Thursday, February 11, 2016

10Investigates runway noise violations at Tampa International Airport (KTPA), Hillsborough County, Florida



Tampa, Florida -- It's an emergency that happens over and over and over again -- and homeowners say they are fed up. Airplanes are supposed to land only on a noise-sensitive runway at a Tampa International Airport in emergency or bad weather conditions. But, it is happening every day.

10Investigates WTSP has discovered the Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates the airlines, says it is powerless to do anything.

Plane, after plane, after  plane fly over houses in South Tampa  on their way to land at Tampa International.

David Epstein says, “They have gotten much worse, over the past two years, the air traffic coming over these neighborhoods, and  have increased multiplied tremendously  and it has gotten extremely aggravating all times of the day and the night.”

Epstein has lived in the landing pattern for more than 16 years.  He says airlines are not living up to a noise abatement  agreement. The agreement limited use of  the noise-sensitive runways except when wind, traffic, field conditions at the airport or an emergency require the use

“And we have a real  difficult time with that,” Epstein said as a jet drown out our conversation as he shouted, "As you can hear right now.”

Epstein adds, “This is  this is definitely what we hear all day long.”

Janet Zink, spokesperson for the Aviation Authority, admits, “There is increased noise in these neighborhoods, but it is well within the FAA  guideline.”

Zink  says part of the increased noise is because of construction at the airport, however, because the  FAA  averages  the quiet  times when planes aren't flying over the homes, it says there is no impact to the people who live there.

At a meeting with neighbors and  the FAA at Tampa International, homeowner Chris Taylor shouted, “So if could have something really loud over my house,” and then he whispered, “ then could have times of quiet underneath and so that doesn't impact my house.”

Hundreds are telling the FAA it is a major problem. Homeowner John Few turned to the crowd and asked, “Who in here is experiencing significant noise over your home?” Everyone in the packed room of at least 100 homeowners raised their hand.

But the FAA's Dennis Roberts says the agency can't even question why the airlines are using the runway.

We asked Roberts, “You have no stick, no hammer that can regulate the airplanes that land on that noise sensitive runway?”

He told us the noise abatement agreement was a voluntary compromise with the airlines and the homeowners, and added, “There is no regulation that specifies that can’t use that."

That leaves people living in some homes built before the airport was open living with deafening noise

Epstein says as plane, the second in five minutes, flies overhead, ”And it's like this everyday, seven days a week and there is no reason for it.”

There is a new study out that says there is no scientific basis for the FAA threshold for noise intrusion and the agency admits it might be true and is doing its own study.

Meantime, the airport told the FAA the construction would not have any added noise impact on the neighborhoods in the area. Clearly that is not true.

Source:  http://www.wtsp.com

House Republicans move ahead with plan to shift 38,000 Federal Aviation Administration workers

House Republicans moved ahead with their plan to spin 38,000 federal workers into a private nonprofit corporation, beating back an effort by Democrats that would have preserved the Federal Aviation Administration.

The transfer of about 80 percent of the FAA’s workforce to a private company is the centerpiece of a six-year reauthorization bill for the agency. The bill would create a federally chartered corporation to oversee the movement of aircraft in flight and take over a $40 billion modernization of the air-traffic-control system.

An amendment that would have derailed creation of the corporation was defeated in the House Transportation Committee Thursday on a straight party-line vote, with 34 Republicans prevailing over 25 Democrats.

The bill also would prohibit in-flight cellphone calls, require the FAA to move more rapidly in regulating drones, require airlines to refund baggage fees if bags are overdue by more than 24 hours, give flight attendants an additional hour of rest between flights and ban the use of electronic cigarettes on airplanes.

The committee rejected an amendment that would have allowed the FAA to regulate the shrinking size of seats aboard airplanes.

It also voted against a proposal to allow the FAA to regulate shipment of lithium-ion batteries, seen as a fire hazard and blamed for the 2010 crash of a cargo plane that was carrying 80,000 of them.

