Tuesday, June 06, 2017

Howard Rogers: Pilot’s passion helps create memorable advertising

Howard Rogers takes to the skies to help others advertise.


MODESTO — For nearly two decades, Howard Rogers has taken to the skies to advertise for various Central Valley businesses.

At just under 2,000 feet in the air, Rogers’ billboard can be seen by tens of thousands on any given weekend.

Rogers began flying more than four decades ago. His family instilled in him a passion for aviation at a young age. He’d play with toy airplanes, he recalled, and while growing up in Hughson, he watched aircraft from Castle Air Force Base in Atwater.

His uncle – a pilot – was of particular influence to him.

“If he had time to breathe, he had time to fly,” Rogers said.

The adventure of flying drove Rogers’ passion. At 16 years old, he received his pilot’s license. A friend later introduced him to aerial advertising, he said, “It looked like a lot of fun. I [was] up for anything new, and gave it a shot.”

So, he obtained certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, and in 2000, founded California Aero Sports and Sky Ads. Since then, the Modesto-based business has provided advertisements for such companies as Apple, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Robert’s Auto in Modesto and multiple other local and international brands.

Each weekend, when conditions are right, Rogers flies his Cessna 188, a lightweight, single-passenger plane, with a billboard in tow. He flies up to altitudes ranging from 1,500-1,900 feet.

California Aero Sports and Sky Ads provide billboards via a separate company, located in Florida. The Federal Aviation Administration certifies the aircraft to tow the signs, which are approximately 75 feet wide and 150 feet long.

The process of towing a billboard is challenging, said Rogers. It can be physically demanding before takeoff and while in the air.

Rogers said he usually prepares for a flight a day in advance. The process can take up to two hours to set up. “We have to check the airplane out, fix anything, [and] fuel up.”

Then, the billboard (which features the advertisement) is loaded onto a truck, and taken to the runway where it’s unfolded, and attached to a 400-foot line between two poles.

This line, said ground crew member Donna Rogers, is then fastened to two poles. After takeoff, a hook attached to the aircraft catches the line. As the plane climbs in altitude, it begins to tow the billboard.

Of course, the job comes with its risks. But Howard Rogers is “an instinctive pilot with a lot of experience, and doesn’t get rattled,” Donna Rogers said.

Once in the air, Howard Rogers flies for about two hours. Typical flight paths include Modesto, Riverbank, Ripon, Waterford, Patterson and Turlock.

“If flight conditions are really good, I love it. When it’s bad, it wears you out,” Howard Rogers said, referring to the Central Valley’s particularly turbulent atmospheric conditions.

Howard Rogers’ career has taken him around the U.S., and to Central and South America. He’s advertised above Lake Havasu during spring break, and over the Panama Canal.

In the years following the 2007 economic crisis, Howard Rogers said business has declined. His services have become somewhat of a novelty. Aerial advertising, which has been around since the 1930s, is a dying industry, he said.

With the invention of the internet, advertising went digital. This evolution, Howard Rogers said, has hit his industry hard.

However unconventional, this marketing strategy can be highly impactful and cost effective for dedicated businesses seeking large audience … especially car dealerships, or online and tech companies, Howard Rogers explained.

Each hour he flies, Howard Rogers exposes more than 20,000 to the billboard in tow. “If you’re paying $450 an hour, that’s .45 cents per thousand,” he said.

That number can be much higher, depending on the time and place – like the mall during the holidays, or during rush hour traffic on Fridays.

“You can read an ad in magazine, but when you see a showing like [an aerial ad], people seem to enjoy it more,” Howard Rogers said. It resonates.

In fact, according to an Arnold Aerial Advertising study, “88 percent of people remembered seeing [an] airplane aerial banner go by after 30 minutes; 79 percent could remember the product or service being advertised; [and] 67 percent retained at least half the message from the aerial ad.”

Dennis Noland, co-owner of Robert’s Auto in Modesto, said this form of advertising shows results.

The dealership has worked with Howard Rogers for 15 years. In this time span, Noland said the business has received a high customer response rate.

“The customers always mention the plane,” Noland said.

This form of marketing fits the dealership’s business philosophy. Robert’s Auto mostly advertises by word of mouth, and does not push sales, Noland said. The aircraft acts as a constant reminder “that we are around.”

