days the noise goes on for hours.

She said complaints to airport management have gotten nowhere.

"Marion County doesn't have authority over what goes on over the airport," said airport manager John Helms.

Helms said that is in the hands of the Federal Aviation Administration, which approved what is called an aerobatic box overhead.

The FAA does have some strict rules. Pilots must perform the maneuvers, or stunts, within a one-mile radius of the center of airport. The airport covers 800 acres.

Pilots can fly no higher than 4,000 feet above the ground, and come no closer than 1,500 feet to the ground.

Helms said there has never been an accident at the airport.

But Wienke's primary problem is with the noise. She said she's not opposed to the airport.

Wienke said her father was a pilot and she's been to air shows.

"I, in fact, love airplanes. But I can't tolerate (these) aerobatics," said Wienke.

Marion County Commission chairman Kathy Bryant has agreed to look into the matter for the airport's neighbors.

Story and Video:   http://www.wftv.com

B-17 Flying Fortress to take the sky at Air Fiesta 2013

BROWNSVILLE — For the first time in a decade, the B-17 Flying Fortress will cast its fearsome shadow over spectators.

“Texas Raiders,” a 67-year-old, four-engine heavy bomber flown and maintained by the Commemorative Air Force’s Gulf Coast Wing in Houston, will be the biggest star at this weekend’s Air Fiesta 2013, which celebrates 50 years of CAF air shows in the Rio Grande Valley.

In honor of the half-century mark, the air show will focus heavily on World War II-era aircraft. David Hughston, Air Fiesta chairman, said the Flying Fortress was a vital U.S. asset during WWII and that 10 years have passed since Air Fiesta has been lucky enough to have one.

“The B-17, because of its capacity, speed and everything about it made it a very effective weapon of war during World War II,” Hughston said. “Without it we might not have won the war.”

Texas Raiders, a B-17G delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps in July 1945, will take part in simulated bombing runs during Air Fiesta. The aircraft is one of only 11 B-17s still flying — nine of them are in the United States — out of more than 12,000 built between 1936 and 1945.

The aircraft, manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Co. under contract to Boeing, underwent its last restoration between 2002 and 2009 at a cost of $700,000. The then-Mercedes-based CAF acquired the plane in 1967 for $50,000 and added it to its “Ghost Squadron” fleet of WWII aircraft. It was dubbed “Texas Raiders” in 1970. The CAF moved its headquarters to Harlingen in 1968, and in 1991 to Midland where it remains today.

Although Flying Fortresses saw action in every theater of WWII, they were used primarily for daylight, precision bombing raids against German military and industrial targets. Texas Raiders never saw combat, though it was used for satellite tracking and serial mapping after the war until the CAF bought it in the 1960s.

Walt Thompson, a former airline pilot based in Dallas who joined the Gulf Coast Wing in the 1980s, has logged about 700 hours piloting Texas Raiders for air shows and other appearances. Unlike modern aircraft, which use hydraulics and other systems to help maneuver the plane, the B-17’s flight controls are totally manual, Thompson said.

“There are no powered flight controls,” he said. “Everything is muscle power.”

That said, Boeing’s brilliant engineers at the time designed a “servo tab” aerodynamic assistance system — still in use today — that made the plane easier to fly, Thompson said. Designed as a high-altitude bombing platform, the B-17 is known for being exceptionally stable aloft, he noted.

“Whatever it’s doing at any particular moment, it wants to keep on doing that,” Thompson said. “If you’ve got it in a turn, it wants to keep on doing that until you make it stop.”

Since the Flying Fortress is a “taildragger,” however, taking off, landing and taxiing can be tricky — especially in a stiff crosswind. The pilot’s legs get a workout on the rudder pedals at such times, Thompson said.

“It’s a pleasant airplane to fly but just totally different compared to modern airplanes,” he said.

The B-17’s four 1,820-cubic-inch radial engines develop 1,200 horsepower each. In normal flight the bomber guzzles approximately 225 gallons of gasoline an hour. The Flying Fortress costs about $3,000 an hour to operate, including not just oil and gas but maintenance reserves for the engines and other components, Thompson said.

Texas Raiders’ volunteer crew members each donate $3,500 to help keep the plane in the air. Those like Thompson who actually fly the plane are expected to kick in extra from time to time when necessary. Appearance fees at air shows, sponsorships, sales of merchandise, tours and rides — yes, B-17 rides will be available at Air Fiesta — also help keep it flying.

“Being able to sell flights on these airplanes is relatively new,” Thompson said. “It’s a major source of income. We do it under a special exemption from the FAA.”

Why go to all this trouble and expense to keep a WWII relic in the air? Thompson doesn’t hesitate in answering that one.

“It’s important because it’s a living piece of American history,” he said. “Virtually everyone who’s ever read about World War II knows that the bombing campaign in Europe was huge. The campaign for Fortress Europe — it was a key part of that.”

Besides its historical importance, the Flying Fortress is among the most familiar icons of WWII. It’s majestic rumbling overhead and a nice looking airplane sitting on the ground. It’s also a crowd magnet, Thompson said. People want to see it up close and crawl around inside it, he said.

Then there are the veterans — old men who served on B-17s as young men. What they feel upon seeing a surviving, airworthy Flying Fortress — much less riding in one — is knowable only to fellow B-17 veterans.

“It’s such a joy to be around that airplane that’s so important to so many people,” Thompson said. “It rubs off on you.”

The B-17 earned an almost mythic reputation for toughness — returning its crews safely to base time and again after missions despite being shot to pieces.

“The ruggedness of the B-17 I think is the thing it’s best known for,” Thompson said. “The pictures that have been taken of these airplanes that have made it back with huge damage: You think, my God, how did that thing stay in the air?”

Source:  http://www.themonitor.com

Outagamie County Regional (KATW), Appleton, Wisconsin: Airport Director to take job at Rochester International (KRST), Minnesota

APPLETON, Wis. -- Outagame County Regional Airport Director Martin Lenss is stepping down on May 1st to accept a position with the Rochester International Airport in Minnesota.

According to a news release, Lenss decided to make the switch to be closer to his family. “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such great people from the community, county board, and especially the airport team who has always worked hard to provide the region a great airport.” said Martin Lenss. “Opportunities don’t present themselves like this often and it has been a hard decision. We will miss you all and wish you the best.”

Outagamie County Executive, Thomas Nelson says Lenss will be missed. “While we are sad to see Marty leave, I can say unequivocally the airport, county and community are better and stronger because of his good work. On behalf of Outagamie County and a grateful community, I wish Marty, Shona and his family all the best in the years to come.”

Lenss served as the Outagamie County Regional Airport Director for five years.

Source:   http://www.nbc26.com

Sacramento County taps Florida man to run airport system

 Sacramento County has selected a Florida man to be the next director of airports.

John Wheat, currently executive director of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, has been selected to take over leadership of Sacramento County's airports after a nationwide search.

Sacramento County Executive Bradley J. Hudson said that Wheat has more than 30 years of airport management experience.

"His broad-based experience will be critical to the continued success of our airport system," said Hudson.

Hudson's selection of Wheat must still be approved by the Board of Supervisors. If approved, he would start work April 14, replacing retiring Hardy Acree.