Two years after that crash, Congress prohibited the FAA from imposing restrictions on transporting lithium-ion batteries that ­exceeded the standards of the ­International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The National Transportation Safety Board proposed this year that their shipment be regulated on all passenger planes.

While it is barred from regulating battery shipments, the FAA warned last month that they pose a “potential risk for a catastrophic hull.”

“Lithium batteries are a disaster waiting to happen,” said Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (Ore.), ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee. “Why should we hobble the FAA? I would hate to think we’re going to tie the hands of the FAA to regulate these batteries.”

As the bill emerges from committee, it will fall to Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) to smooth its passage on the House floor, a daunting prospect during a presidential election year. Though most of the bill won bipartisan support, Democrats said the attempt to move 14,000 air-traffic controllers and 24,000 other FAA workers to a private entity was a “poison pill.”

“I fear these bipartisan proposals are going to be jeopardized because of this effort to spin off the air-traffic controllers,” said Rick Larsen (Wash.), ranking Democrat of the aviation subcommittee. “I don’t think that experimenting with the most complicated airspace in the world comes without a lot of risk.”

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has supported the plan to move its members to a private entity, as have all the major airlines except Delta.

The business of directing air traffic and modernizing the system with which it is done has been transferred to private hands in several other Western nations.

“The FAA’s failing to modernize its infrastructure,” Shuster said. “If we don’t act, we’re going to fall farther behind.”

The FAA has been criticized for delays and cost overruns as it struggles to elevate its operations from a radar-based system to one that relies on GPS.

The project, known as NextGen, has been estimated to cost $40 billion, but an inspector general’s report said the price tag may double or triple by the time the full system is installed. The FAA has spent $6 billion on it so far.

The FAA’s failure to make sufficient progress was reflected in a harshly critical report last year by the National Research Council.

The council said that “the original vision for NextGen is not what is being implemented today” and that “not all parts of the original vision will be achieved in the foreseeable future.”

An inspector general’s report last month said that the cost of NextGen had increased by $3.8 billion over original estimates.

Citing the success of the Canadian model, Shuster and House Republicans say that the NextGen modernization program will move faster if it is placed in the hands of a private board appointed by the airlines, airplane owners and the unions. The corporation would be empowered to collect charges and fees from any air-traffic users, but operators of small private planes would be exempted.

The issue of just how far airplanes should be allowed to fly from Reagan National Airport arose briefly at the hearing, as Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Tex.) offered up an amendment that would increase the minimum allowable distance from 1,250 miles to 1,425 miles.

It has been a hot-button issue in Congress for many years. National Airport is five miles from the Capitol dome. By contrast, Dulles International Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport are 30 miles away from Capitol Hill, and it can take three or four times longer to get there.

Desiring to be thoroughly transparent, Farenthold acknowledged that the expansion he proposed would allow for direct flights to his home town: Corpus Christi, Tex., 1,384 miles from National Airport. He withdrew the amendment, however, after bipartisan opposition from Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.).

“This has been a perennial problem for this region,” said Norton, who also has wrestled with issues of noise created by jets flying in and out of National.

Comstock, who represents a Northern Virginia district, pointed out that “Reagan National is small and doesn’t really have room to expand” to accommodate more flights.

Farenthold was gracious in defeat, but he cautioned that “this is an issue about which we’ll hear again.”

Article and comments: https://www.washingtonpost.com

Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation wants to investigate public ownership for Carlisle Airport (N94), Cumberland County, Pennsylvania




The Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC) presented a proposal to the South Middleton Board of Supervisors Thursday exploring the possibility of shifting the Carlisle Airport from private to public ownership.

According to CAEDC Business Attraction Manager Mary Kuna, CAEDC plans to ask for a representative from South Middleton Township to serve on a working group employed to investigate what public ownership would look like for the airport. The group would consist of representatives from regional municipalities as well as regional public entities. Kuna said that part of this group’s discussion would likely entail the matter of liability, which would be transferred to the new owning entity.