It is the consistency of their aerial ads that have benefited the dealership, Noland added, “The plane is almost synonymous with Robert’s Auto.”

“It gives us an exclusive feel,” he said, “It’s something different.”

Noland said that the number of ads people are exposed to everyday is staggering. “In the world of visual bombardment, it’s neat to have unique way to [get someone’s] attention for a minute.”

“It’s an artform,” he said. Overall, “It’s a love of aviation that I think keeps us going, and it’s beneficial to the company – we draw upon that uniqueness.”

Original article can be found here: https://cvbj.biz

Louisville's only police helicopter was being repaired at time of Big Four Bridge shooting





LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville's only police helicopter was out of commission during Memorial Day's fatal shooting near the Big Four Bridge. 

Louisville Metro Police says it asked the Air Unit's help following the shooting at Waterfront Park on May 29th, but the helicopter was being repaired.

22-year-old Anton Brown was killed and three others were injured, when shots were fired about 9 p.m., as the holiday crowds were in Waterfront Park. 

LMPD says it's unclear if the helicopter would have helped beyond an giving officers aerial perspective. However, Metro Councilman David James says the helicopter's high-tech equipment would have helped in the pursuit.

Story and video:  http://www.wdrb.com

Recovery efforts resume on glacier 65 years after crash



ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Military officials have resumed their annual trek to the Colony Glacier in Anchorage, where an Air Force plane crashed 65 years ago, killing the dozens of service members on board.

Operation Colony Glacier resumed Monday with U.S. Army Maj. Stephen Magennis leading the way, Alaska Public Media reported (http://bit.ly/2r1qy5q).

"Specifically, what we're doing here on the glacier is obviously recovery," Magennis said. "The primary focus for the operation is keeping team members safe. Second would be the repatriation of remains. And then third would be being good stewards of the environment, so as best we can cleaning up the parts and pieces of the wreckage that does present itself up on the glacier."

Sixty-five years ago, recovery was deemed too dangerous and the plane disappeared beneath the snow and ice. The remains were buried for years until an Alaska National Guard crew spotted the wreckage in 2012. Since then, officials have made an annual recovery effort.



Many of the service-members can be identified only through small amounts of organic matter and bone fragments tested for DNA matches. The ultimate length of the operation will be determined by how weather and the movements of the glacial terrain affect recovery efforts.

Magennis said rescue crews have identified 37 of the 52 total personnel who were on board during the crash.

Earlier this season, searchers also spotted a large section of plane debris on an upper section of the glacier, which could extend the operation by a few more years as they clean up the area,

The mission window is short, lasting just about a month. But there's also a no-fly zone set up around the recovery sight from May all the way through October. That's in part to keep away sightseeing aircraft and potential boaters after an incident earlier this spring.

The operation on Colony Glacier is set to last through June 30.

Story and photo gallery:  http://www.newsminer.com

$6 million state grant will help Lehigh Valley International Airport (KABE) attract corporate jets



Lehigh Valley International Airport's plan to attract more corporate jets just got a $6 million boost from Pennsylvania.

The PennDOT grant announced Tuesday will help LVIA forge ahead with a $12 million plan to build a hangar designed to entice jet owners to pay big money to avoid the crowded and expensive New York air market.

With the airport out of space to take on new corporate tenants, the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority has been looking for a way to finance a 53,000-square-foot hangar to be built on the southwest part of the airfield.

"This makes the project reachable," said Charles Everett Jr., authority executive director. "This will not only bring revenues to the airport, but it will bring businesses and jobs to our community."

Everett said with the grant in hand, the authority can immediately begin design and development and have a hangar large enough to handle 10 to 15 planes open late next year.

The funds are part of $10 million in aviation grants announced Tuesday by Gov. Tom Wolf. Though nine airports across the state are getting money, the LVIA grant is larger than the eight other grants combined.

The funds come from PennDOT's Bureau of Aviation through the Aviation Transportation Assistance Program, which is a capital budget grant program funded with bonds.

"Maintaining and expanding opportunities in our transportation system includes the more than 400 airports in our state," Wolf said. "Hundreds of thousands of jobs are supported by aviation in Pennsylvania and these investments will help them operate safely, expand to meet demands, or attract more growth."