The job pays from $172,000 to 189,000 a year. Responsibilities include oversight of Sacramento International Airport, as well as Mather and Executive airports.

Story and Reaction/Comments:  http://www.sacbee.com

Icebox Cafe expanding at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, relocating in Miami Beach

Icebox Cafe is taking its fresh baked goods on the road.

The Miami Beach cafe has opened its first location outside of Florida in the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Icebox also has a branch at the Miami International Airport. Owner Robert Siegmann sees demand for fresh, healthy food at airports and is currently looking to expand his airport concessions at other major high traffic airports across the country.

The airport locations still offer Icebox’s signature items like Raspberry Chocolate Mousse, German Chocolate Cake and Red Velvet Cake.

“This bakery is a true celebration of one of the oldest and most revered traditions – baking,” Siegmann said. “We don’t cut corners; we don’t work with frozen products. It is all here for you to see.”

Siegmann is also getting ready to relocate his original Icebox Cafe on Miami Beach from its current location just off Lincoln Road to the Sunset Harbour Shops. The move is expected to happen in April and reinforces Siegmann’s commitment to catering to the local market. The new location will feature a larger space, full liquor license and better parking.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com

Transportation Security Administration security changes will not apply to Cayman

The Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) says security changes in the United States will have no effect here in Cayman.

The United States Transport Security Administration (TSA) has announced a new plan to allow pocket knives and some sporting equipment aboard planes starting in April.

The TSA says it wants to focus efforts on finding items of a higher threat.

Watch Video:    http://www.cayman27.com.ky

Beech 1900C, N116AX: Accident occurred March 08, 2013 in Aleknagik, Alaska

NTSB Identification: ANC13FA030 
 Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Friday, March 08, 2013 in Aleknagik, AK
Aircraft: BEECH 1900C, registration: N116AX
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

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

On March 8, 2013, about 0814 Alaska standard time, a twin-engine turboprop Beech 1900C airplane, N116AX, was destroyed when it impacted rising terrain about 10 miles east of Aleknagik, Alaska. The airplane was operated as Flight 51, by Alaska Central Express, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, as an on-demand cargo flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135. The airline transport certificated captain and the commercial certificated first officer sustained fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident, and the airplane was operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The flight had originally departed Anchorage about 0544, and made a scheduled stop at King Salmon, Alaska, before continuing on to the next scheduled stop, Dillingham, Alaska.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel, as the airplane approached Dillingham, the flight crew requested the RNAV GPS 19 instrument approach to the Dillingham Airport about 0757 from controllers at the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). The ARTCC specialist on duty subsequently granted the request by issuing the clearance, with instructions to proceed direct to the Initial Approach Fix (IAF) to begin the approach, and to maintain an altitude of 2,000 feet or above. A short time later the flight crew requested to enter a holding pattern at the IAF so that they could contact the Flight Service Station (FSS) for a runway conditions report, and the ARTCC specialist granted that request. The ARTCC specialist then made several attempts to contact the aircraft, but was unsuccessful and subsequently lost radar track on the aircraft.

When the airplane failed to arrive at the Dillingham Airport, ARTCC personnel initiated a radio search to see if the airplane had diverted to another airport. Unable to locate the airplane, the FAA issued an alert notice (ALNOT) at 0835. Search personnel from the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Air National Guard, and the U.S. Coast Guard, along with several volunteer pilots, were dispatched to conduct an extensive search effort.

Rescue personnel aboard an Air National Guard C-130 airplane tracked 406 MHz emergency locater transmitter (ELT) signal to an area of mountainous terrain about 20 miles north of Dillingham, but poor weather prohibited searchers from reaching the site until the next morning. Once the crew of a HH-60G helicopter from the Air National Guard's 210th Air Rescue Squadron, Anchorage, Alaska, reached the steep, snow and ice-covered site, they confirmed that both pilots sustained fatal injuries.

The closest official weather observation station is at the Dillingham Airport. At 0745, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) reported, in part: Wind from 100 degrees (true) at 17 knots with gusts to 30 knots; visibility, 7 statute miles in light rain; clouds and sky condition, 1,500 feet overcast; temperature, 34 degrees F; dew point, 34 degrees F; altimeter, 29.09 inHg.

On March 9, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, along with an additional NTSB air safety investigator, and an FAA operations inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), examined the airplane wreckage at the accident site. A comprehensive wreckage examination and layout is pending following recovery efforts.

  NTSB Investigator Brice Banning investigates the accident site of an ACE Air Cargo plane that went down on Friday, March 08, 2013, killing pilot Jeff Day, 38 and Neil Jensen, 21, both of Anchorage.

Neil Jensen 
Obituary

Anchorage resident Neil Torvald Jensen died March 8, 2013, in a plane crash near Dillingham. A service will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 13. Neil was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but lived in Anchorage since the age of two years. He attended his neighborhood public schools and graduated from Robert Service High School in 2009. He enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and in three years received a BSc in Aeronautical Science, with honors. Last November he was hired for a First Officer position by Ace Air Cargo, piloting Beechcraft 1900s. The work was challenging, but he was fulfilled working alongside fellow pilots. Recreational time was spent skiing, hiking, and mountain biking. Close friendships were maintained with friends from college. Neil was unusually attentive to his extended family, his younger brother, and his older sister. His parents could not have been more pleased with Neil's integrity, compassion, dedication, creativity, and humor.

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

 

The family of pilot Neil Jensen released this photo. Jensen, 21, was the First Officer in a cargo plane crash near Dillingham. Crews found the wreckage on Mar. 9, 2013 and said the bodies of Jensen and Capt. Jeff Day, 38 of Anchorage, were recovered. 

(Peter and Shelly Jensen / March 9, 2013)

 http://www.aceaircargo.com

ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Alaska State Troopers say the bodies of two Anchorage pilots in a cargo plane crash near Dillingham were recovered Saturday morning by the Alaska Air National Guard. 

 AST identified the victims of the downed plane as Capt. Jeff Day, 38, and First Officer Neil Jensen, 21, both of Anchorage.

Troopers said that an Air National Guard HH-60 Pavehawk found the wreckage of a downed Beech 1900 plane around 6:00 a.m. Saturday. A helicopter crew recovered the bodies and flew them to Dillingham and then to Anchorage. The bodies were turned over to the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

Jensen's father spoke with KTUU Channel 2 News Saturday afternoon.

"He loves being a pilot," said Peter Jensen, Neil's father. "He loves the other pilots he's working with and got a lot a of good advice from the captains."

Peter Jensen said his son recently graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona.

Weather conditions on Friday kept rescue crews from spotting the plane wreckage after troopers said the plane was expected to arrive in Dillingham Friday morning.

The cargo plane left King Salmon shortly before 8:00 a.m. Friday and the Rescue Coordination Center received an alert from the FAA of an overdue plane around a half-hour later. The Alaska National Guard said the plane had relayed radio communication that it was on approach to the Dillingham Airport.

Troopers said the “initial information is that the aircraft was flying instrument flight rules (IFR) and was cleared to land at the Dillingham airport and the aircraft never landed.”

Around 9:15 a.m. Friday, the Emergency Locator Beacon (ELT) began transmitting a signal. Troopers said the signal transmitted about 20 miles northeast of Dillingham in the the Muklung Hills.

