Monday, August 18, 2014

Two new RV-12's may take Lane Aviation Academy to new heights

Steve Boulton, director of the Lane Aviation Academy, has been the director of the program for about 5 years now. When he started, he was told his budget for expansion was zero. Through his fundraising efforts, which include several grants, Boulton was able to secure the purchase of two new RV-12's, which cost $115,000 each. The increased maneuverability gives students who have never flown before an easier opportunity when they go in the air for the first time.
(Alan Sylvestre/The Register-Guard) 



Imagine flying 4,000 feet over the Willamette Valley in a two-seater airplane, with a 180-degree view that on a clear day can range from the snow-capped heights of Mount Hood in the north to the blue tint of Crater Lake in the south.

To those in the Lane Aviation Academy, that’s a sight they can see nearly daily — from the comfort of two newly acquired RV-12 light sport aircraft.

The new airplanes, which cost $115,000 each, come equipped with many instruments and a state-of-the-art design that makes them more maneuverable to fly than others in Lane Community College’s current fleet, said Steve Boulton, aviation academy director.

For starters, the planes have a lighter shell than do other planes in the current fleet, Boulton said. “That allows students to have more control over the direction of the plane while in the air,” he said.

Another factor that contributes to the two planes being better for instruction is their full autopilot capability. Boulton said that allows him to provide one-on-one instruction with students without the students having to focus their attention on flying the plane.

For a typical training flight, Boulton likes to average between 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Other planes in the program’s fleet currently carry enough fuel for a maximum three-hour flight. But the new RV-12s have a capacity for 20 gallons, which according to Boulton gives them the option to be in the air for around four hours.

The RV-12s also are equipped with ergonomically designed seating, durable interior matte paint, upholstered interior, 12-volt power outlet, day and night LED lighting for added safety, and removable wings for easier storage.

The purchase of the planes is a significant milestone in Boulton’s career as director of the program. When he first took over five years ago, Boulton said he was told he had a zero budget for advertising and expansion.

The RV-12’s are built at Synergy Air, a company based out of the Eugene Airport that trains those interested in the mechanics of aviation how to build planes.

Chris Thelan, a production test pilot with Synergy, said he feels the RV-12s are easier for a beginner pilot to learn in than any of the other models that the company produces.

“One of the biggest things that make these easier to fly is that they can be flown at slower airspeed,” Thelan said. “For example, in a typical light sport aircraft, you have to approach the runway at about 65 knots, but in the RV-12s, you can approach the runway at about 55 knots, making them easier to handle for beginners.”

As program director, Boulton said his goal is to help graduates secure positions in a highly competitive industry. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there was an estimated 104,000 jobs for commercial pilots in 2012, compared to an estimated 119,000 who received pilot certifications.

Boulton hopes the new planes will strengthen the credibility of the program for the benefit of students.

“In our industry, I’m noticing a need for more, well-trained pilots,” Boulton said. “With these RV-12s, I think we’re going to be able to both expand our program, and train pilots in such a fashion that they’ll be able to get good, well-paying jobs.”

Story and Photos:  http://registerguard.com

Former board chair of Foothills Regional Airport (KMRN) awaits sentencing

It appears the third official charged in wrongdoing at Foothills Regional Airport will be sentenced before the end of the year.

Former airport board chairman Randy Hullette pleaded guilty pleaded guilty Aug. 21 to embezzlement and witness tampering. He faces a total maximum sentence of 30 years.

A presentence investigation report on Hullette was filed with the federal courts Aug. 12 but has been sealed. A presentence investigation report, which can contain sensitive information including medical and psychological reports, is required before someone is sentenced.

Hullette and his attorney have until Aug. 29 to file any objections to the presentence report, according to federal court records.

The federal court in Asheville holds sentencing every other month, according to court officials. Hullette is likely to be sentenced sometime in October, say court officials. The sentencing dates on the court calendar are Oct. 21 or 23, court officials say.

Former airport manager Alex Nelson was sentenced in February to three years in prison and three years supervised probation. He also was ordered to pay $179,781.51 in restitution. Nelson reported to prison in Beckley, W.Va., on June 9.

In March, Nelson appealed his sentencing to the Fourth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., saying he had questions about the process. That process is ongoing, according to federal court documents.

He pleaded guilty in September 2012 to conspiracy, embezzlement and money laundering.

Brad Adkins, former operations manager at the airport, was sentenced June 3 to time served, four months of house arrest and three years supervised release; had to pay a $200 assessment; and jointly pay $85,305.59 in restitution.

The federal government revoked Adkins’ bond in February after he taped urine to his body to try to pass a drug test. In November, he admitted to taking Xanax , which is commonly used to treat anxiety.

Adkins was jailed in Marion on Feb. 11 and held until his sentencing June 3.

The FBI raided the airport in June 2012, seizing files, records, computers, log books and other information. The warrant included records from the airport involving Nelson, Adkins and Hullette defrauding the airport of at least $100,000.