LVIA is base to 110 private planes and corporate jets owned by companies like D.G. Yuengling & Son of Pottsville, and people such as Jared Isaacman, founder of the lucrative credit card payment-processing company Harbortouch, of Hanover Township, Lehigh County. Air Products and Chemicals Inc. also has two planes at LVIA, but Everett said the airport is out of suitable hangar space for such million-dollar jets.

LVIA is in a unique location to take advantage of an overcrowded New York air travel market; investment bankers and company owners can save by basing their planes in the Lehigh Valley.

By hosting the jets, LVIA not only collects hangar lease fees, but can sell fuel and maintenance to the jet owners, as well as changing them landing fees for using the airport, Everett said.

Everett has said the hangar could command as much as $700,000 per year or more in lease fees alone.



Included in the list of other grants was Braden Airpark in Forks Township, which is slated to get $325,000 to build new terminal building. The grant represents a reversal of fortunes for Braden, which the authority considered closing and selling three years ago to get money to help pay off a $26 million court-ordered debt for taking development land in the 1990. Now, with the debt paid, the authority is looking to rehabilitate the 72-acre small plane airfield that first opened in 1938.

"Not too long ago, Braden Airpark was in serious danger of being grounded for good," said Rep. Joe Emrick R-Northampton. "This grant will allow the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority to keep the facility open into its 80th anniversary next year and hopefully beyond."

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

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (KPHF) brings in adviser for audit response

The Peninsula Airport Commission is bringing in some big guns to help it carry out recommendations of a searing state audit that, among other things, says Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport should reimburse the public for the $4.5 million it used to pay off a debt the defunct People Express Airlines owed to TowneBank.

After a more than two-hour closed-door session, the commission voted to engage former U.S. District Court Judge Walter D. Kelley Jr. and the high-powered international law firm he works with as special counsel.

That firm, Hausfeld LLP, specializes in working for claimants around the globe that have a right to seek recovery of funds, according to its website.

Kelley said he would be reporting to the commission's recently appointed lawyer, Jim McNider, but declined to say exactly what the scope of the work would be.

The airport's interim executive director, Sandy Wanner, said Kelley would be advising on laws and options the commission could use to carry out the audit recommendations.

Commission Chairman George Wallace, who has said the commission would look at legal options to recover the $4.5 million, said he was distressed and surprised by the extent of the problems uncovered by the audit, ordered by the secretary of transportation after Daily Press reports on the commission repayment of the People Express loan.

"Disappointed, frustrated, some degree of anger," he said. "And resolved to do what it takes to make this better."

The 300-plus-page audit released last week found the commission's use of taxpayer funds to pay off a $4.5 million debt People Express owed TowneBank was unauthorized, noting, for instance, that the 1946 law setting up the commission did not empower it to promise to pay off private entities' debt.

Separately, Attorney General Mark Herring issued an opinion that the commission's payment violated the state constitution.

The legality of the guarantee the commission made to repay loans People Express took out under a line of credit from TowneBank, a promise it had to make good on when the airline stopped flying after less than three months, could be a critical issue in any effort to recover the money.

The audit also blasted the commission for a lack of due diligence before guaranteeing the line of credit, detailing a multiyear history of People Express' unfulfilled promises to find other financing.

It noted that it was not until some weeks after guaranteeing the credit line that commission officials learned that a key agreement between People Express and Vision Air, the company it hired to operate service from the airport, had been radically revised to deem People Express merely a sales agent for Vision.

The audit also found that former airport director Ken Spirito misled the commission board and reported he had been seen destroying some records and removing others after the audit was ordered.

The audit detailed the extensive behind-the-scenes efforts of former Newport News City Manager Jim Bourey to arrange some kind of financing for People Express, including the loan guarantee that eventually forced the commission to repay TowneBank.

Wallace said he was "somewhat taken aback by how much we weren't told."

The commission decided to guarantee the TowneBank loan by using taxpayer funds in a closed-door meeting in June 2014. The public motion to proceed, drafted by Herbert V. Kelly, Jr., a member of TowneBank's Peninsula board who was the airport attorney at the time, said only that it was authorizing then-Chairwoman LaDonna Finch to take unspecified steps to ensure adequate air service.

That was one of several examples the audit cited of commission efforts to mislead the public.