In August 2010, former Sen. Ted Stevens and four others were killed in a DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter plane crash in the same region.

The National Transporation Safety Board arrived on scene Saturday morning after crews found the wreckage and spent most of the day investigating the scene. The next step is to recover the the airplane pieces, which broke into three main pieces spread over an extensive area, according to the NTSB.

"I think the odds of being in a fatal car accident are similar, so to me his death is tragic and I'll miss him a lot but it could have as easily been a car accident," said Peter Jensen.

Story and Reaction/Comments:  http://www.ktuu.com

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/03/09/2818538/bodies-of-pilot-copilot-pulled.html#emlnl=Breaking_News#storylink=cpy

w-hanging clouds and snowfall prevented military rescuers from reaching a downed cargo plane in Southwest Alaska or learning the fate of its pilot and copilot by nightfall Friday.

The twin-engine Beechcraft 1900, owned by Ace Air Cargo, is thought to be on the ground about 20 miles northeast of Dillingham, where it went down while approaching the city's airport sometime before 8:30 a.m. Friday. An Alaska Air National Guard helicopter sent from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, about 330 miles away near Anchorage, hovered over the plane Friday afternoon but the chopper's crew could not see through the clouds, Air National Guard spokeswoman Kalei Rupp said. The helicopter and a plane supporting it left the area at about 4 p.m. to refuel and were back searching as of 7 p.m., Rupp said.

Because they had been unable to see the terrain below them, it was too dangerous to attempt a landing or lower rescuers to the ground, Rupp said.

"Our crews got on scene but the cloud ceiling is very low," she said. "They can't see the ground to assess the situation."

Rupp said fresh teams on another helicopter and plane would likely be sent to take over for the search personnel working late Friday, if needed.

Ace Air Cargo said a pilot and copilot were on board the Beechcraft. A weather station at the airport reported light rain and snow about the time the plane went down, with wind at 17 mph gusting to 26 mph and seven miles visibility.

The Beechcraft's pilot radioed the Dillingham airport to say the plane was approaching for a landing Friday morning, according to spokespeople for the Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Air National Guard. At about 8:30 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert that the plane had not landed, Rupp said. An emergency locator beacon on the plane indicated it was about 20 miles northeast of Dillingham, Rupp said.

The plane is down in the Muklung Hills, troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said. A plane crash in the same area in 2010 killed five people, including former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.

An Alaska state trooper trying to reach the plane on a snowmachine had to turn back to Dillingham because of the poor weather, Peters said. Others, including firefighters and medics gearing up to head out for a search, stayed in Dillingham, she said.

"It's in mountainous terrain and the weather's bad," Peters said. "They have very wet snow and thick fog."

At about 11:30 a.m., the Air National Guard's Rescue Coordination Center in Anchorage dispatched an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter with a rescue team on board and an HC-130 Hercules refueling plane carrying another team, Rupp said. The Coast Guard also sent an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter with rescuers from Kodiak, she said.

It's unclear if the downed cargo plane crashed or made an emergency landing. Rupp said she was unaware of any radio traffic from the pilot or copilot.

"Once it makes contact and says it's on approach, if it doesn't land within a certain amount of time, the FAA puts out an overdue-aircraft alert. So that's what triggered that," Rupp said. "Since nobody has actually gotten to the site or seen the site, we don't necessarily know if the plane has crashed or what."

The Coast Guard helicopter arrived first and was relieved by the Air National Guard chopper about 2 p.m., Rupp said. The low-hanging clouds and, later, snowfall made it impossible to see anything on the ground, she said.

While satellites showed the general location of the plane's beacon, the searchers could not pick up its signal while flying above the area, Rupp said. That could be due to terrain blocking the signal or damage to the beacon, she said.

About 4 p.m., the Pave Hawk flew to Dillingham to refuel and the Hercules went to King Salmon to do the same, Rupp said. They planned to continue searching into Friday night.

Source:    http://www.adn.com

How to calculate the take-off speeds for a Boeing 737 and an Airbus A320: Baltic Aviation Academy

 

http://www.balticaa.com 

This week Pranas Drulis, ATPL Integrated student at Baltic Aviation Academy, shows how to calculate the take-off (V1, VR, V2) speeds for a Boeing 737 and an Airbus A320.

Follow us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BalticAviati...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BalticAAcademy
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Baltic...

Paul Weston Sea-Era, N226SE: Accident occurred March 04, 2013 in Bellevue, Washington

NTSB Identification: WPR13CA140
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, March 04, 2013 in Bellevue, WA
Aircraft: WESTON SEA-ERA, registration: N226SE
Injuries: 1 Minor.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot reported that during takeoff from a lake, the airplane started to bounce from wave to wave and eventually developed into a porpoise. As power was reduced to abort the takeoff, the left wing tip ski struck a wave and the airplane yawed to the left. The right wing then struck the water and the airplane came to an abrupt stop. The fuselage and wing spars were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that the wind on the lake at the time of the accident was about 18 knots and the waves were about 12-15 inches high. The pilot reported that prior to this; the largest waves the airplane has encountered were 10-12 inches high. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

 

Accident occurred  March 4, 2013

Paul Weston shakes the water out of his plane’s wing after he moved back onto land after it crashed in Lake Sammamish. 

Photo by Ari Cetron

Accident occurred  June 24, 2009 in Lake Sammamish

It doesn’t always end in crashes. When Redmond resident Paul Weston crashed his experimental plane in Lake Sammamish March 4, there was a bit of deja vu. Weston, who was not seriously injured, had crashed the same plane in about the same spot in the lake in June 2009.

This time around, the problem was the weather. Drawn out by a sunny day in March, conditions were still windy. The float plane – it has no landing gear and can only take off and land on water – was unable to achieve liftoff due to the water conditions, Weston said.

“It was just too choppy,” he said, sporting makeshift bandages made of wadded up paper towels and white electrical tape.

As the 86-year-old was trying to take off, the nose of the plane lifted up and one of the wings clipped the water, causing the plane to spin. Weston was able to taxi the plan back to shore at Vasa Park in Bellevue – the same location he used in 2009.

Weston said he’s a hobbyist who designed the fiberglass, single-seat aircraft himself. He said he built it in his garage. Other than the two crashes, he said he logged about 86 hours of flight time in the plane.

Weston and a few helpers disassembled the plane and loaded it onto a trailer to bring back to his house.

Police notified the Federal Aviation Administration, as is standard in these cases, said Sgt. Cindy West of the King County Sheriff’s Office.

Story and Photo:  http://sammamishreview.com

Paul Weston Sea-Era:   http://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/bush-float-flying/11534-paul-weston-sea-era.html

NTSB Identification: WPR09CA310
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, June 24, 2009 in Bellevue, WA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 09/10/2009
Aircraft: Weston SEA-ERA, registration: N226SE
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The light sport aircraft student pilot was taking his experimental light sport seaplane for its second test flight. The student pilot reported that he reduced power without verifying the airplane's airspeed during the landing and the left wing dropped; the airplane subsequently touched down hard upon the water. Damage included composite material fractures on both vertical fins. The student pilot had about 32 hours total time and had been signed off by his certified flight instructor to fly a single-engine land light sport airplane. He was not signed off for solo flight in the accident airplane. The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Public-private airport group needs advisers

A committee examining options for forming a public-private partnership to attract investment to Gary/Chicago International Airport is looking for a "dream team" of legal and financial advisers.