CAEDC originally approached seven shareholders of the airport in 2013 about transitioning the facility to public ownership.

Kuna said that the airport cannot currently receive federal aviation funds because it is privately owned. However, the airport would become eligible for federal funding if it became publicly owned.

“A lot of airports in the country have transitioned to public ownership,” Kuna said. “Private ones are few and far between anymore. That’s why we are looking at (public ownership for the Carlisle Airport) as an option.”

Kuna said that as the working group considers all possible avenues to public ownership, the airport’s current ownership would be tasked with preparing the airport for sale. Both sides would then meet to negotiate how much the airport would be sold for and how much funding would be available.

Then, once an owning public entity is finalized, the airport would be able to transfer ownership. This entity would need to gain approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and PennDOT’s Bureau of Aviation

The current annual economic impact of the airport, based on a PennDOT economic impact study, is $7 million. That number includes spending by those flying in and out of the airport, employee wages and employee spending.

Airport activity alone generates about $3.8 million annually, and visitors flying in spend roughly $235,700 in the community, the study said.

Jimmy Kingsborough, along with his six partners, bought the airport — which has served that function since 1963 when it originally opened — in the mid-1990s. For its first five years, the airport utilized a grass runway, common for very small, low-volume facilities, until a paved runway was built in 1968.

The airport features a 4,000-feet long runway that sits 60 feet wide. Its hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Source:  http://cumberlink.com

British Virgin Islands airport runway extension on the horizon



ROAD TOWN, BVI -- The government of the British Virgin Islands will soon sign a contract for the extension of the runway of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport.

This announcement was made by Premier Dr Orlando Smith during the delivery of the 2016 Budget Address on Monday.

Smith viewed this extension as “good news” and said this is a project which has been high on the government’s agenda since taking office in 2011.

Smith said, “This initiative will no doubt open the doors for larger aircraft such as 737-800 and Airbus 320; both aircraft types are the workhorses of the major air carriers serving the Caribbean from the continental United States. An improvement such as this one, will pave the way to greater investment in our tourism industry.”

The government of the BVI recently announced the introduction of direct flights between the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport and Miami International Airport through the services of BVI Airways. This new service is themed ‘A Game Changer’: BVI Direct.

Source:  http://caribbeannewsnow.com

New air ambulance arrives in Port Vila



Vanuatu will soon have in operation an aircraft that will focus mainly on medical evacuation.

The aircraft arrived at Bauerfield Airport Wednesday this week and will be based in Port Vila.

The aircraft is owned by Air Leasing and will be operated in Vanuatu by Air Taxi Vanuatu.

The Merlin Fairchild IVA Turboprop aircraft will be an on-the-ground dedicated medical evacuation aircraft owned by Air Leasing, operated by Air Taxi and maintained by Airworx Ltd - a locally owned business.

The aircraft has a cruise speed of 260 knots with a range of over 1,500 nautical miles, fitted with state of the art aeromed unit from Med-Pac USA.

The owners of the aircraft say cabin crew will be from Promedical Vanuatu that will include one medic/nurse and one doctor.

This aircraft has a large ‘cargo’ door for ease of patient loading and unloading, has more cabin volume than jet powered Air Ambulances.

The company that owns this aircraft also owns two Cessna 206 and two BN2 Islanders operated by Air Taxi.

They currently offer charters, tours, coffin and medevac flights.

Story and photo:  http://dailypost.vu

The government should get out of the air traffic control business

By Editorial Board February 11 at 7:29 PM 

ADOPTING PROGRESSIVE practices from Europe and Canada is all the rage, from Sen. Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign to Michael Moore’s new documentary, “Where to Invade Next,” in which Mr. Moore marvels at Europe’s generous social programs. And we agree: The United States can and should learn from the experience of other Western democracies, whether that implies a bigger government or, as is sometimes the case abroad, a smaller one.