The commission will pay Hausfeld $30,000 for its help.

State Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne has said one option for carrying out the auditors' recommendation that the airport reimburse the public for the $4.5 million would be for the commission to recover the money and then use it for the kind of investment in public airport facilities it was intended for.

Another might be to withhold state funds that would otherwise go the the airport, to reimburse the state that way, he said.

The state has been paying the airport about $2 million a year for capital projects. It's been a key flow of money that has kept the airport from needing to cash in assets to make up for annual losses on its operations.

Story and video:  http://www.dailypress.com

Jet Airways pilots urge aviation ministry to 'involve them' in new set of rules and regulations

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju. 


Jet Airways' domestic pilots union, National Aviator's Guild (NAG), has urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to involve all stakeholders while formulating rules and regulations concerning the pilots.

In a meeting of its Delhi-based members held in the national capital on Saturday, the NAG also expressed hope that its inputs on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) proposal to extend the job leaving notice period to one year for commanders, from the present six months, will be given "due consideration", a source said.

The NAG pilots, along with those from Indian Pilots Guild and Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), are at loggerheads with the aviation regulator DGCA over the issue of extension in notice period. They are opposed to any change in
the current regulations.

The DGCA had proposed to make it mandatory for commanders to serve a one-year notice period before leaving the job, and six months in case of first officers (co-pilots). Currently, the pilots are required to serve a six-month notice period.

The pilots are also agitated over a police complaint against 34 of their fraternity members recently lodged by the aviation regulator for an alleged "obscene" WhatsApp message against a senior DGCA official. The complaint was, however, later withdrawn.

"In the meeting, the pilots were briefed about the recent developments, including communication to the Civil Aviation Ministry opposing the draft rules," the source said. The views of the members were also sought, he said, adding that "further steps will depend upon the response of the ministry on the issues".

"On our our part, we are always open to a dialogue if the ministry wishes so," the source said. "In future, it is our humble submission that the ministry involve all stakeholders before formulating rules or regulations affecting the concerned parties."

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



NEW DELHI: The confrontation sparked by a wrong designation (in an email communication) between India's aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and commercial pilots has snowballed.

The pilots on Wednesday asked the government to act against the DGCA official. In a letter to aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, the unions of Jet Airways and Air India pilots have collectively sought "immediate suspension and departmental action" against Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) joint DG Lalit Gupta.

The DGCA had prepared a draft proposal to extend notice period of commanders to a year and public comments were supposed to be sent to Gupta before finalizing this rule.

Among the individuals who have raised their objections to draft policy include a former Indian Air Force fighter pilot employed with the Jet Airways, who had erroneously typed the wrong designation of Gupta while addressing him. "The officer retaliated by making wild allegations about the state of the pilot's mental health and sought to harm him and nine other pilots by levelling similar allegations against them all, as well as reporting them to their employer. All of them have been derostered from flights," the joint letter "representing the majority" of Jet, AI and other major Indian airline pilots says.

"Apart from these, some other airline pilots from a wide cross section of the industry, who had expressed personal views about these developments, in private internet chat groups, were reported to the Delhi police and harassed," it adds.

The DGCA had lodged a complaint and 13 pilots were questioned at Lodhi Road Police Station on Tuesday. 

Original article can be found here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com



New Delhi: Pilots representing major Indian airlines including Jet Airways Ltd and Air India Ltd have come together to seek action against an official at Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), accusing him of harassment.

In a letter to aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, the prime minister’s office (PMO) and the DGCA the pilots sought action against the regulator’s official Lalit Gupta.

“The majority of pilots across all air transport undertakings in India have now united to oppose the regulator’s reign of tyranny and harassment once and for all. The honourable PM has banished the use of red beacons on cars and abolished the VIP culture but for how long will this arrogant mindset last amongst public servants like Mr Gupta? The level of anguish and frustration today amongst pilots has reached a crescendo and we sincerely hope that there is no spontaneous nationwide uprising as a reaction of the continuous oppression,” the Indian Pilots Guild, Indian Commercial Pilot Association and National Aviators Guild said in the letter dated 7 June.

Between them the groupings have about 3,000 pilot members.

The genesis of the issue is a proposed rule that will force pilots to give their existing airline a year’s notice before they join another airline. The current notice is six months.

The pilots are opposed to this.