And although the committee has before discussed getting help on a contingency basis, meaning no pay unless there is success later, some members on Friday broached the idea they might have to pay for some.

Committee member and Gary airport authority member Cornell Collins called legal representation a "critical component" of the committee's work and said the airport authority might consider paying for it. However, Collins questioned if the committee needs a communications manager.

And committee chairman David Bochnoswki, also an airport authority member, said to have credibility the committee might have to pay for some help. Bochnowski spoke to the meeting at the Gary airport administration building by phone.

Airport consultant John Clark said it is in the area of obtaining legal representation that some type of retainer might have to be paid. Clark said he still believes financial and communications advisers could be hired "at risk."

However, getting money from the airport authority to pay advisers could prove difficult. Clark told the committee at its last meeting the airport currently takes in about $300,000 less a year than it needs to sustain operations.

Committee members also heard by phone from airport officials at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Orlando-Sanford International about public-private partnerships at those airports.

Brian Garrett, the vice president of finance for Sanford Airport Authority, told about a private venture that built its own terminal at the airport and boosted flights from less than 10,000 to more than 1 million in just two years.

However, the company quickly ran into financial difficulties and its contract was eventually sold to another vendor, TBI Airport Mangement. That vendor still runs both the airport's terminals today, while the airport authority continues to run airfield operations and collect landing fees.

The committee also heard from David Hamm, chief of an airline consortium that runs the terminals at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International. The authority there still owns the terminals, but the consortium is responsible for its day-to-day upkeep.

Source:   http://www.nwitimes.com

Customs and Border Protection: Man Tried To Hide Opium Inside Shampoo, Lotion Bottles: Washington Dulles International Airport (KIAD)

Nearly five ounces of opium concealed in shampoo and lotion bottles found in Pleasant Hill man's luggage.

 (photo courtesy TSA)

STERLING, Va. (WUSA9) -- Customs and Border Protection officials say a man was arrested at Washington Dulles International Airport after officers found opium in bottles of shampoo and lotion. 

According to officials, 63-year-old Mehdi Moshirian of California hid nearly five ounces of opium inside the bottles. Officials say he arrived from Frankfurt on February 28, and during a secondary examination an x-ray detected anomalies in two shampoo bottles and in one container of lotion. Officers found baggies of a white substance, which field-tested positive for opium, according to officials.

Moshirian was turned over to Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police. 

Story and Photo:   http://www.wusa9.com

Red Wing Regional Airport (KRGK), Minnesota: Plane makes emergency landing

A plane unexpectedly landed at Red Wing Regional Airport after engine failure today. The three people on board, the pilot and two adult passengers, were safe.

The cause of the failure is unknown.

To determine what caused the engine to malfunction officially, “you have to take it apart and see what’s wrong with it,” said Sam Blue, the chief operating officer at the airport. “Sometimes things break and you can’t really attribute it to anything other than bad luck.”

The plane was flying at 16,000 feet when the engine stopped working. The pilot tried to restart the plane, only to have it stop working again.

“The air traffic controllers talked him down to this airport. It was probably 15 minutes from the engine quit to when it landed,” said Blue.

Source:  http://www.rivertowns.net

Boeing to Consolidate Flight Training Facilities in North America

- Meets strategy of bringing training closer to customer operations - Flight simulators and certain operations to locate in Miami - Facility and capabilities will better serve global airlines

SEATTLE, March 8, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Boeing today announced it is consolidating flight training capabilities in North America - including 787 flight and maintenance training - at the Boeing Flight Services training campus in Miami. The consolidation is part of a larger Commercial Airplanes focus on customer commitments, stepping up efforts to meet market demand for Boeing products, services and support as airplane delivery rates increase.

Boeing will relocate all full-flight simulators and other devices from Seattle to Miami, starting with two 787 training suites. Miami is Boeing's largest commercial aviation training campus and is a preferred training location for customers based in Latin America as well as the United States, Middle East, Europe and elsewhere. With this consolidation, Miami will be established as the pro forma flight training location for Boeing in the Americas. Implementation will begin immediately.

"This is about getting close to our customers, doing what is right for them and bringing them the best product support and services in the industry," said Sherry Carbary, vice president, Flight Services, Commercial Aviation Services. "If we are going to better serve our customers and meet training commitments and airplane deliveries as we ramp up on rate, the time to do this is now."

With 20 simulator bays, the Miami facility is one of the largest commercial flight training campuses in the world, but currently that space is underutilized, with 11 training devices and the capacity to accommodate nine additional full-flight simulators.

The majority of the Seattle Flight Services team will not be affected, but some employees will be impacted by the planned consolidation, Carbary said. "Our training team is the best in the industry. We value the contributions they bring to Boeing every day, and the competitive advantage they bring to our customers around the world."

The plan to locate 787 training in Miami was announced in 2008 as part of Boeing's strategy to better serve the training requirements of airlines by locating training closer to where they do business.

Over the past several years Boeing has consolidated and relocated a number of flight training campuses, including four in the United States, based on customer requirements. Boeing Flight Services, a part of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, has also continued to expand capabilities elsewhere across the global network including new campuses in Shanghai; Baku, Azerbaijan; and Istanbul and is expanding capabilities at existing campuses in Singapore and London with additional new full-flight simulators.

Strategic positioning of the Boeing global training network is of vital importance to airlines around the world as they seek world-class training resources to meet the demand for aviation personnel. The 2012 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook, a respected industry forecast of required commercial aviation personnel, cites a need for 460,000 new pilots and 601,000 new maintenance technicians over the next 20 years.

More information: www.boeing.com/boeingedge/flightserviceshttp://www.boeing.com/commercial/cmo/pilot_technician_outlook.html

SOURCE Boeing 

http://www.marketwatch.com

Bid to help save aviation fuel, reduce pollution

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Friday approved the setting up of a high-level committee to implement flexible use of airspace (FUA), which would result in significant saving of aviation fuel, reduction in pollution and minimize delays for airline passengers. It would also help improve air traffic management, especially to avoid incidents of mid-air scares involving military and civil aircraft.

"The primary objective of FUA is to enhance airspace capacity, minimize delays, fuel conservation, emission reduction and ultimate benefits to traveling public," the civil aviation ministry said in a statement.

The approval for the long pending demand from the civil aviation sector came after several years of wrangling between the Indian Air Force and the civilian establishment. "With the implementation of flexible use of airspace, there will be a fuel saving of 20,29,380 kg per annum and reduction of carbon dioxide emission by 63,93,600 kg per annum by direct routing between seven city pairs of Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Kolkata, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Hyderabad, Delhi- Begaluru, Kolkata-Chennai and Chennai-Mumbai," the civil aviation ministry said in a statement.

Now, the military controls around 65% of the airspace, and the civil aviation authorities have access to 35%. In recent times, however, there have been several initiatives that the military has taken to accommodate demands of the burgeoning civil aviation market. As a result, several IAF controlled air bases have been made available for civil aviation including international flights, and airspace above Hindon airfield near Delhi and some other busy cities are now available to civil aircraft with minimal restrictions.