Take the prosaic but crucial function of air traffic control. In the United States, that is still a job for big government: specifically, the Federal Aviation Administration. Overseas, however, countries are turning away from this statist model. Canada spun off its system, Nav Canada, in 1996, to a private entity funded by user fees. Britain privatized in 2000. Australia and New Zealand are also part of the movement; ditto Germany and Switzerland, lest anyone think it’s English-speaking nations only.

In all of these countries, safety and innovation have stayed the same or improved, which is not surprising, as the new model separates regulation from operation. The U.S. approach, by contrast, keeps those conflicting roles within the same authority. Also, the FAA remains subject to the vagaries of congressional politics, with all the micromanaging and stopgap funding that implies. As a result, a $40 billion FAA modernization program is woefully behind schedule.

Now comes House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) with a bill to adapt successful European and Canadian models to the United States. On Thursday, the committee moved his proposal ahead with the hope of passing legislation by March 31, when the current FAA authorization statute expires. A new corporation, funded by charges on the system’s various users, would manage flights and implement the long-stalled modernization. The FAA would still ensure safety, a regulatory job it already does remarkably well and might do even better if it were free to focus on that exclusively. Major players in the industry would share governance of the new entity, working out their differences within its boardroom rather than through the costlier and more conflictual method of lobbying Congress, as they do now.

These groups support Mr. Shuster’s plan, including not only commercial airlines but also the air-traffic controllers union, which had objected to similar plans in the past. This is by no means a panacea: Once upon a time, Congress turned over passenger rail and mail delivery to corporations known as Amtrak and the Postal Service. Much will depend on ensuring the new air traffic entity avoids the governance flaws that left those agencies still unduly dependent on Congress. Still, the stronger demand for air travel, as opposed to train rides and first-class letters, gives reason to hope Mr. Shuster’s proposed entity will at least be financially solvent.

Objections, so far, come from a single commercial carrier (Delta), the business aviation lobby and certain congressional Democrats who resist transferring Congress’s power to a nonprofit corporation — to the point that they’re making common cause with a profit-making corporation and the private-jet set. These strange bedfellows should not have veto power over a promising reform, even if it wasn’t made in the USA.

Source:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions

Cessna C208 Caravan, Castle Aviation "Castle": Incident occurred February 10, 2016 at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (KCLE), Ohio

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Pilot error and poor visibility were to blame for a small private plane veering off the runway Wednesday night at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, an airport spokeswoman said Thursday.

The incident, which caused five aircraft to divert to other airports, occurred just before 10 p.m., when the pilot of a Castle Caravan C-208 was taxiing and turned too soon, riding off the paved surface, spokeswoman Michele Dynia said in a written statement.

Pavement conditions were within "acceptable" limits, Dynia said, but heavy snow throughout the evening reduced visibility. The stranded aircraft forced the runway to shut down, leaving only one runway open. The other planes were diverted while snow removal crews worked to keep that runway clear, she said. All five aircraft later returned to Hopkins.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A small private plane went off the runway Wednesday night at Hopkins International Airport, closing a runway.

The pilot was the only person on the plane and was uninjured, airport spokeswoman Michele Dynia said.

The incident happened just before 10 p.m. Dynia did not have information on what type of plane was involved.

Heavy snow was falling at the time and there was low visibility, Dynia said, although she added that the runway's surface condition was "within acceptable limits." The airport was fined $735,000 last year by the Federal Aviation Administration, which said Hopkins did not have adequate staffing for snow removal and de-icing of runways.

The airport denied the FAA's accusations that low staffing created runway hazards but pledged to create a new plan for snow removal and to hire more snowplow operators.