When they sent their feedback to Gupta, some of the pilots got his designation wrong. A touchy Gupta complained to the airlines and also demanded an apology.

The pilots lashed out at Gupta in a private WhatsApp group, but someone leaked the messages. DGCA then complained to the Delhi Police claiming the messages were “objectionable”. In all, 34 pilots were taken off the flight roster by their airlines at DGCA’s request.

Gupta said the orders have not been issued by him but as per the directive of the civil aviation ministry.

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

Reports said at least 34 pilots of private fliers SpiceJet, Jet Airways, GoAir and IndiGo have been questioned by the Lodhi Road police in the national capital.

The Delhi Police today said it is examining a group of pilots after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) filed a complaint against them for allegedly making obscene remarks against its officials in a WhatsApp group.

Reports said at least 34 pilots of private fliers SpiceJet, Jet Airways, GoAir and IndiGo have been questioned by the Lodhi Road police in the national capital for posting messages against DGCA officer Lalit Gupta.

"The pilots have been called in for questioning on the basis of a complaint by the DGCA. They have been called in for an inquiry," PTI quoted a senior police official.          

"The text of the message was highly objectionable, unpardonable and obscene language was used against family members of DGCA officials," The Hindu quoted a senior DGCA official, who requested anonymity.

WHAT IRKED GUPTA, DGCA

News agency PTI said the pilots were grilled after Gupta, a DGCA Joint Director General, took offence at not being addressed with the correct designation in a letter written by them to him.

It started with the DGCA releasing a notification seeking comments on increasing the notice period of airline pilots from six months to one year.

Some pilots replied to the notification, but got Gupta's designation wrong. They wrote to Lalit Gupta, who is Joint Director General of civil aviation as 'Director General Civil Aviation'.

To which Lalit Gupta took offence and replied to these pilots, questioning their mental alertness and rebuking them for not getting his designation properly.

Lalit Gupta also copied the letter to their technical supervisor, asking for the alertness of these pilots to be reviewed. Gupta also asked for an unconditional apology from these pilots

It was then that some pilots had a conversation about the DGCA on their WhatsApp group. DGCA forwarded the complaint to Delhi Police, saying the pilots were abusing its officer.

Quoting sources in the DGCA, PTI said the aviation regulator has suspended at least ten Jet Airways pilots from flying duties and asked the airline to check their "mental alertness" since "they could not even quote a designation properly".

Original article can be found here:  http://indiatoday.intoday.in

New Delhi:  Thirty-four pilots from four private airlines were suspended, de-rostered and questioned by the police today over aviation regulator DGCA's complaint that they had put up obscene posts on a WhatsApp group. It all started over a wrong designation.

The pilots are from Jet Airways, Spicejet, GoAir and Indigo.  The DGCA or Directorate General of Civil Aviation has submitted to the police screenshots of the WhatsApp chat in which the pilots allegedly used bad language against the regulator.

Sources say the pilots first landed into trouble over flubbing the designation of the Joint Director General of Civil Aviation, Lalit Gupta, in a letter. They had been asked for their feedback on doubling the notice period of pilots from six months to one year. Some responded but addressed Mr Gupta as Director General.

The enraged officer, say sources, sharply reprimanded the pilots and wrote to their technical supervisors urging that their "mental alertness" be checked as "they could not even quote a designation properly".

Mr Gupta also demanded an unconditional apology, say sources.

The pilots reportedly turned to their private WhatsApp group to hit out at the regulator.

The chats were allegedly leaked to the DGCA. Sources describe some of the texts as "highly objectionable" as they even target family members.

The pilots were asked to come to Delhi for their questioning.

Many of their colleagues arrived at the police station in solidarity.

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

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) filed a police complaint against 34 pilots of four airlines for 'making obscene remarks' against its top officials on social media.

In its complaint, DGCA named pilots from Jet Airways, IndiGo,GoAir and SpiceJet. Some of them were summoned at DGCA office and were taken to Lodhi Road police station from here for questioning, according to media reports. Police sources, however, have maintained that no one has been detained and the questioning is merely investigation in DGCA's complaint.

Earlier today, as many as 10 pilots of the Jet Airways have been kept out of flying duties, and their mistake -- quoting incorrectly the designation of a senior DGCA official in a communique.