As a first step towards FUA, a National High Level Airspace Policy Body (NHLAPB) would be set up, the CCS decided. Friday's move to set up the Authority would hugely upgrade Indian airspace management, officials said.

The NHLAPB will be chaired by secretary, ministry of civil aviation with representatives from ministry of defence, IAF, Navy, Indian Space Research Organization, Airport Authority of India and Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The MoD agreed with the proposal, subject to ensuring adequate safeguards to prevent inadvertent leak of military information. It also is insisting that dissemination of any information on military aviation activities should be strictly on "need to know" basis.

Source:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

South Dakota: Sanford helicopter makes safe landing after colliding with a duck

A duck forced a Sanford medical helicopter flying a patient Thursday from Mitchell to Sioux Falls to make an emergency landing just south of Humboldt.

The helicopter landed around 6 p.m. on a gravel road about four miles south of Humboldt, said Mike Christianson, the executive director of Air Transport at Sanford. Inside the helicopter at the time were the pilot, a flight nurse, a flight medic, a respiratory therapist and the patient, Christianson said.

No one was injured in the helicopter, but the duck suffered fatal injuries.

The duck hit the pilot’s side windscreen and protocol is to safely land the helicopter as soon as possible, Christianson said.

A Humboldt ambulance completed the transport, he said.

On-site repairs were done to the helicopter and Sanford obtained a permit from the FAA to fly the helicopter Thursday night back to the hanger on the hospital’s campus, Christianson said. Coming into contact with birds is rare, he said.

Source:   http://www.argusleader.com

Construction begins on new helicopter base at Joint Base

The New Jersey National Guard formally began construction Friday for a new helicopter support base near Lakehurst, a $49-million project that will allow the 1-150th Aviation Battalion to finally move out of obsolete quarters at a Mercer County airport and consolidate operations at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

The Army Aviation Support Facility will be a 103,602-square-foot complex on the Lakehurst side of the base, where the 1-150th has been operating for some years out of old Navy airship hangars. The planned facility will have five helicopter hangar bays, two unheated storage hangar bays, repair and tool rooms, and administrative offices and briefing rooms.

The battalion and its Blackhawk helicopters have flown in Iraq, Kosovo and Panama, and last fall over New Jersey when the 1-150th flew daily support missions for the superstorm Sandy relief operations. Those first images of the devastated oceanfront and the new inlet cut through Mantoloking came from Blackhawks flying in still high winds on Oct. 30, the day after the storm.

Reps. Chris Smith and Jon Runyan, both R-NJ, whose Congressional districts include the base, said the Friday groundbreaking represents a boost to National Guard capabilities and the future fortunes of the 40,000-acre military reservation that survived several Base Realignment and Closure processes during the military’s post-Cold War restructuring.

“Eighteen years ago, Lakehurst was on life support, a near casualty of the 1995 BRAC,” Smith wrote in a statement congratulating the New Jersey Guard. “Not only did we save Lakehurst from the axe in 1995, but in that same year the idea for an Army Aviation Support Facility was hatched.”

Those National Guard aviators saw the under-utilized runways and hangars of Lakehurst as an opportunity, in a way anticipating the Joint Base concept that in recent years has consolidated units from all the armed services to the merged bases. Other Guard and Reserve groups have been relocated there as other bases, such as the Navy Reserve air station at Willow Grove, Pa., were wound down and finally closed by the BRAC process.

New Jersey political leaders and civilian base supporters said every additional mission that comes to the base increases its efficiency — and odds for future survival. Department of Defense planners are calling for another round of military base consolidations and closings in coming years to free up money for other programs.

Source:  http://www.app.com

Burlington International Airport (KBTV), Vermont: New Restaurant to Open

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - A new restaurant will open at the Burlington International Airport on Saturday.  

Skinny Pancake is launching a new location and its owners hope that air travelers learn a little about Vermont as they pick up food.

"I could have never imagined. It's been very challenging," says Benjy Adler, co-owner of Skinny Pancake.

Adler says air travelers will be able to snack on Skinny Pancake favorites plus some new additions to the menu. Adler says at least half the food will be local.

"We're just really looking forward to being open, running a good show. Telling people about the local food movement here in Vermont," says Adler.

Adler says they've hired 28 people. There had been a controversy because Skinny Pancake was exempt from Burlington's livable wage requirement.

"That whole episode was deeply disappointing because our entire intention here was to do great good," says Adler.

The airport hopes they succeed.

"Our goal is to make the experience that you have here the best it can possibly can be," says Gene Richards, airport interim director.

With passenger numbers down slightly from a year ago, Richards hopes Skinny Pancake can help change that.

While the Skinny Pancake location in the north end of the airport opens Saturday, a second location in the south end could open in about a week.

Source:   http://www.fox44abc22yourvoice.com

Airports authority puts workplace safety first

As part of ongoing efforts to increase awareness of the risks people face in the workplace, the Cayman Islands Department of Labor and Pensions conducted a training session for the staff of the Cayman Islands Airports Authority, on Tuesday and Wednesday, 26 and 27 February.

The seminar focused on occupational safety and health and was tailored to the unique needs of the airports authority. Department trainers covered topics including job hazard recognition and analysis, electrical safety, scaffolding safety, materials handling, working above heights, excavation and trenching.

Participants also learned about related provisions in Part 8 of the Labor Law (2011 Revision), and received guidance on the law’s administration and application. Each also took home a copy of the legislation.

Marlon Bodden, deputy director of labor at the Department of Labor and Pensions, said: “The department is committed to raising awareness of incidents that can occur in various workplaces and industries around the Islands, and to building awareness of OS&H hazards as well as preventative strategies. We also want to remind everyone to avoid complacency.”

Andrew McLaughlin, senior manager safety management systems at the airports authority, said the authority had previously organized similar seminars for staff, including those on Cayman Brac. A follow-up session will take place on that island for employees who could not attend the first training.

“Our ongoing partnerships with local and international organizations, such as the DLP, Fire Extinguisher Pros, the Cayman Islands Red Cross, Airports Council International, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the International Air Transport Association, provide our staff with training that allows them to exceed customer expectations and to maintain compliance with the highest international safety regulation standards.”

Source:  http://www.compasscayman.com

Air Ambulance Transport: What You Need to Know

 

Not all air ambulance providers are the same. By not doing your homework, you could be putting yourself or a loved one at risk. See the dangers and tricks some providers use to win your business while putting your life on the line. Learn about Angel MedFlight's unparalleled patient care and how they never sacrifice on service, safety, and comfort.

Wyndham pilot guides Gore fly-in participants

A small microlight aircraft piloted by a Southland man went to the rescue of bigger planes who were unnerved by Southland's strong winds near Gore yesterday.

Pilots from throughout New Zealand have gathered in Gore for the annual Recreational Aircraft Association of New Zealand national fly-in.

They will participate in competitions, navigational exercises and scenic flights around Southland.

This is the first time Southland has hosted the national fly-in.

Wet and windy conditions forced about six pilots headed for the national fly-in to stop over at Mandeville and reassess the strong winds over the Hokonui Hills.

In a microlight aircraft about 500 metres in the air, Wyndham pilot Bradley Yorke told The Southland Times how he flew in the rain, hail or snow - it was Southland, after all.