The poor weather Wednesday night resulted in several commercial flights being diverted or delayed, according to the airport's website. Nearly 4 inches of snow fell at Hopkins on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Story and comments: http://www.cleveland.com

Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (KCLE), Ohio

Cessna 182Q Skylane, N182SD: Accident occurred February 11, 2016 near Parker County Airport (KWEA), Weatherford, Texas

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

http://registry.faa.govN182SD

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA130
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, February 11, 2016 in Hudson Oaks, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/03/2016
Aircraft: CESSNA 182, registration: N182SD
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.

According to the pilot, during approach, his altitude was too high on final. He reported that he decided to land and that the landing flare lasted longer than he expected. The airplane touched down beyond mid-field and bounced twice. The pilot reported that as he approached the end of the runway, he attempted a right turn in order to turn off of the runway and on to the taxiway; however his speed was too fast to complete the turn. The airplane exited the runway turn off and traveled down an embankment where it nosed over just short of the highway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings, fuselage, the rudder and vertical stabilizer. 

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's decision to continue the high approach, resulting in excessive speed during the landing roll, a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and nose over.



WILLOW PARK – No one was hurt when a plane, attempting land at the Parker County Airport, overturned Thursday afternoon on the south frontage road to Interstate Highway 20 in Willow Park.

A 66-year-old Weatherford man was landing the aircraft, a Cessna 182 Skylane, when it overturned around 3 p.m., said Trooper Ricky Hunter, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman.

The man, whose name was not released, was not hurt, Hunter said in a release. He was the only person in the four-seater plane.

DPS troopers investigated the downed aircraft, the release states.

According to the release, the plane was traveling from south to north, attempting to land at the airport. The aircraft skidded off the runway and overturned in the grassy median off the south frontage road.

Source:  http://www.mineralwellsindex.com





PARKER COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) – A Cessna 182Q Skylane crashed just north of the runway at Parker County Airport Thursday around 3:00 p.m. on Highway 180E about 30 miles west of Fort Worth.

The DPS says the pilot was not hurt.  He  was the only one on board.

Story, images and video:  http://dfw.cbslocal.com


A pilot whose plane left the runway and overturned shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday at the Parker County Airport was reported uninjured in the crash.

The pilot was attempting to land a Cessna 182 Skylane, traveling from south to north, when the airplane skidded off the north end of the runway and overturned on the grassy hill south of the Interstate 20 frontage road, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Ricky Hunter said.

The small aircraft came to rest upside down.  DPS did not release the name of the pilot though he was identified as a 66-year-old Weatherford man.  The Cessna was registered to William Sunkel of Weatherford, according to FAA records. 

The pilot was the sole occupant of the four-seat aircraft, Hunter said.  The frontage road was shut down and traffic diverted as DPS, firefighters and police worked the crash.   A trooper told the Democrat that fuel was leaking from the plane. 

Source:  http://www.weatherforddemocrat.com



PARKER COUNTY -- The pilot of a small plane walked away uninjured Thursday after the plane skidded off the runway of the Parker County Airport and overturned, the Texas Department of Public Safety reported.

The plane stopped in a grassy median on the south frontage road of Interstate 20 in Willow Park north of the runway, DPS Trooper Richard Hunter wrote in an email.

The pilot, identified as a 66-year-old Weatherford man, was trying to land at the airport about 3 p.m. He was the only occupant of the four-seat Cessna 182 Skylane, Hunter said.

Source: http://www.star-telegram.com



Officials say the pilot of a small plane was not injured when the aircraft traveled off the end of a runway and flipped upside-down Thursday in Parker County.

The single-engine Cessna 182 Skylane was attempting to land at the Parker County Airport at about 3 p.m. when it skidded and overturned in the grassy median off the south Interstate 20 Frontage Road, east of Weatherford, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The 66-year-old pilot, a Weatherford resident, was the only occupant in the plane and was not injured, DPS troopers said.

Source:  http://www.nbcdfw.com




Cessna 182: Incident occurred February 11, 2016 in Corvallis, Benton County, Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. - A pilot of a small plane reported seeing a drone flying within a few feet of the aircraft over the Corvallis area Thursday.

