Saturday, September 30, 2017

Study Says Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Generates Nearly $16 Million

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport generates nearly $16 million in economic benefits for the Twin Cities area, according to a recent study done by InterVISTAS Consulting.

The study focused on the direct and indirect economic impact of the airport, as well as the spending impact of visitors.


The study states that MSP supports over 86,9000 jobs and generates $15.9 billion in total economic output.


The airport also saw 5.2 million visitors, who spent $2.5 million in seven metro counties.


"MSP International Airport does more than get people and cargo from point to point. It serves as a powerful catalyst for the area economy," Executive Director and CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission Brian Ryks said in a statement. "We tend to take air service for granted in a city with a thriving major airport, but the value of that service to our economy underscores the need to continue investing in airport infrastructure and partnering with airlines to initiate or expand service." 


Original article can be found here ➤ http://kstp.com

Neptune Aviation retires firefighting planes

MISSOULA - Since its founding in 1993, Neptune Aviation's P-2 V tankers have flown missions over thousands of wildfires, providing safety not only in the Northern Rockies but all over North America.

The planes were originally designed for the U.S. Navy to be used for maritime patrols and anti-submarine missions. but since their creation, they have been used for dozens of different jobs.

According to the company, of the 12 used nationwide, seven of the aircraft are owned by Neptune Aviation. The Missoula-based company has managed to keep the planes operational by getting the parts they need to maintain them

"Right here in Missoula. we can make the wheels for the aircraft. we can make wing flaps. We deal with the avionics. So anything the airplane needs we make," Neptune Aviation CEO Ron Hooper said.

For many of the pilots who flew these aircraft, Saturday was an emotional day, "there's a lot of history with it and a lot of fond memories, so it's an emotional time.," pilot Robert Minter.

The process of switching over to a more modern aircraft has been in the works since 2009 and although the time has finally come to bring in newer aircraft, the P-2 Vs have been praised by pilots and engineers for their durability and strength.

Neptune Aviation CEO Ron Hooper says that retiring the planes is bittersweet, but he looks forward to the future.

"i think that what's been important is our commitment to the community and the community support that we get. And then our resiliency and our ability to successfully to go from a P2 fleet to the 146 fleet."

Neptune currently has nine of the newer more modern aircraft meant to take over now that the P-2 Vs have been retired.

Story and video ➤ http://www.kpax.com



MISSOULA, Montana - Neptune Aviation is retiring seven Lockheed P2V air tankers Saturday September 30th.

This is a historic day for these aircraft that have been around since the cold war. Sam Wagner traveled all the way from Coeur d'alene to see the planes he grew up watching. 

"When we heard they were decommissioning these planes we decided to come check them out and close the chapter on our childhood kind, because our whole family is coming up and we grew up around them," said Wagner.

The P2V planes began firefighting during the 1970's, Greg Jones, Program Manager for Neptune Aviation  says these historic planes will be taken to museums across America. 

"The planes are going to be stored short term in Alma Gorda New Mexico.We will ferry them down the next couple weeks and then they will be dispersed throughout museums across the United States. 

Among the days festivities, the food and plane tours were a huge hit, but the multiple water drops is what Wagner wanted to see. 

"I think it's going to be great. The airdrops are going to be cool. I think it's going to be fun for everybody," said Wagner. 

With the retirement of the P2V Neptune BAe 146 jets, Neptune is receiving nine aircrafts. These jets are bigger and were previously in the commercial airline service. Greg thinks this will help greatly with fighting fires. 

"It's a newer modern platform that's capable of crossing the U.S. a little faster than the P2," said Jones.

Neptune has been the largest remaining civil or military operator of the aircraft, and has had as many as 10 Forest contracts in one-year.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.nbcmontana.com

Spectra Jet Inc: Aircraft repair company might expand in Kansas

Spectra Jet employee Trevyn French inspects the emergency battery on a Learjet 31A at the company's facility at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. 



A Springfield aircraft repair and maintenance firm might be eyeing an expansion in Kansas, according to a Kansas newspaper.

The Fort Scott Tribune recently reported city officials there recently discussed an economic development proposal to bring Spectra Jet to the Fort Scott Municipal Airport. Spectra Jet is based in Springfield, where it recently began work on a potential $3.5 million investment to build additional ramp space and expand a hangar at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport.

Spectra Jet opened in 1998 and specializes in Learjet and Challenger inspections, modifications and repairs, according to its website.

Officials at Spectra Jet declined to comment to the Springfield News-Sun on any possible expansion plans. Officials at the Fort Scott Municipal Airport and Rachel Pruitt, director of economic development at Fort Scott, also declined comment.

The Fort Scott Tribune story quoted Pruitt as saying the Springfield company is expanding into Fort Scott and relocating eight jet engine mechanics there.

“This has a huge impact on a community,” Pruitt told that newspaper. “Kansas is barely in the top 10 states in money brought in through the aviation industry.”

Springfield city officials signed a 45-year agreement with Spectra Jet last year that allowed the company to build additional ramp space. Company officials have said they also have plans to expand existing hangar space and build a two-story administrative office.

The company was made up of only two employees around 2003 when it started, but has steadily grown and had more than 20 employees as recently as last year.