We flew to Mandeville to "guide" the pilots who, from throughout New Zealand, were not familiar with Southland's flying conditions, back to the Gore airstrip.

The winds were strong and tugged at the small aircraft but Mr Yorke persisted, using the Mataura River as his map.

"Camaraderie" was the word he used to describe the national fly-ins, which was quite fitting to the situation as he guided pilots through the valley.

"There are all different people but with a common interest. I've made a huge amount of friends which makes it a lot of fun," he said.

By the afternoon more than 50 pilots had registered with more expected to arrive today.

North Island pilot Stan Hyde said he flew down on Thursday and it was his first time flying so far south.

The fly-ins were a good chance to catch up with friends and enjoy some local flying, he said.

Today the pilots will do a navigation exercise, which involves pilots making a word from letters mowed in to paddocks as far as Edendale. 

Source:  http://www.stuff.co.nz

Israel turns back plague of locusts: Spraying keeps destructive insects from taking wing; rabbi dissuades Orthodox Jews from feasting on the crunchy critter delicacies

A crop-dusting plane sprays a field in Israel’s Negev Desert, Wednesday 

(photo credit: Dror Garti/Flash90)

Israel’s spraying of agricultural fields in the south of the country Wednesday morning succeeded in turning the tide in a millions-strong locust invasion from across the Egyptian border. The Agriculture Ministry said that thanks to the crop-dusting, the locusts weren’t flying or able to lift off from the ground. 

 Two planes, assisted by ground crews and trucks, on Wednesday sprayed with pesticides the migrating insects that had settled in the area the day before. The teams sprayed a swath of 1,850 acres, beginning the procedure at 6 a.m and continuing into the early afternoon.

“It’s like an insect cemetery down here,” Omri Eytana, a farmer from Moshav Kmehin the Nitzana area, told Army Radio a little after 10 a.m. “There are [only] hundreds of locusts in the air, and they’re still spraying.” He said his tomato crops were unharmed, because they are protected under nylon covers. Potato crops in the area were badly damaged, though, he said.

Shmuel Turgeman, who heads a government-run fund that organizes insurance for farmers, said the situation was “under control.” Inspectors were out in the field gauging the extent of the damage to potatoes and other crops.

Though the locusts were moving northward, they were not expected to reach central Israel’s major population centers because of a cold front that was predicted to drive the insects to the south.

Southern Israel’s skies were blackened Tuesday by the wings of millions of the locusts as the largest infestation to hit the country in decades swarmed across the Egyptian border and settled to chow down on the crops of local farmers.

Local residents were instructed to stay indoors and close their windows and blinds.  “I’ve lived here for 30 years and we have yet to see anything like this,” said Yankale Moskovich, a farmer from Ramat Negev.

Throughout Tuesday afternoon and evening, the Agriculture Ministry and local farming associations sprayed the fields with pesticides, from the air and from the ground, in hopes of salvaging the crops, but to no avail. The giant swarm landed on fields across the Negev and caused what farmers estimate to be hundreds of thousands of shekels in damages.  The locusts also caused damages to fields cultivated by Palestinian farmers in the Gaza Strip, and the Hamas government instructed residents on Wednesday to close their windows.

The Islamist group ruling the coastal Palestinian territory was quoted by the Chinese Xinhua news agency saying the swarms of locusts were neither big nor harmful.   Saleh Bakheet, director general of plant protection department in the Ministry of Agriculture, said in a press statement that the plague “represents no kind of danger or harm to people and plants,” and that “the situation is under full control and protection of the Ministry of Agriculture.”

On Wednesday, a prominent rabbi weighed in on the debate among Orthodox Jews as to the kashrut of locust-based crunchy snacks, saying that despite popular opinion to the contrary, they were forbidden by Jewish law.

Rabbi Yizhak Yosef, the son of former chief Sephardic rabbi and Shas mentor Ovadia Yosef, said he had instructed students at his yeshiva, Hazon Ovadia, not to eat the insects. “We are not familiar with their names and their signs; we have no clear tradition about them,” he said.

Story and Reaction/Comments:    http://www.timesofisrael.com

Rudder-Aileron Interconnect Cirrus SR20 G2 nach Austausch

 

Published on March 2, 2013 

Das Bungee-Cord ist die flexible Verbindung zwischen Seiten- und Querruder. In dem Film sieht man, dass es das angesteuerte Seil mitnimmt. Damit erzeugt in einer SR20 G2 das Querruder auch gleichzeitig einen Seitenruderausschlag. 

 

 Rudder-Aileron Interconnect Cirrus SR20 G2 vor Austausch 

Published on March 2, 2013 

Das Bungee-Cord ist die flexible Verbindung zwischen Seiten- und Querruder. In dem Film sieht man, dass es nichts mehr bewirkt, das angesteuerte Seile bewegt sich nicht. Das Bungee-Cord ist reif für einen Wechsel.

'Women of Aviation' program planned

 WINTERSVILLE - Pier Aviation and local aviatrix Natalie Campana are teaming up to get young people interested in flying with a special "Women of Aviation" program from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Jefferson County Airpark.

The free program includes a mini flight school, aviation speaker and a range of age-appropriate activities for younger kids, that includes a tour of a plane and hangar, building an airport from chalk, airplane photographs, a glider contest and coloring a banner. Middle school and high school-aged attendees can take part in a mini-flight school with Pier Aviation's Phil Bender. They'll also tour the plane and hangar, take photographs, learn about navigation, charts and aerodynamics as well as pilot lingo and determining if the weather is safe to fly.

To increase awareness among both sexes, after the program Pier Aviation will offer airplane rides, weather permitting, for $30 per person.

"We're hoping for 10-20 to fly for the first time on Saturday," Campana said. "The international goal is to get as many future Lady Aviators in the sky; however, I never exclude the boys. Recently, I took my friend's daughter flying, she could not believe how the Ohio geography was so different (compared to) being on the ground. Now, she hopes to earn her wings one day."

Airport Authority members credit Campana with pulling out all the stops to boost awareness of flying.

"It's an amazing opportunity for kids," she said. "Women of Aviation is an annual event, a national event, and this week we're trying to see how many young students we can get up in airplanes."

Campana, a pilot herself, said she's been interested in aviation since she was 3.

"My aunt took me to the airport, Jefferson County airport, and I saw an airplane fly over my head and that was it," she said. "I was hooked. I tried many times to take flight lessons, but my parents told me to wait until I got out of school."

She's been flying, off and on, for 11 years, but had to cut back when the economy nosedived a few years back. It wasn't until last year that she was able to get back to flying.

Saturday's events, she said, are all about "sharing the passion."

"It's all about sharing the awesome opportunities we have, and aviation is one of them," said Campana, now a multimedia instructor at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School. She said she tries to incorporate her love of flying into classroom activities.

"We do photography, videos ... we do a lot of things with it," she said. "We made a video for Women of Aviation, aerial videos and documentaries. My students have done documentaries on Amelia Earhart, the Wright Brothers, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong ... it's what we do to integrate aviation into the classroom."

She said some of her students experienced flying for the first time thanks to her class. "We're just trying to show them that academics cross over into everything, including my fields - multi-media and aviation," she said. "It's a win-win, it gives kids another thing to do in Jefferson County."