The private pilot in a Cessna 182 was flying at 2,500 when he told the Eugene control tower that he saw the drone, the FAA confirmed.

FAA rules limit private drones to 500 feet and below.

The incident is under investigation.

Source:  http://kval.com

Congressman Young Squares Off Before House Committee Over Essential Air Service, Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization • Demands Fixes for Alaska:“Mr. Chairmen, I will say again if this bill is not fixed, I’m not going to support it. It better be fixed”

Congressman Young Discussing H.R. 4441, the AIRR Act, Before the House T&I Committee. 



Washington, D.C. – Standing up for Alaska’s unique aviation interests, today Congressman Don Young squared off before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on proposed legislation to reform the aviation system in the United States – H.R. 4441, the Aviation Innovation Reform and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act. The bill proposes major structural changes for the nation’s air-traffic control system, removing it from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and turning it into a non-profit corporation controlled by a private board.

 “I am personally involved in this legislation, if any one state is affected by this legislation it’s Alaska,” Congressman Young stated. “You take all the land east of the Mississippi, from the tip of Maine to the tip of Florida, that’s Alaska… And in this bill, we eliminate – they say that we do not – but we eliminate Essential Air Service, in the sense that I have to take and fight each year to get appropriations to fund it. That’s wrong. I told the Chairman this. Essential Air Service is crucial to my state.”

Under H.R. 4441, mandatory funding for Essential Air Service (EAS) – a program serving more than 49 remote communities in Alaska – would be eliminated, leaving EAS funds entirely subject to the annual appropriations process. Considering the current fiscal climate, the elimination of mandatory EAS spending – generated from fees paid by airlines crossing U.S. airspace but never landing – could lead to a 40% reduction in EAS funding.

“The second part, they say we’re not exempting Part 135 from user fees or taxes,” Young argued. “That’s what serves my communities. I don’t have highways. I don’t have streets. I’ve got air.”

H.R. 4441 works to exempt certain General Aviation from future user fees, but fails to exempt Part 135 operators – air charters and taxis providing transportation services, critical goods and supplies, to nearly every remote town and village in Alaska.

“A lot of this bill is good, I’ll admit that,” Young said. “I’ve gone through it. The FAA has gotten too big… getting involved in some silly ass things that have nothing to do with safety. That has to be changed, but the idea that we’re going to penalize a state – and I’ve asked you to exempt Alaska – is wrong…Mr. Chairmen, I will say again if this bill is not fixed, I’m not going to support it. It better be fixed.”

A former Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and current member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, Congressman Young has consistently worked to build an aviation system in Alaska driven by innovation and safety. Along with Senator Ted Stevens and the Alaska Delegation, Young has worked to develop wind shear detection equipment, computer assisted approach technology, voluntary safety improvement systems like the Medallion Program, and the Capstone Project to use satellites when monitoring air traffic instead of radar.

Article and video: http://www.akbizmag.com

American Airlines, Airbus A319-100, N763US: Incident occurred February 11, 2016 at Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX), California



LOS ANGELES -- Authorities say an American Airlines plane has landed safely after declaring an emergency and diverting to Los Angeles International Airport.

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey says the plane landed and taxied normally late Thursday morning and firefighters were not needed.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor says Flight 564 declared the emergency while flying from San Jose, California, to Phoenix.

Airport spokeswoman Katherine Alvarado says a mechanical problem was reported aboard the plane, which had 137 people aboard.

A reporter with the FOX LA station said on Twitter that all the passengers on the flight had been put on oxygen. That could not be immediately confirmed by CBS News.

American Airlines released a statement regarding the incident.

"American Airlines Flight 564 from San Jose, Calif., to Phoenix diverted to Los Angeles due to a mechanical issue. The aircraft, an Airbus A319 with 125 passengers and a crew of five, landed safely and taxied to the gate. Our maintenance team is currently evaluating the aircraft," the statement read. "We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience, and are working to get them to Arizona as soon as possible."