Along with Spectra Jet, the Springfield municipal airport also provides a home to various other businesses, including unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer SelectTech Geospatial and Champion City Aviation, which offers flight instruction classes.

The Springfield airport sees about 45,000 take-offs and landings a year, a figure that’s up moderately from a few years ago when the airport saw closer to 35,000 to 40,000 of those activities.

Original article  ➤ http://www.springfieldnewssun.com

The market for corporate aircraft is showing signs of life after a long slump: Why General Dynamics is the way to play it



The business-jet market, which has struggled since the Great Recession, is showing signs of a comeback. While that potentially could benefit the entire industry, the plane maker that offers the most promise to investors appears to be General Dynamics, whose Gulfstream models are among the most popular corporate jets.

The other major players include Textron, which owns the Cessna franchise; Embraer (ERJ), the Brazilian upstart that has made inroads at the lower end of the market with its Phenom planes; and Canada’s Bombardier, whose products include the Learjet.

In August, U.S. takeoffs and landings by business jets increased 5.7% year over year, the biggest rise since September 2014, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. July’s activity was much softer, but increases in the previous four months averaged 3.5%. “The strong August could set up the next couple of months for solid growth, and we now see 2017 utilization up close to 3.5%,” analyst Myles Walton of Deutsche Bank Markets Research wrote recently.

Although the fundamentals are improving, 2017 aircraft deliveries are expected to be only flattish with last year’s, which were down 8% from 2015’s 616. The industry took a symbolic hit recently when General Electric (GE) announced that it would ground its fleet of corporate jets to cut costs, and instead use charter flights. In addition, demand in emerging markets, including China, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, which helped fuel sales earlier in the decade, has been weak, although it has stabilized lately.

Nonetheless, the long-term outlook “is better than at any time post–financial crisis,” says Drew Lipke, an analyst at Stephens who sees a recovery becoming more apparent in 2019, although he doesn’t have a specific sales forecast.

Annual business-jet deliveries peaked in 2008 at 1,317 planes, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association trade group. Since then, consistent growth has been elusive, in part because of a glut of used jets that hurt both resale values and prices of new jets.

THE GLUT IS GRADUALLY shrinking. “The rate of pricing decline in the used market has become more rational and more predictable,” says David Strauss, an analyst at UBS (and no relation to the author of this article). In line with that, in this year’s first six months, 10.8% of all business jets were for sale, about a percentage point less than the level a year earlier, according to Jetnet, an aviation consultancy. At its worst, in 2009, during the financial crisis, the tally topped 16%.

General Dynamics’ (GD) Gulfstream models have done relatively well during the industry slump. The G650 aircraft, which can fly up to 7,000 nautical miles and seat 19 passengers, “has been a key driver that’s allowed them to come through this downturn fairly well,” says Strauss. New G650 models sell in the $60 million range. Last year, Gulfstream shipped 115 business jets; in this year’s first half, 60.

General Dynamics’ aerospace business is reasonably diversified, with about 20% of its $8.4 billion in sales last year coming from services, including maintenance. The parent company also does a lot of business with the Department of Defense, which accounted for half of its $30.9 billion of overall sales last year—providing ballast until the business-jet market rebounds.

While the stock fetches 19.5 times the $10.53 a share that General Dynamics is expected to earn next year, it’s “definitely not pricing in a recovery of Gulfstream,” says Strauss, who thinks the shares, recently at $205, could hit $240 in 12 months.

Textron got about 25%, or $3.4 billion, of its revenue from business-aircraft sales last year. In 2015, the company launched its Cessna Citation Latitude, a midsize jet that can fly 2,700 miles. A more advanced plane, the Longitude, is expected to be rolled out soon.

Analysts anticipate that Textron, whose products include Bell helicopters, will earn $2.52 a share this year, about 10 cents below 2016’s profits, and $2.92 next year. At a recent $53 and change, the shares were fetching 18.8 times forward earnings, well above their average over the past decade, according to FactSet. Lipke of Stephens rates the stock Equal Weight, in part, he says, because “there’s already a lot baked into expectations.” That means potential buyers would be wise to wait for a pullback before pulling the trigger.

THE MAIN TRADING arena for Bombardier shares is Toronto, although shares also trade over the counter in the U.S. under the symbol BDRBF. Business jets account for about 35% of its sales.

But Bombardier, which has received help from the Quebec provincial and federal governments in Canada, faces stiff headwinds. It has a heavy long-term debt load—$8.8 billion, as of June 30. And its costly C Series regional passenger-jet program, aimed at challenging Boeing and Airbus single-aisle jets, got some bad news last week when U.S. trade officials said they would impose a large tariff on any new sales to U.S. airlines. The stock lost 7.5% of its value on Sept. 27 alone.

As for Embraer, it has made considerable headway in business jets and “is now considered an established player,” says Deutsche Bank’s Walton. Last year, it delivered 117 jets, 63 of which were its Phenom 300 model. It also sold more than 40 of its Legacy models, which are bigger, more expensive, and can fly farther than the Phenoms.