- Source:   http://www.morganton.com

FAA’s new air traffic control system unstable, less capable than old system (with video)

The Federal Aviation Administration has begun deploying new computers systems for its air traffic controllers despite warnings that the system suffers from unstable requirements, lacks key safety capabilities and requires training that has yet to be given to workers, a government watchdog warned Monday. 

The problems with the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) are so widespread right now that the new system already being installed at the Dallas airport actually has fewer capabilities for air traffic controllers than the old system it was designed to replace, the U.S. Transportation Inspector General reported.

One of the missing capabilities is a special warning that alerts controllers of loss of separation between aircraft, a potential safety hazard, the IG said. Officials are scrambling for an upgrade this month to fix that problem.

“The STARS deployment incorporates fewer capabilities than the CARTS system it aims to replace,” the inspector general wrote in a memo of warning made public Monday.

The warnings are the latest for the troublesome STARS system. The IG first raised red flags about STARS’ implementation back in a May report, warning the new system was in danger of falling “short of providing promised capabilities for controlling takeoffs and landings — the most critical phases of flight.”

FAA proceeded with installing the system in Dallas and the inspector general subsequently went to that airport to observe the installation. “As a result of this examination, we determined that the risks we identified in our earlier report remain,” the IG reported. “… Notably, FAA has yet to stabilize STARS software requirements.”

Cost is just one of the concerns. The IG says STARS has already cost nearly $338 million out of $438 million approved funding for its implementation, and that if FAA deploys the new system at 11 of the nation’s largest airports, the project will exceed its baseline approved funding by $19 million.

FAA acknowledged that identifying, stabilizing, and validating STARS requirements has been problematic, according to the report.

The IG investigators, the internal watchdogs at the Transportation Department for agencies like FAA, also say that the training for the new system has raised concerns, especially as lack of custom training specific to each airport’s needs.

“Questions about the adequacy of FAA’s training and certification of technical operations specialists raise additional concerns about the Agency’s management of STARS deployment,” the report said.

FAA says it believes the training provided to specialists at the FAA Academy was successful based on positive feedback from a majority of training participants.

Story, Video and Comments:  http://www.washingtontimes.com

Ferguson, Missouri: Temporary flight restriction extended for news helicopters

 

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – The FAA has put a temporary flight restriction in a three mile area over Ferguson, Missouri.  This order takes effect after the National Guard was called in to help the Missouri Highway Patrol police protesters in the area.  Demonstrations have been taking place over the past week over the police shooting death of Michael Brown.

A Temporary Flight Restriction was in place for the area above Ferguson until August 18th.  It has been extended to August 25th.  Aircraft are being asked to fly above 3,000 feet.

The FAA says no pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this order unless authorized by authorities.  This gives police helicopters a monopoly in the airspace.

Read the Temporary Flight Restriction order here.

- Source:  http://fox2now.com


Ferguson, Missouri: Federal Aviation Administration renews ban on low-flying aircraft


The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that flights were barred from operating below 3,000 feet over Ferguson, Mo., “to provide a safe environment for law enforcement activities.”

This notice, which is good through Aug. 25, came at the direction of Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D).

A similar ban on low-flying aircraft was issued last week at the request of the St. Louis County Police Department, which said it had asked for the restrictions because its helicopter was shot at during looting and unrest on Sunday night. That notice lasted through Monday.

In the days that have followed the initial ban, the unrest has only grown, and Nixon and other officials have stepped in to try and manage an increasingly dangerous series of confrontations between residents and heavily-armed police.

- Source:  http://www.washingtonpost.com

NORAD exercises Tuesday night into Wednesday morning between midnight and 2 a.m. EDT, over the National Capital Region in Washington, D.C.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region (CONR), will conduct exercise Falcon Virgo 14-11 Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, in the National Capital Region, Washington, D.C. Flights are scheduled to take place between midnight and 2 a.m. (EDT).

The exercise is comprised of a series of training flights held in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Capital Region (NCR) Coordination Center, the Joint Air Defense Operations Center (JADOC), Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and CONR’s Eastern Air Defense Sector.

Exercise Falcon Virgo is designed to hone NORAD’s intercept and identification operations as well as operationally test the NCR Visual Warning System and training personnel at the JADOC. Civil Air Patrol aircraft and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter will participate in the exercise.

These exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure CONR’s rapid response capability. NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the U.S. and Canada since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

In the event of inclement weather, the exercise will take place the following evening. If bad weather continues, officials will then make a decision to postpone or cancel the exercise.

As the Continental United States geographical component of the bi-national command NORAD, CONR provides airspace surveillance and control, and directs air sovereignty activities for the CONUS region. CONR and its assigned Air Force and Army assets throughout the country ensure air safety and security against potential air threats.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, CONR fighters have responded to more than 5,000 possible air threats in the United States and have flown more than 62,500 sorties with the support of Airborne Warning and Control System and air-to-air-refueling aircraft.