Source:  http://www.cbsnews.com

http://registry.faa.gov/N763US

Cessna 150F, N6960F: Accident occurred February 01, 2016 in Lapeer, Michigan

RONALD O HOLCOMB LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N6960F

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA123

14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, February 01, 2016 in Lapeer, MI
Probable Cause Approval Date: 03/14/2016
Aircraft: CESSNA 150, registration: N6960F
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 owner of the airplane reported that the solo student pilot told him that the airplane "bounced upon touchdown." He further reported that the solo student pilot executed a "go-around," and "determined the climb out rate was insufficient to clear the trees and the airspeed and altitude were insufficient to permit a safe course adjustment to avoid the tree line." The airplane touched down on a field with "plowed soft soil," the nose wheel collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder.

The owner did not report any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The student pilot's failure to achieve an adequate climb rate while turning to avoid obstacles during an aborted landing, resulting in an uncontrolled descent, collision with terrain, and a nose over.

OneJet expanding service at Pittsburgh International Airport (KPIT), Pennsylvania: Airline will hire local flight crews, maintenance workers

OneJet names Pittsburgh its 'focus city,' adds non-stop to Hartford



A young and growing airline specializing in corporate jet travel chose Pittsburgh International Airport as its new market for expansion, pledging to bring four more nonstop destinations and about 40 jobs to the airport this year.


OneJet will offer nonstop service to Hartford, Conn., beginning May 9, and announce four more new markets later this year. OneJet caters to business travelers flying between small and medium-sized markets, operating with seven-seater Hawker 400 jet aircraft.


CEO Matt Maguire said expanding in Pittsburgh is a result of the success of flights to Milwaukee and Indianapolis last May.


“What's been so encouraging here in Pittsburgh is the response we've seen from very large corporations coming to us in being a new brand with a different product saying, ‘This is something we value and we will use,' ” Maguire said.


Airport officials announced the new flight and future expansion at a press conference at the airport on Thursday attended by local and state lawmakers, as well as OneJet. Maguire said the expansion represents “the largest investment we've made to date in a community.”


Former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a senior adviser to OneJet, said he urged the company to consider Pittsburgh in its plans to develop nonstop service between small and medium-sized markets, given how much service the airport lost when U.S. Air moved its hub.


“It's perfect for a place like Pittsburgh because of what happened with U.S. Air,” LaHood said. “This is no small investment. ... It also says to the people of this region we think this is a real opportunity.”


Future destinations are likely to be markets that are 300 miles to 700 miles away, previously had nonstop service and see 30 to 80 passengers a day, Maguire said. One possibility is Memphis, one of four cities OneJet serves that lost a nonstop from Pittsburgh on Delta last year. Maguire said Memphis-based FedEx, which has a contract with OneJet, is interested in the route.


Each new route brings four to five pilots, two mechanics and at least one other employee to the airport, Maguire said.


The Hartford flight fills a nonstop route previously vacated by American, and represents the 54th nonstop destination from Pittsburgh.


About 80 passengers a day currently fly to Hartford using connecting flights, a trip that can take about five hours, as opposed to the one-hour direct flight.


Engineering firm Michael Baker International is a likely customer for the route, said vice president of business development Steve Hammel, as it has an office in Rocky Hill, Conn. The company has offices worldwide and spends $7.5 million a year on travel, including $1 million out of Pittsburgh, Hammel said.


“It's a great asset to us,” Hammel said.


Source:  http://triblive.com




OneJet Selects Pittsburgh as Next Focus City: Air Transportation Network Announces Widely Expanded Service and Investment in Pennsylvania


PITTSBURGH, Feb. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OneJet (www.onejet.com), the air transportation network that provides increased access to nonstop travel in small and medium size markets, today announced the selection of Pittsburgh as its new focus city, significantly expanding nonstop regional air service from Pittsburgh International Airport.  The expansion will include the addition of five new nonstop destinations from Pittsburgh over the course of 2016, as well as a paralleled investment in Pittsburgh domiciled aircraft and employees.