But because Embraer is relatively new to this market, it doesn’t have the base of existing planes for servicing and spare parts that rivals do. That makes its operations less profitable—although the situation will improve over time. The company, which made $1.58 a share last year, is expected to earn $1.71 this year. Throw in worries about Brazil, however, which has struggled with a deep recession and political corruption, and its stock doesn’t look likely to fly too high anytime soon. 

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.barrons.com

Clemens Kuhlig: After 40 years, Central Georgia man finally lands dream job as air show pilot



Middle Georgia State University's 3rd annual Heart of Georgia Airshow took off in Eastman on Saturday.

Eight airshow acts took to the skies to show how their tricks are reaching new heights.

Nicole Butler went to talk with one of the pilots about his journey and how he finally landed his dream job.

Clemens Kuhlig remembers back to his first air show.

At 8-years-old, he watched as the planes did loops and nosedives, and says that was the day his dreams really took off.

"And then I was lucky enough to get a ride with one of the airshow performers in his pits by-plane and that was really the defining moment," Kuhlig said.

But as time flew by, Kuhlig realized his dream job was slipping farther away.

"Life takes you in different places, but in the back of my mind it was always a goal to be an airshow pilot," he said.

Working as a chef, he saved up money for almost 40 years and little by little he pieced together this plane, taking his dream to new heights.

"It makes it that much sweeter doesn't it? That you have to work so hard for it for so long," Kuhlig said.

Four years ago, he finally landed his dream job and says being up in the sky is a feeling like no other.

"When you're diving in there's nothing else that's going on in your life. And that's the most fun because you're going backwards and the smoke is all around you," Kuhlig said.

With everything looking up, he has some words of wisdom for all of the young, aspiring pilots.

"Any goal that you have…if you just keep working at, it can be done. You can find a way and I'm proof of that for sure," Kuhlig said.

Middle Georgia State University senior pilot Brittany Adams says watching the air show is inspiring.

"So just doing some rolls and flips really, really excited me," she exclaimed.

Adams works hard every day to perfect her flight and is looking forward to what the future holds.

"It's like muscle memory at this point, so it's really neat to do something every day that I love and be able to keep learning with it and know that I will be able to do it for the rest of my life," Adams said.

Middle Georgia State University has about 448 students in their school of aviation and it's continuing to grow.

Many students said it was inspiring to watch all 8 acts take to the skies and think one day they'll be up there too.

Story and video ➤ http://www.13wmaz.com

This South Carolina county Sheriff’s Office couldn’t afford a helicopter, so they bought a couple of these instead

GAFFNEY, S.C. (AP) — A sheriff’s office in a smaller South Carolina county says it is buying two drones to help them keep an eye on situations from the sky.

Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller says the drones can help hunt down suspects on the run, monitor crowds and large events and even get information about shooters or other dangerous criminals in public places without risking officers’ lives.

Muller says most of the money for the drones came from an annual $15,000 grant from Duke Energy.

The sheriff says his county of 56,000 people doesn’t have enough money for a helicopter, so the drones are game changers for his deputies.

Muller told media outlets money seized from drug suspects will pay to train deputies to use the drones.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://wsav.com

Fatal accident occurred September 30, 2017 in Malibu, Los Angeles County, California

MALIBU (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say a man has died after jumping from a helicopter into the ocean off the coast of Malibu.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the pilot of a Robinson R22 chopper reports that a passenger jumped from the aircraft about a mile south of the Malibu pier shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday.

CBS2 News found the helicopter was chartered out of Star Helicopters at Hawthorne Municipal Airport.

The doors of the helicopter had been taken off for a photo shoot.

The pilot told investigators the man jumped out of the rotorcraft 45 minutes into the flight.

The lead detective in the case told CBS2 the pilot tilted the helicopter and tried to grab the 42-year-old man to prevent him from jumping, but that he had to eventually stabilize the aircraft.

Malibu Council Member Jefferson Wagner was on the nearby pier when the incident happened.

“That’s what alerted my attention, when I saw it circling, going over the area a few times,” Wagner told CBS2 News.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department says the man’s heart wasn’t beating when lifeguards rescued him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man’s name hasn’t been released. There’s no word on why he jumped or how far he fell.

Story and video:  http://losangeles.cbslocal.com

MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- A man died after jumping from a private helicopter into Malibu waters on Saturday, authorities said.

The incident happened around 1:20 p.m. near the 23000 block of Pacific Coast Highway.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot of a Robinson R22 chopper reported that a passenger jumped from the aircraft about a mile from the Malibu pier.

A lifeguard who has been on the job for decades said he paddled out to rescue the man, but the victim did not have a pulse. The man was taken to the pier, where he was pronounced dead by paramedics, officials said.

Malibu Councilman Jefferson Wagner said he spoke with investigators who also told him that the man had leapt out of the chopper.

Wagner said the helicopter was leased from Hawthorne Airport and the pilot then landed in Santa Monica to report what had happened.

Surfers and beachgoers noticed a helicopter that had been circling and hovering for several minutes, making them realized that wasn't typical behavior.

"Right as we got out, there was a lifeguard truck that was zooming right to the top at third point and then they deployed the surfboards and were able to paddle out to this person," witness Chris Finck said.