A communication, sent to the aviation watchdog opposing the proposal to increase the notice period for pilots to one year, in which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official's designation was written incorrectly, seem to be have backfired with an 'arbitrary' regulatory action against them, sources said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recently proposed a notice period of one year for pilots and six months for co-pilots before leaving the services of their current company.

The DGCA and the officer concerned invited comments on the said draft and a few pilots responded. However, in the response, the DGCA official's designation was inadvertently written incorrectly.

"DGCA has filed police complaint against 34 pilots for making obscene remarks against our officials on social media. Any action on that is for the police," DGCA chief BS Bhullar was quoted in a Times of India report.

The report quoted a SpiceJet spokesperson saying, "No SpiceJet pilot has written any derogatory or obscene message against any DGCA official or made any comments on the draft DGCA CAR. One of our pilots had just forwarded some WhatsApp messages to a few friends and colleagues."

Meanwhile, pilots are looking into legal measures to deal with the situation.

Original article can be found here: http://www.businesstoday.in

North American Rockwell Sabreliner 65, N2NL, Stewart Aviation Services LLC: Incident occurred June 06, 2017 at Blue Grass Airport (KLEX), Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Louisville, Kentucky

Stewart Aviation Services LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N2NL 

Aircraft on landing, went off the side of the runway.

Date: 06-JUN-17
Time: 10:59:00Z
Regis#: N2NL
Aircraft Make: ROCKWELL
Aircraft Model: NA265
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: LEXINGTON
State: KENTUCKY

 
One Blue Grass Airport flight was delayed and another was diverted Tuesday morning after a small private plane veered off a runway after landing, according to the airport.

The runway was closed for about an hour after the plane, a Rockwell International Sabreliner twin-engine, left the runway about 7 a.m. on Tuesday, airport spokeswoman Amy Caudill said. 

There were no injuries. 

Since the plane is privately owned, the airport was unable to give confirmed information about the cause of the incident or any damage to the aircraft, she said.

While the runway was closed, a Delta flight scheduled to leave Lexington was delayed about an hour and an Allegiant flight coming in from Punta Gorda, Fla., was diverted, Caudill said. The Allegiant flight was expected to land in Lexington soon after 9 a.m.

As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, the runway was back up and running, Caudill said.

The plane veered off Runway 4 while exiting Taxiway A7, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said. 

The plane is registered as being owned by Stewart Aviation Services, LLC., which is based out of Birmingham, Ala., according to the Federal Aviation Administration aircraft database.

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident, Bergen said in an email Tuesday.

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

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Officials at Blue Grass Airport had to close a runway after a private plane veered off the runway.

The incident happened on the main runway on Tuesday morning. A spokesperson says they closed the runway for about an hour.

The plane apparently had a nose gear issue.

There are no reports of injuries.

The airport did have to delay one flight; they diverted another. The diverted flight, an Allegiant airlines plane that took off from Punta Gorda, had to land at Tri Cities Airport in Tennessee. It’s now scheduled to arrive in Lexington at 10:40 am, according to the airport.

Officials have since reopened the runway.

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

Some flights were off schedule at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport this morning.

The runway at Blue Grass Airport was shut down for about an hour this morning because a private twin-engine plane had a rough landing. Airport spokesperson Tiffany Hart tells us the plane veered off the runway when it touched down just after 7:00 am.

The runway closure affected two flights, a Delta flight that was scheduled to leave Lexington was delayed for an hour and an Allegiant flight from Florida had to be diverted. The runway was reopened around 9:00 and Hart says the Allegiant flight has landed and things are running smoothly again.

No one was injured and the  Federal Aviation Administration will investigate. Early indications are that there was an issue with the plane’s nose gear.

Original article can be found here:  http://wuky.org

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18)-- About 7 a.m. on Tuesday an incident caused delays at the Blue Grass Airport.

A private aircraft landed with nose gear issues and veered off the runway in into the grass, shutting down runway for about an hour. 

It has been towed to general aviation and the airport is now operating as normal.

Original article can be found here:  http://www.lex18.com

Airbus Braces for Life After Leahy



Airbus SE faces the end of an era as sales supremo John Leahy prepares to leave after racking up more than $1 trillion of aircraft deals during his career at the European planemaker.