Beginning on May 9th, OneJet will add weekday nonstop service between Pittsburgh and Hartford, Connecticut, with seats available for sale beginning April 1st, subject to customary Department of Transportation approvals.  OneJet, which already serves Indianapolis and Milwaukee from Pittsburgh, will announce additional destinations from the new focus city during the second quarter of this year.

Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, a senior advisor to OneJet, stated: "Through the use of right sized aircraft and smart capacity optimization, OneJet is innovatively leveraging our nation's existing air transportation capabilities to create highly accessible nonstop travel options in the U.S. Today's announcement reflects a steadfast and cooperative effort by OneJet and Pennsylvania leadership to ensure Pittsburgh is positioned to enjoy continued and increasing access to nonstop service and convenient regional connectivity."

"OneJet's decision to expand service in Pennsylvania is critical to the growth of the commonwealth's economy and the thriving Pittsburgh business community," said Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. "Additionally, travelers will have easier access to enjoy Pennsylvania's tourism assets throughout the greater Pittsburgh region and beyond."

OneJet, which launched operations from Pittsburgh last May, now services over ten Fortune 500 companies, including FedEx, with inventory available through all traditional corporate and retail points of sale, including Expedia, Carlson Wagonlit, and BCD Travel.  OneJet service includes TSA Pre access for eligible travelers, expedited boarding, and complimentary on board amenities. 

"OneJet is proud to serve the Pittsburgh community and its corporate citizens. Our decision to expand operations in there, was due to the overwhelming response we've seen from Pittsburgh's largest corporations and the business travel community in the region," commented Matthew Maguire, OneJet's Chief Executive Officer.  "We're extremely excited to now offer our Pittsburgh customers a new set of nonstop destinations, while providing the highest levels of safety, security, and convenience.

"OneJet's decision to declare Pittsburgh International Airport a base of operations and to add flights to key business destinations shows that our region is growing and that our business demand for flights is strong," said Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive. "The permanent jobs and flights connected to this base are indicative of the positive momentum we've seen at Pittsburgh International in the past 13 months. We're excited for the future of OneJet as it continues to grow into the future, and we'd like to thank them for this investment in Pittsburgh International and our region."

"We're thrilled that OneJet chose to capitalize on the demand for more nonstop flights from Pittsburgh International Airport. We'd like to thank them for working with us to make today's announcement a reality," Christina Cassotis, Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO continued. "This is truly an example of our continuing partnership with airlines and our ability to leverage the continuing renaissance of Pittsburgh. OneJet's growth will mark 21 new routes launched from Pittsburgh International in the last 13 months."

For additional information, please visit www.onejet.com. For customer inquiries or travel assistance, please call 1-844-ONEJET1 (663-5381).

About OneJet 
OneJet is an air transportation network that provides consumers increased access to nonstop travel in small to mid-size markets, at relatively low cost. Flights operate from main commercial terminals and airports in markets served, currently including Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Memphis, and Nashville, providing weekday service on Hawker 400 light jet aircraft. All flights are operated by regionally based operating partners featuring ARG/US Platinum Safety-rated and TSA-certified operations. The company incorporates former senior leadership from the U.S. major airlines, the U.S. Department of Transportation, leading U.S. aircraft manufacturers, and TSA. 

Source:  http://www.prnewswire.com

Cessna 150, N5945E: Accident occurred February 10, 2016 in Sturgis, Meade County, South Dakota

Date: 10-FEB-16
Time: 16:40:00Z
Regis#: N5945E
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 150
Event Type: Accident
Highest Injury: None
Damage: Substantial
Flight Phase: TAXI (TXI)
FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Rapid City FSDO-27
City: STURGIS
State: South Dakota

AIRCRAFT ON TAXI, PROP STRUCK THE GROUND, STURGIS, SD

http://registry.faa.gov/N5945E