Anyone with more information was urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous may contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Story and video:  http://abc7.com

Cessna 172L Skyhawk, N7070Q, registered to Peach Flyers LLC and operated by the pilot: Fatal accident occurred September 22, 2017 near Ernest A. Love Field Airport (KPRC), Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona

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

Peach Flyers LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N7070Q

NTSB Identification: WPR17FA213
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, September 22, 2017 in Perkinsville, AZ
Aircraft: CESSNA 172L, registration: N7070Q
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

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

On September 22, 2017, about 1634 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172L, N7070Q, collided with mountainous terrain near Perkinsville, Arizona. The private pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed by post impact fire. The airplane was registered to Peach Flyers LLC., and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The local flight departed Ernest A Love Field Airport, Prescott, Arizona, at 1621. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.

On the day of the accident, the pilot told his father that he was planning to fly with his friend, the passenger, and stay in the traffic pattern at Prescott performing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings.

Preliminary radar and audio data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that on the day of the accident, after making contact with Prescott ground controllers, the pilot switched to the tower frequency, and requested a departure to the northeast. The clearance was granted, and after taking off from runway 21R, a radar target which was presumed to be that of the accident airplane, entered the right downwind traffic pattern and departed to the northeast (Image 1). Over the next 2 ½ minutes the target climbed to an altitude of 7,175 ft mean sea level (about 2,100 ft above field elevation), leveling off 2.75 miles northeast of the airport.

For the next 8 minutes, the target began a gradual descent, while maintaining the northeast track. The last target was recorded at 1632:47, at an altitude of 4,550 ft, above the Verde River, and about 1,500 ft west of the entrance to Verde Canyon. The canyon followed the meandering path of the river to the east.

The following morning, family and friends of the pilot became concerned when they had not heard from him since the night before. They alerted the local Sheriff's department, and at 1108 the FAA issued an Alert Notice (ALNOT). The Sheriff's department initiated a search, and the wreckage was located by a captain from the air support unit at about 1300. The airplane was equipped with an emergency locator transmitter (ELT), and the captain stated that although he was performing grid searches southwest of the accident site for about 3 hours, he did not hear the ELT signal until he was almost directly over the wreckage site.

The wreckage was located on the north face of the canyon wall, at an elevation of 4,290 ft msl, about 200 ft below the canyon top, and 1.8 miles east-southeast of the last recorded radar target (Image 2). The airplane had come to rest inverted, with the cabin on a heading of about 030° magnetic. The tailcone had rotated 90° to the airplanes right, and fire had consumed the main cabin, and most of the left wing; the right wing and empennage remained largely undamaged.

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov 

Spencer Kihlstrom

Jeremiah Gene Linnertz 


Obituary: Jeremiah Gene Linnertz
    
Jeremiah Gene Linnertz, 1998-2017, 19 years of age. Plane Crash, Gone but never forgotten. Jeremy would like you to know that his work here on earth is done. He received a call, an offer that he could not refuse. This offer came with great rewards and a promised reunion with his beloved Grandpa Windsor. Jeremy was given the gift of life and now has been asked to give it back. This was hard but the call was made and in Jeremy’s true spirit, he did not refuse. 

Jeremy is survived by his mother, Wendy Windsor, and his father, Jeffrey Linnertz; his 4-month-old son, William James Linnertz; his 14-month-old daughter through love, Annabelle Jean Simpson; three loving brothers, Joey Linnertz, Nicholas Windsor and Cameron Rockey; two loving sisters, Michaela Alanis and Gianna “Anna” Rodriquez; his loving grandparents, Ron Linnertz, Sandra Tredway, Janice Antes and Randy Robinson; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends, who have been left with large holes in their hearts. 

Jeremy’s family asks that you spend time with your children, take a walk with your loved ones and make a toast while listening to good music to enduring friendships, lifelong and beyond. This is what Jeremy would wish for you. 

A celebration of Jeremy’s life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at 11 a.m., at the Chino Valley United Methodist Church, 735 E. Road 1 South in Chino Valley, Arizona. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Jeremy’s “GoFundMe Account” www.gofundme.com/linnertz-family-fund?d=186239676 

Arrangements entrusted to Chino Valley Funeral Home, on Palomino, in Chino Valley, Arizona.

Information provided by survivors.

https://www.dcourier.com

Jeremiah Linnertz (left) and Spencer Kihlstrom during an earlier flight. The two died over the weekend after the plane they were flying in crashed east of Paulden.



Two Chino Valley teens died following a small plane crash near Paulden over the weekend.

The wreckage of the airplane was discovered on Saturday, Sept. 23, several miles east of Paulden and Spencer Kihlstrom and Jeremiah Linnertz, both 19, were found dead at the scene, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.

Kihlstrom’s Facebook page indicated he was studying aviation, nearing completion of the operations and management program, at Yavapai College, was a graduate of Chino Valley High School and worked at Thumb Butte Bed and Breakfast. Linnertz worked at Cushman & Wakefield and graduated from Chino Valley High School as well, according to his Facebook page.

Kaytlin Stevens said she went to school with both Kihlstrom and Linnertz. It’s unreal what happened, Stevens said.

“They were both really kind,” she said, noting that neither of them stuck to specific groups of friends.