Source:  http://www.weirtondailytimes.com

Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Plane forced to land after bird strike

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A Spirit Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after it struck a bird, Friday morning. Flight 404, carrying 109 people, took off from the local airport en route to Dallas-Fort Worth, when the plane struck a bird while in the air. The plane was then forced to return to the airport. Officials said no one was injured.

Selling and Buying Your Jet or Turboprop, step 4 of 9

Video by Jake Huling

March  2, 2013 

Hello Jake Huling with Aircraft Sales Advisor.  This is step 4 in my newest series of video reports called, 9 steps to a successful sale or purchase of your next plane.

If you haven't seen the first video in the series it covers the industries reputation and addresses the top complaints from buyers and sellers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNuQcg...

The other video reports can be seen on my channel here, http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnOwX...

Or you can check out my written reports at AircraftSalesAdvisor.com http://www.aircraftsalesadvisor.com/

Thanks for watching and as always I value all feedback, its how I know I'm staying on the right track and helping sellers and buyers, Thanks!

The plot to take three Qantas jumbos to Iran

In the summer of 2008-09, Qantas flew three of its aging Boeing 747 jumbos to the US to park them at a giant graveyard for commercial planes in the Arizona desert.

Each more than two decades old, the workhorses of Qantas' international fleet were near the end of their working lives for a full-service airline.

The global financial crisis helped accelerate their retirement. It also made it harder to sell the last of the airline's 747-300-series flying machines.

Buyers were thin on the ground. The passenger planes sat in the dry desert climate until August 2010 when Qantas finally found one.

Within 20 months, one of the jumbos would be in Iran - in defiance of US trade sanctions against that country's regime, and raising questions about the dark side of the second-hand aircraft market. It reveals the lengths some will go to circumvent strict trade sanctions on Iran.

Without US authorities intervening, the two other queens of the skies, which once plied long-haul routes for Qantas, were also presumed destined for the Islamic Republic.

The trail leads from Qantas' jet base in Sydney to the Arizona desert in the US, to a small sheikhdom in the Middle East, West Africa and finally to Iran.

Qantas sold the planes to Sayegh Group Aviation, a leasing company in Sharjah, an emirate in neighboring Dubai. Less than 300 kilometres from the sheikhdom on the other side of the Persian Gulf is Iran.

The sale to Sayegh sparked the beginning of a complex series of deals to related companies.

The case lifts the lid on the murky world of the second-hand aircraft market.

It also raises questions about the obligations of aircraft sellers such as Qantas to run the ruler over buyers to ensure their planes do not end up in the wrong hands.

A Californian aircraft leasing company, which blew the whistle on Sayegh early last year, had also been approached by the same companies from the United Arab Emirates and the West African nation of Gambia wanting to buy planes.

''[Qantas] could have easily figured it out if they wanted to. I'm pretty sure they just decided they are just going to cover it … as they are legally required to do,'' CSDS Aircraft Sales and Leasing president Benedict Sirimanne says.

''Whenever you sell an airplane, you have to do a little bit of due diligence.''

Read more here:  http://www.smh.com.au

Hagerstown Regional Airport-Richard A Henson Field (KHGR), Hagerstown, Maryland: Airport wants flights to Myrtle Beach again

The Hagerstown, Md., airport wants direct flights to Myrtle Beach again.

Officials at Hagerstown Regional Airport have pitched the idea to Allegiant Air, which serves Hagerstown and Myrtle Beach. Hagerstown lost service to Myrtle Beach when Direct Air abruptly stopped flying a year ago and filed for bankruptcy.

The flights were popular, Hagerstown Airport Director Phil Ridenour said, and he’d like to see that service return.

“When we had Direct Air service, the customers were very excited that we offered the service because it was a direct flight from Hagerstown; our terminal is easily accessible and our parking is free,” he said in an email. “Additionally, the rates were competitive with other airlines departing from a major metropolitan airport.”

Allegiant hasn’t decided whether to start a Myrtle Beach-Hagerstown route, spokeswoman Jessica Wheeler said.

“It is certainly something we will look at,” she said. “We keep an eye on all of our routes.”

Allegiant is scheduled to start its seasonal service in Myrtle Beach on May 3, flying to Allentown, Pa.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Youngstown, Ohio, and Huntington, W.Va.

Ridenour wants to add Hagerstown to that list.

“It is unknown as to whether we will be successful in obtaining the service to and from Myrtle with Allegiant,” he said. “We believe we provided good justification, it is just a matter of Allegiant determining if it will fit into their model at this time.”

Story:  http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com

Airport Advisory Committee In The Dark About 'Authority' Debate

A bill to place the Charlotte Airport under the control of a regional authority – rather than the city of Charlotte – has been delayed another week so lawmakers can gather more information on its potential impact. On Tuesday, the airport's own advisory committee acknowledged it, too, is in the dark about what such a change might mean.

Once a month 11 volunteers appointed by the mayor and city council meet to basically rubber stamp Aviation Director Jerry Orr's spending plans. Orr's real bosses are the city manager and council.

The Airport Advisory Committee "is purely advisory," says Orr. "They vote, but it is a non-binding vote."

And they rarely do much in the way of questioning or proposing new ideas at their monthly meetings with Orr.

But with the future of airport management now up for debate, the advisory committee is feeling a little hamstrung about its ability to even advise on the issue. They agreed to hold a special meeting with airport staff and explore the topic, after committee member Scott Culpepper brought up his concerns.

"The city council and mayor - I know I've had conversations with both - and they look to us for our opinion on this," said Culpepper. "Right now we've been given very little information."

That's partly because Jerry Orr has been asked by his bosses over at City Hall to keep quiet. He used to speak freely about the advantages he sees in having an airport overseen by a dedicated authority, rather than a city council with lots of other stuff on its plate.

The mayor and city council disagree and are trying to halt the momentum of the airport authority bill.

After 25 years running the Charlotte Airport, Orr certainly has a take on how the transition to a regional authority might affect things. But will he share that insight when the Airport Advisory Committee meets to study the issue in the coming weeks? 

"You know that depends on the direction I get, but certainly I can answer their question," says Orr, dryly.

And anyone who's played the schoolyard game "Mother May I?" knows the difference between can and may.

Source:   http://www.wfae.org

Coast Guard Close Up: WITN Rides Along For Intense Training

Coast guardsmen dispatched on rescue missions like 2 Wednesday off our coast endure rigorous training monthly. With one call they are on scene and ready to help save your life by boat or by air. Alize Proisy got an up close view of how the Coast Guard prepares for the worst.

"Getting to work with a helicopter that is 20 feet away it definitely makes me feel like I'm 18 again when I first joined the coast guard," said Executive Petty Officer Colin Smith.

The view from the helicopter never gets old for Smith even though his crew in Emerald Isle practices with the Elizabeth City Coast Guard every month.

"This is training for the real thing," said Smith. "Say your boat is sinking in one of our shallow shoals, and somebody on board is having a heart attack.This is the sight they would see as the coast guard pulls them up in a basket to get them to a hospital as fast as possible. The training we did today is essentially exactly what is going to happen if we get on scene and recover a victim from some sort of accident or search and rescue case. What you saw today with them sending a basket down, and us grounding that basket to the deck and discharging the static electricity that comes out of it, putting a person in the basket, giving a thumbs up, that's exactly what would happen if we had a victim on board and had to get them medical attention immediately."