Sources:  

http://www.norad.mil

http://fairfaxnews.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com

Emergency Workers Blamed for Air Crash Death -Courthouse News Service

Courthouse News Service
By ELIZABETH WARMERDAM

       
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (CN) - A 16-year-old girl died in the 2013 Asiana Airlines crash-landing at San Francisco airport - not from the crash, but by being run over by emergency vehicles responding to it, a "tragic and avoidable death," her parents claim in court.

Gan Ye and Xiao Yun Zheng sued the City and County of San Francisco and 16 emergency responders, in San Mateo County Superior Court, for the wrongful death of their daughter, Ye Meng Yuan.

The parents say that rescue workers saw their daughter lying helpless on the ground after the crash "but, inexplicably, failed to evaluate her condition, treat her, mark her location, or remove her from the perilous location where she lay curled in the 'fetal position.' Minutes later, Ye Meng Yuan was run over by two separate aircraft rescue firefighting vehicles."

Asiana Airlines is a party to the lawsuit.

Ye was one of 307 passengers and crew members aboard Asiana Airlines Flight 214 on July 6, 2013, heading from South Korea to San Francisco International Airport.

The plant struck the seawall just short of the runway. The plane crash-landed and came to rest about 2,400 feet from the sea wall, to the left of the runway, according to the lawsuit.

"Ye Meng Yuan was not ejected during the accident sequence, and her death was not caused by being ejected from the aircraft," the complaint states.

Ye left the plane on one of the slide ramps, after which multiple city and county employees saw her on the ground near a paved cart road by the slide, her parents say in the lawsuit.

"Inexplicably, the rescue workers failed to assess Ye Meng Yuan, communicate her location to command, and failed to mark her location. They did not take her pulse. They did not check her breathing. They failed to conduct any triage on her. They failed to move her to a safe location and abandoned her in a hazardous position that subjected her to grave risk of harm," according to the complaint.

Firefighter Roger Phillips alerted Lt. Christine Emmons - both named as defendants - that "a passenger was lying in the field, but Emmons responded that they should move on," the lawsuit states.

About 15 minutes later, "ARFF [Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting] Unit 10" ran Ye over as she lay in the same place, her parents say.

The impact of the emergency vehicle hitting Ye "caused devastating blunt force traumatic injuries that resulted in her untimely death. At the time she was run over by the 'ARFF Unit 10,' all of the other passengers and crew members who were on board Flight 214 had been removed from the close proximately of the aircraft and were outside any zone of danger," according to the complaint.

Another emergency vehicle then maneuvered into the area. Because Ye's body was still unmarked and obscured, the second vehicle struck her as well, the complaint states.

Ye was one of three passengers who died after the Boeing 777 crashed. Asiana Airlines filed a lawsuit against Boeing in January, claiming that equipment on the plane had been improperly installed, resulting in inadequate warnings for the pilots about low airspeed.

In April, Asiana acknowledged that pilot error was partly to blame for the crash. A spokeswoman said that the pilot "could have failed to respond quickly" to problems and that the flight crew failed "to execute a timely go-around when the conditions required it by the company's procedures."

Among the defendants in this lawsuit are Fire Chief Joanna Hayes-White, top officials at San Francisco International Airport, and other individual firefighters and police officers.

Ye's parents seek damages for wrongful death, failure to train and supervise, negligence and survivorship.

They are represented by Gretchen Nelson with Kreindler & Kreindler, of Los Angeles.

- Source:  http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/08/18/70486.htm 


NTSB Identification: DCA13MA120 
 Scheduled 14 CFR Part 129: Foreign operation of Asiana Airlines
Accident occurred Saturday, July 06, 2013 in San Francisco, CA
Aircraft: BOEING 777-200ER, registration: HL7742
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 traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On July 6, 2013, about 1128 pacific daylight time, Asiana Airlines flight 214, a Boeing 777-200ER, registration HL7742, impacted the sea wall and subsequently the runway during landing on runway 28L at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California. Of the 4 flight crewmembers, 12 flight attendants, and 291 passengers, about 182 were transported to the hospital with injuries and 3 passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 129 between Incheon International Airport, Seoul, South Korea, and SFO. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
Scheduled 14 CFR Part 129: Foreign operation of Asiana Airlines
Accident occurred Saturday, July 06, 2013 in San Francisco, CA
Aircraft: BOEING 777-200ER, registration: HL7742
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 traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On July 6, 2013, about 1128 pacific daylight time, Asiana Airlines flight 214, a Boeing 777-200ER, registration HL7742, impacted the sea wall and subsequently the runway during landing on runway 28L at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California. Of the 4 flight crewmembers, 12 flight attendants, and 291 passengers, about 182 were transported to the hospital with injuries and 3 passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 129 between Incheon International Airport, Seoul, South Korea, and SFO. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.