Kihlstrom was just a really nice person and Linnertz was very family oriented, Stevens said, remarking he leaves behind a baby girl and a child on the way. He was constantly posting about his daughter, she said.

Kihlstrom’s kindness is what everybody loved about him the most, said girlfriend Sammi Falls, describing him as kind, smart, funny and a great person and guy in general who worked harder than most.

“He accomplished so much in so little time,” Falls said. “He was everything to me … he changed my life and made me a better person.”

Kihlstrom strove to make everyone around him a better person, which shows what kind of person he was, she said.

Allen Foster, CTE/Drafting teacher at Chino Valley High School said he taught the two of them in his drafting class, remarking it’s “sad to see them pass so young.”

The Cessna 172L Skyhawk had been missing for 24 hours with the Sheriff’s Office being notified of a possible missing aircraft based out of the Prescott airport at about 11 a.m. Saturday. Electronic tracking efforts began immediately said YCSO Spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn.

Surrounding local airports were checked without success and YCSO’s Rescue 1 helicopter was in the air searching as well. According to D’Evelyn, Rescue One spotted the downed aircraft near Perkinsville Ranch Land aided by cellphone tracking and confirmation from the plane’s Emergency Locator Transmitter. Initial overflight indicated the two did not survive the crash, confirmed when ground crews arrived on the scene.

Search and rescue crews worked with YCSO’s Forest Patrol on Saturday night to recover the bodies, aided by DPS Rangers due to the rugged terrain.

Original article can be found here ➤  https://www.cvrnews.com

UPDATE - SUBJECTS IDENTIFIED ..

The deceased have been identified as Spencer Kihlstrom, 19, and Jeremiah Linnertz, 19, both from Chino Valley.


Our condolences to the families.....

Media Release 
Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
Scott Mascher – Sheriff
255 E. Gurley Street, Prescott, AZ 86301
Dwight D’Evelyn - Media Coordinator 

September 23, 2017

Private Plane Crash Located – 2 Deceased 


PRELIMINARY INFORMATION – At approximately 11 AM today, the Sheriff’s Office was notified of a possible missing aircraft based out of the Prescott airport. It had been at least 24 hours since last contact with the pilot. Electronic tracking efforts were initiated immediately. Just before noon, a confirmed missing aircraft report was issued by airport authorities identifying a single engine Cessna. Assisted by the Department of Public Safety, personnel checked all surrounding local airports without success. By now, YCSO’s Rescue 1 helicopter was in the air searching. Reports indicated 2 men occupied the plane.


Just before 1 PM, aided by cell phone tracking and confirmation from the plane’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), Rescue 1 spotted the downed aircraft near Perkinsville Ranch land, several miles east of Paulden, Arizona. During the initial over flight, it appeared the 2 male adults did not survive the crash. Ground crews eventually arrived and confirmed that both adults were deceased.


Search and Rescue crews, working with YCSO’s Forest Patrol deputies, are currently in the process of recovering the bodies. DPS Ranger is aiding this effort due to the rugged terrain. 


Identities of the plane’s occupants will be released once family notifications have been completed.


No further details available at this time.

=======

Spencer Kihlstrom, 19, and Jeremiah Linnertz, 19, both from Chino Valley, have been identified as the victims in deadly plane crash near the Prescott Airport.

At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a possible missing aircraft based out of the Prescott airport. It had been at least 24 hours since last contact with the pilot. Electronic tracking efforts were initiated immediately. Just before noon, a confirmed missing aircraft report was issued by airport authorities identifying a single engine Cessna. Assisted by the Department of Public Safety, personnel checked all surrounding local airports without success.


Just before 1:00 p.m., aided by cell phone tracking and confirmation from the plane’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), Rescue 1 spotted the downed aircraft near Perkinsville Ranch land, several miles east of Paulden, Arizona. Ground crews eventually arrived and confirmed that both young men were deceased.


Original article ➤ https://arizonadailyindependent.com


Two men were killed in a plane crash Friday morning after taking off from the Prescott airport, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.


Officials have not released the identities of those in the plane, and the investigation is ongoing. 


According to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, officials were notified Saturday morning of a single-engine Cessna that had been missing for at least 24 hours. 


A search was initiated. Just before 1 p.m. Saturday, the Sheriff's Office's rescue helicopter located the plane with the help of cell phone tracking and the plane's Emergency Locator Transmitter near Perkinsville Ranch several miles east of Paulden.


Officials arrived at the crash site and confirmed both men had been killed. Search and rescue crews Saturday night were still working to recover the bodies due to the rugged terrain in the area, according to the Sheriff's Office.


Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.azcentral.com


Missing aircraft located near Perkinsville Ranch land.


At approximately 11 AM today, the Sheriff’s Office was notified of a possible missing aircraft based out of the Prescott airport. It had been at least 24 hours since last contact with the pilot. Electronic tracking efforts were initiated immediately. Just before noon, a confirmed missing aircraft report was issued by airport authorities identifying a single engine Cessna. Assisted by the Department of Public Safety, personnel checked all surrounding local airports without success. By now, YCSO’s Rescue 1 helicopter was in the air searching. Reports indicated 2 men occupied the plane.