Anthony Samuelson practiced from the boat this month, but one day hopes to be dangling his fins from the air.

"Its inspiring for me. It makes me want to go and train and get into the gym and work towards it, do what I have to to be there," said Samuelson.

He wants to be a rescue swimmer. He plans to jump out of helicopters to save people's lives.

"When you first see it, its amazing, and that feeling never really goes away."

Over the last year Coast Guard Air Station in Elizabeth City was called to Emerald Isle for 10 rescues with their helicopter crew. They either helped with medical evacuations or searched for missing people from the air. 

Story and Video:    http://www.witn.com

Etihad opens new maintenance base in Chicago

Etihad Airways has opened a line maintenance base at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, the UAE flag carrier's seventh outside Abu Dhabi and its first in the United States.

The new facility will perform all scheduled and non-scheduled line maintenance for Etihad's daily Boeing 777 aircraft flying into Chicago from the UAE capital.

In addition, the new base will also provide line maintenance services for airberlin's new Airbus A330-operated Chicago flights, a statement said.

airberlin, in which Etihad has a near-30 percent stake, begins its three weekly nonstop Berlin-Chicago services on March 23, rising to five a week in the summer.

James Hogan, president and CEO of Etihad Airways, said: "Extending our new Chicago line maintenance facility to airberlin, is another excellent example of the value of our strategic partnership, enabling both carriers to achieve greater technical and cost synergies.

"As partners, it makes operational and commercial sense to work together on issues such as common maintenance, and we expect the synergies and efficiencies we achieve through this specific integration to deliver tangible benefits for both our businesses."

Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, CEO of airberlin, added: "The cooperation between airberlin and Etihad Airways in the area of line maintenance has already proven its worth.

"For us, it was therefore a logical step to draw on the expertise of Etihad Airways in terms of maintenance for Chicago, thereby ensuring high-quality and reliable maintenance at our new US destination."

Etihad Airways is deploying a team of Abu Dhabi-trained line maintenance aircraft engineers to be based at the new Chicago facility, with additional engineering support provided by Chicago-based aircraft maintenance provider, Flightcheck.

The maintenance services to be performed in Chicago will include transit, daily and weekly checks, scheduled engineering services, and fault repairs for aircraft systems and cabin issues.

In addition to extending line maintenance services to airberlin, Etihad Airways will also offer full technical handling for at least one other carrier.

Etihad's existing line maintenance facilities are in Dublin, Lahore, London-Heathrow, Manchester, Melbourne and Sydney.

Source:   http://www.arabianbusiness.com

Boeing Had Considered Battery Fire Nearly Impossible, Report Says: WSJ

Updated March 7, 2013, 10:03 p.m. ET
 
By ANDY PASZTOR

The Wall Street Journal

The battery that burst into flames two months ago on a Boeing Co. jet in Boston experienced dramatic power fluctuations and other failures its designers had considered practically impossible, according to the latest report by U.S. air-safety regulators.

Their update, however, didn't clear up the mystery over the fire's initial cause.

The National Transportation Safety Board interim report released Thursday did provide some new details about how a short-circuit that began in a single battery cell spread to seven other cells and ended up in an uncontrollable thermal reaction that quickly reached more than 1,250 degrees Fahrenheit, burning through the battery's metal container. The fire aboard the Japan Airlines Co. plane parked in Boston created smoke so intense that at one point, a firefighter couldn't see the battery when he entered the electronics bay containing it, the report said.

A fire captain on the scene told investigators that a bit later, the battery was "hissing loudly and that liquid was flowing down the sides of the battery case" before it "exploded."

The report detailed that years earlier, Boeing and federal regulators grossly underestimated hazards from the 787's lithium-ion batteries, considering the likelihood of such a blaze as "extremely improbable," or less than one in one billion flight hours.

Yet before the world-wide fleet of Dreamliners was grounded in January, the dozens of planes in service had logged about 50,000 flight hours—and batteries burned on two of them. The second plane to experience a battery incident, though the battery didn't burst into flames, was a 787 operated by All Nippon Airways Co.  that made an emergency landing on a flight in Japan on Jan. 16.

The 48-page report also indicated that investigators essentially determined that various electronic components connected to the battery—including a charging unit and a sophisticated surge protector—were intact and didn't exhibit any failures or defects. Tests after the fire showed that those components generally worked as expected, the report said.

Such findings are likely to focus more public attention on whether some type of defect or problem within the battery itself could have prompted the sequence of events that led to the fire.

The report, and hundreds of pages of supporting documents, offer at least one tantalizing hint that certain wires may have been damaged by excessive current flowing outside the battery. But as it has in the past, the safety board stopped short of indicating whether an external or internal cause was responsible.

As expected, much of the report was devoted to an examination of the Federal Aviation Administration's procedures and its oversight of Boeing tests used to certify the safety of the 787's batteries. The safety board previously challenged the validity of the engineering assumptions and risk analyses on which the FAA and the Chicago-based plane maker relied to demonstrate the safety of the batteries manufactured by Japan's GS Yuasa Corp.

Before certification of the 787, Boeing's hazard assessment deemed that a battery fire would be a "catastrophic" event that could cause the loss of an aircraft, according to the report. Boeing determined that a battery fire could be caused only by overcharging. In conjunction with regulators, the plane maker concluded that redundant safety systems, many of which would be installed specifically to prevent battery overcharging, essentially would be foolproof.

Investigators previously said they were convinced that the battery on the Japan Airlines plane wasn't overcharged.

The report also said that all the tests initially to determine the safety of the 787's battery system were conducted by Boeing or its subcontractors and were reviewed by Boeing engineers, along with company employees designated to serve as the FAA's representatives.

The FAA previously said it approved the type of testing that was done, helped determine standards for passing those tests and was kept informed about Boeing's risk assessments.

Investigators continue to review manufacturing and quality-control issues related to the batteries, Thursday's report said, which highlights Boeing's outsourcing of some safety analyses to subcontractors. The safety board, among other priorities, is paying "particular attention to the coordination of responsibility and authority of the contractors and subcontractors" that worked on the plane's battery system, according to the report.

In another section, the report reiterates that Boeing initially determined that the likelihood of a 787 battery emitting smoke, without catching on fire, was one in 10 million flight hours.

According to the board's investigators, Boeing's initial round of safety tests did try to assess the hazards of an internal battery short circuit. But the test used a nail to puncture a cell to induce the fault, and no flames were observed. The report also notes that from the start, the battery manufacturing process was intended to "prevent, detect and eliminate contamination as a source" of internal cell short circuits.

With the 787's grounding, resulting in international investigations and recertification efforts under way simultaneously, NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said "it is essential to provide the aviation community, policy makers and the public with the factual information we are developing"

In addition to Thursday's release of documents, Ms. Hersman said the board will convene a pair of public sessions next month to delve deeper into lithium-ion issues. A forum in mid-April is intended to concentrate on lithium-ion battery technology and transportation safety, while a later hearing will focus on the design and FAA approval of the 787's battery system.

 Source:  http://online.wsj.com