Just before 1 PM, aided by cell phone tracking and confirmation from the plane’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), Rescue 1 spotted the downed aircraft near Perkinsville Ranch land, several miles east of Paulden, Arizona. During the initial overflight, it appeared the 2 male adults did not survive the crash. Ground crews eventually arrived and confirmed that both adults were deceased.


The deceased have been identified as Spencer Kihlstrom, 19, and Jeremiah Linnertz, 19, both from Chino Valley. The families have been notified.


Search and Rescue crews, working with YCSO’s Forest Patrol deputies, are currently in the process of recovering the bodies. DPS Ranger is aiding this effort due to the rugged terrain.


Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.prescottenews.com


Editor:

As a parent who lost my 15-year-old daughter in a car accident, my heart goes out to the families of the two young men lost this week in an airplane.

As a retired pilot of fifty years flying small airplanes, my heart aches over any incident involving the joy of flight. During my flying days, I owned many airplanes and had moments of stress which were met with training and experience.

Today, I am far more nervous for my son who flies an airliner than I ever was in my own little plane, which can be landed on a road, or pasture or any reasonably open field.

The trick is to be ready for any problem, an engine failure, smoke in the cockpit, or anything unusual. We trained to recognize bad air conditions or an inadvertent loss of lift due to a steep turn when looking at something on the ground, or become silent gliders.

Seldom do airplanes come apart or just fall from the sky.

The cause of this recent local tragedy may never be known, but the loss of these two young aviators will never be forgotten.

Bette Bach Fineman
Montezuma Airpark
Camp Verde 

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.verdenews.com

They've collected tons of supplies for Puerto Rico, but they can't get a plane to deliver them



TAMPA — More than 100 tons of food and water sat in a packed hangar this weekend waiting to be flown to Puerto Rico.

There are more warehouses just like this one across the bay area, stocked with diapers, food, generators and bottled water donated by Floridians to ease the suffering of millions. Volunteers on the devastated American territory are waiting, already coordinating with churches to ensure the so desperately needed goods go to the right people.

The only thing missing is the actual plane to deliver the supplies.

Volunteers say a mess of bureaucracy and false promises from a private charter company have left them exhausted, frustrated and desperate to get the items they've collected to the struggling island that was devastated by Hurricane Maria on Sept. 20.

"I've started to reach out to every celebrity I can think of," said Yvette Cowdrey, a former station manager for Frontier Airlines who volunteered to help organize the effort. "We are not looking for a handout, just for a connection. We have people in Puerto Rico waiting on us."

For nearly a week, volunteers say the Peruvian company that was supposed to come to ferry the supplies in a DC-8 hasn't shown up. They said delays caused by complicated regulations and unforeseen circumstances has stalled the relief effort.

"We have three warehouses filled with donations," Cowdrey said, "and the donations are still coming in. We are running out of space for it."

The DC-8 can hold the equivalent of 108 wooden pallets of supplies. The plan was to fly it back and forth from Tampa International Airport until all the supplies had been dropped off. The plane is just a few hours away in Greensboro, N.C., organizers said.

It was supposed to land on Monday. They were told on Saturday it would be coming that day, but some were losing faith in that ever happening.

"I hope we're not getting scammed," said Thomas Black, who owns T Black Aviation in Clearwater.

Black, who served in the Air Force for 23 years, said he's even contacted the Puerto Rican National Guard to see if it could fly in C-130 transport planes to pick up the supplies.

"They haven't said no, they just have to get authorization," Black said.

He's not sure how long that will take.

Organizer Max Chesler, a dispatcher who specializes in logistics for Menzies Airlines and is volunteering to help the effort, got off the phone Friday night with the charter company and relayed the latest delay from North Carolina.

"Now they are saying they can't fly to Puerto Rico because one of the crew members doesn't speak Spanish," Chesler said to a half dozen volunteers at the Pemco World Air Services hangar at Tampa International.

There has also been confusion about exactly what has been holding up the plane.

At one point some organizers thought the Jones Act, the 1920 regulation that requires goods be shipped from one American port to another with American crews and vessels, hampered the relief flights to San Juan. But others weren't sure if it applied to aircraft, and on Thursday the Trump administration waived that rule for Puerto Rico anyway.

Other volunteers believed that still more permits needed to be worked out, but none could explain those issues in detail.

For Cowdrey, who was born in Mayaguez and lived on the island for 20 years, the delays are heart wrenching.

"I've got family on the east and west sides of the island," she said. "My mom is in Río Piedras. I'm worried about her."

She hopes one of the celebrities she's tried to reach over social media might heed her pleas to help secure a plane. She has faith something will come through soon and continues to organize and collect supplies.

Her latest request? Adult bicycles, so people can travel despite gas shortages.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.tampabay.com

Cessna 172L Skyhawk, N3984Q: Incident occurred September 30, 2017 at Chandelle Estates Airport (0N4), Dover, Kent County, Delaware

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 Aircraft on landing, went off the end of the runway onto a road.

http://registry.faa.gov/N3984Q

Date: 30-SEP-17
Time: 15:00:00Z
Regis#: N3984Q
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: C172
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: DOVER
State: DELAWARE







DOVER, Del. - The Delaware State Police were called to respond to an incident Saturday in which a small aircraft overshot a runway.

Around 10:22 a.m. the pilot of a Cessna 172L Skyhawk called 911 to report that the aircraft had overshot the runway at Chandelle Estates Airport.

Troopers and DelDOT personnel responded to the scene where they found the small aircraft in the middle of Bayside Drive (SR9) between Silver Leaf Lane and White Oak Road.

The pilot and one passenger were uninjured, but the plane sustained damage to the prop and front landing gear.

SR9 between Silver Leaf Drive and White Oak Road was closed for approximately an hour and a half while the plane was removed from the roadway.

The investigation into this incident has been turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.delawareonline.com



A small airplane overshot the runway at Chandelle Estates Airport near Dover late Saturday morning and ended up on Del. 9.

Neither the pilot nor a passenger on board was injured, according to Delaware State Police Master Cpl. Gary Fournier.

The plane reportedly was attempting to land in gusty winds when it failed to come to a stop. The aircraft has been described by witnesses as a Cessna 172L Skyhawk.

Fournier said the plane's propeller and front landing gear of the plane sustained some damage in the mishap.

Del. 9 between Silver Leaf Drive and White Oak Road was closed for about 90 minutes while the plane was removed from the roadway.

The investigation has been turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration, Fournier said.

Chandelle Estates Airport at 114 Kruser Blvd. is a privately owned facility northeast of Dover that is open to the public. The airport has a 2,500-foot runway but does not provide traffic control services, according to the FAA website.

The airport is located less than 5 miles from Dover International Speedway where the NASCAR Xfinity Series race is set to being at 2:45 p.m. Saturday.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.delawareonline.com

New Airline at Hollywood Burbank / Bob Hope Airport (KBUR), Los Angeles County, California

Mokulele Airlines will begin daily flights from Hollywood Burbank Airport to the Central Coast beginning Oct. 3.

The airline based in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii is the first new scheduled carrier at the San Fernando Valley’s only commercial airfield in about four years.

Mokulele will have two daily nonstop flights to Santa Maria Public Airport and two back to Burbank starting Oct. 3. These flights replace those flying to Santa Maria from Los Angeles International Airport.

The airline uses 9-passenger Cessna 208 EX Grand Caravan turboprop aircraft flown by two pilots.

The last new commercial airline to fly out of Hollywood Burbank was SeaPort Airlines Inc., whose service lasted from 2013 to January 2016. The airline flew between Burbank and El Centro, San Diego and Visalia. 

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.sfvbj.com

Elizabeth City Regional Airport / Coast Guard Air Station (KECG), Pasquotank County, North Carolina: $2.5M impact if runway closes

Coast Guardsman Chris Fisher (left) and Ryan Miller perform a preflight check on a Piper Warrior airplane at Elizabeth City Regional Airport, Friday. A new report by the airport manager estimates the economic impact from the U.S. Coast Guard's temporary closing of its primary runway for maintenance could be $2.5 million. The Coast Guard has said the runway isn't likely to be closed until at least 2018. 



The U.S. Coast Guard's plans to close Base Elizabeth City's primary runway for maintenance work could have a $2.5 million impact on the local economy, most of it in lost business to a contractor based at Elizabeth City Regional Airport, a new report shows.

If the Coast Guard replaces lighting along Runway 10-28 without a backup runway in place, it could cost the Telephonics Corporation more than $2.1 million, according to a memo Airport Manager Gordon Rowell shared with the Airport Authority during the board’s meeting Wednesday.

Telephonics specializes in aircraft communication systems and other electronics, and provides repair and support services to customers, including the Coast Guard's Aviation Logistics Center, based on a 2010 report from the company.

Telephonics officials declined to comment on the report’s findings.

The runway closure could also cost the airport and Elizabeth State University each about $130,000, Rowell reported, citing loss of fuel sales and hangar rentals for the airport and disrupted flight instruction for ECSU.

Rowell also reported the closure could cost the airport its on-site mechanic, John Sanders, and a newly signed-on flight school, the Navy Annapolis Flight Center. Losing Sanders and the NAFC could in turn cost the airport business, because pilots who use their services would use other airports.

Base Cmdr. Randy Meador was absent from Wednesday’s Airport Authority meeting. However, he's previously reported the Coast Guard may not start the runway project until 2020 or later.

Airport officials are hoping that window gives the airport enough time to lease Base Elizabeth City's secondary runway, 1-19. That runway is badly deteriorated and currently is closed even to light-weight civilian aircraft.

The state of North Carolina is willing to pay for fixing 1-19, given the Elizabeth City Regional Airport's operations are important to the regional economy. However, airport officials have explained the state will only fund those costly improvements if the Coast Guard provides a long-term lease for 1-19. That ensures the state's investment will continue to benefit public aviation.

Rowell said he’s hopeful his economic impact statement will bolster the case for granting the lease.

Meador has said he strongly supports the lease, but Rowell said Wednesday it remains under review by higher-ranking Coast Guard officers. It's unclear when they'll make a decision, he said.

Story and photo gallery ➤ http://www.dailyadvance.com

Greeneville-Greene County Municipal (KGCY), Tennessee: Airport Doesn't Need A Manager

The Greeneville-Greene County Airport Authority’s problem with finding an airport manager is ridiculous.

The airport has a low daily air traffic count, and the only revenue that comes in is from the “T” hangars and several large hangars used by Sky Knight Aviation. Some money comes in from jet and aviation fuel sales.

The Town of Greeneville and Greene County cannot afford paying an airport manager $100,000 a year in salary. A secretary can handle the paperwork, and the Airport Authority can handle any major problems till a large company decides to locate their business aircraft here and other businesses locate on the field.

I don’t see a need for now for a manager.

The FBO manager handles most of the small business transactions as for now.

This is my opinion and I pay my hangar rent on time.

Jerry Hope

River Village Lane

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.greenevillesun.com

Private investigator helps recover airplane wreck: Zenair CH 601 HDS Zodiac, N4263

Brian West, a private investigator based in Jacksonville, recently helped lead efforts to recover wreckage from a plane crash in Lake Palestine.

“I was contacted about 9 months ago to see if I could remove a plane from lake Palestine,” Brian wrote in an email to the Progress. “The pilot and owner of the plane had been in the hospital for about six months as a the result of the crash. His son, who was also in the plane, swam away with only a sprained ankle and wrist.”

The incident occurred when the pilot made too steep of a turn and the left wing went into an accelerated stall. This caused the airplane to roll and hit the water at a slight angle with the left wing down. The plane hit the water at about 135 mph and roughly a 30 degree downward angle. Both occupants of the plane survived.

West said that the insurance company was not interested in recovering the wreck and decided not to pay for the plane. The owner of the plane could have faced fines from the river authority for not having the wreck removed, and his funds were exhausted from medical expenses. West took the case for free to help out.

“After several months of record searches and interviews with those involved we were able to finally get accurate coordinates for the wreck from an eyewitness and sonar sweeps were able to confirm thew site of the wreck,” wrote West. “We performed several dives to determine the bottom conditions and planned accordingly. We partnered with the International Alert Academy from Big Sandy and coordinated boats from local volunteers, and as a joint operation between Summit Investigations and the Academy were able to bring up the wreck.”

The plane had been damaged so severely salvage is not possible. 

The wreck will be scrapped, according to West, save for a few less specific components that can be cleaned and reused.

Original article ➤ http://www.jacksonvilleprogress.com

Photo gallery ➤  http://summitiandi.com/photos

About three years after a fixed wing, single-engine plane carrying an East Texas man and his son crashed into Lake Palestine, a local private investigator and a scuba diving team have recovered the plane.

On Monday, private investigator Brian West, owner of Summit Investigations and Imaging, a full criminal and civil investigation agency that specializes in underwater, and scuba divers from the International Alert Academy worked to pull the plane out of the lake.

The plane crashed in July of 2014 after the left wing stalled.

The plane hit the water at going more than 120 miles per hour, West said. The pilot spent six to eight months in the hospital with a compound fracture in his right leg, while his son sustained a sprained wrist and ankle, West added.

“Eyewitnesses said he crashed about 50 feet behind a cigar boat that was going in the water,” he said. “They are both lucky to be alive.”

After the accident, West was hired to retrieve the plane. He said it took several months for him to locate the plane because he'd been given several different coordinates for where the plane had gone down. Once he knew the location, he was able to work on a game plan.

The plane was located about one a quarter mile northeast of the dam at Lake Palestine, near the lake's center, West said.

The project required high-powered lights, a 500-pound lift bag, a boat that helped pull the plane and other equipment.

West said the divers, who were led by Captains Mike Harmon and Mike Gast, worked in just about zero visibility while underwater and had to go by feel to attach the equipment that pulled the plane out of the lake.

About eight hours later, the group’s efforts were successful.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.tylerpaper.com

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

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

Investigation Docket - - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

http://registry.faa.gov/N4263

NTSB Identification: CEN14LA342
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, July 04, 2014 in Frankston, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/09/2015
Aircraft: SLAUGHTER MIKE CH601-HDS, registration: N4263
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot and passenger were returning home after attending a fly-in at another airport. The passenger reported that, during the descent to land, the pilot spotted a boat on the lake that they were overflying and began to follow it at low altitude. The pilot then made a steep turn, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. The pilot then lost airplane control, and the airplane subsequently impacted the water. The pilot and passenger were rescued by nearby boaters. The airplane wreckage was not recovered from the water; neither the pilot nor passenger reported any anomalies with the airplane before the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to make a steep turn at low altitude.

On July 4, 2014, at 1405 central daylight time, a Slaughter CH601-HDS ultralight airplane, N4263, impacted Lake Palestine, Texas, near Frankston, Texas, while maneuvering at low altitude. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Mineola Airport (3F9), Mineola, Texas, and was en route to Aero Estates Airpark (T25), Frankston, Texas.

According to statements provided to FAA Inspectors and law enforcement officers, the pilot and his son were returning to T25 after attending a fly-in at 3F9. The son said that during their descent to T25, the pilot spotted a boat and began to follow it at low altitude. The pilot then made a steep turn and stalled the airplane, lost control, and impacted the water. The pilot and passenger were rescued by nearby boaters.

The wreckage remained in the lake and was not available for examination. Neither occupant indicated there were any system malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident and indicated fuel exhaustion did not occur.