Leahy, 66, said at a briefing in Mexico that he’ll go “sooner rather than later” and confirmed that the reins of the sales operation will be handed to Kiran Rao, executive vice president of strategy and marketing at Airbus’s commercial-plane unit.

New Yorker Leahy, who joked that both his wife and doctor would like him to retire, pointing to his waistline, plans to stand down before the end of this year, though he gave no specific departure date.

Leahy has outlasted more than half a dozen counterparts at arch-rival Boeing Co. since being appointed as Airbus’s chief commercial officer in 1994. He is preparing to stand down during a global lull in aircraft sales, with the manufacturers each focused on production ramp-ups as they work through record order backlogs, and no major new programs close to the crucial marketing stage.

The famously hard-charging executive worked in marketing at Piper Aircraft for seven years before joining Airbus North America in 1985. He later assuming responsibility for cracking the key U.S. market, where Chicago-based Boeing once reigned supreme but most major airlines now have Airbus jets.

When Leahy moved to Toulouse as commercial chief more than two decades ago the company had only an 18 percent share of the jetliner market, with Boeing controlling the rest. The fact that the two are now balanced roughly 50-50 is possibly the biggest testament to the success of his sales technique.

Air Show Deals

While that no-holds-barred approach sometimes led to tensions, it also allowed the executive to broker major deals at a succession of air shows, the aviation industry’s highest-profile events, where Airbus became a specialist at landing last-minute contracts guaranteed to make headlines.

Leahy also proved a master at whipping up enthusiasm for new models, creating a sense of urgency that made airlines fearful of waiting too long to join the order bandwagon.

That was illustrated with the re-engined A320neo, with which Airbus wrong-footed Boeing and garnered more than 5,000 orders at a record pace. The larger versions of the four-engined A340 model proved a tougher sell as airlines began to switch to twin-turbine jets even for very long flights, while not even Leahy’s brio has been able to drum up anything more than modest demand for the A380 superjumbo.

Leahy’s successor Rao, 53, was named internally as his deputy last year, people with knowledge of the promotion said in November. Born in Bangalore, India, Rao studied aeronautical engineering in London and has also held the title of executive vice president for sales and marketing.

Leahy studied communications and philosophy at New York’s Fordham University, holds an MBA from Syracuse University and was named an officer of France’s Légion d’Honneur in 2012 for his services to European aviation. He commented on his planned exit from Airbus during a briefing on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association’s annual meeting in Cancun.

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

Beech C24R, N5286M, Swift Aviation LLC: Incident occurred June 05, 2017 at Bremerton National Airport (KPWT), Kitsap County, Washington

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Seattle. Washington

Swift Aviation LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N5286M

Aircraft landed gear up.

Date: 05-JUN-17
Time: 22:00:00Z
Regis#: N5286M
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: C24
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: BREMERTON
State: WASHINGTON

Air Tractor AT-802A , N802NB, Air-Trac Inc: Accident occurred June 04, 2017 at Sun Heaven Airstrip, Prosser, Benton County, Washington

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

NTSB Identification: GAA17CA323
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Sunday, June 04, 2017 in Prosser, WA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/03/2017
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 802, registration: N802NB
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 pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during an agricultural application flight, about 800 ft into the takeoff roll on a gravel airstrip, he veered the airplane to the right to avoid hay bales that were stacked on the left side of the runway. He added that, as the airplane veered right, the right-wing spray boom encountered tall wheat, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest nose down.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s abrupt maneuver to avoid hay bales during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Spokane, Washington

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


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




NTSB Identification: GAA17CA323
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Sunday, June 04, 2017 in Prosser, WA
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 802, registration: N802NB
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 pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during an aerial application flight, approximately 800 ft. into the takeoff roll on a gravel airstrip, he veered the airplane to the right to avoid hay bales that were stacked on the left side of the runway. He added that as the airplane veered right, the right-wing spray boom encountered tall wheat, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest nose down.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Embraer 505 Phenom 300, N68TJ, T J Aero LLC: Incident occurred June 01, 2017 at Brandywine Airport (KOQN), West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania

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

T J Aero LLC:   http://registry.faa.gov/N68TJ

Aircraft landed short of the runway in the grass and struck end lights.

Date: 01-JUN-17
Time: 17:30:00Z
Regis#: N68TJ
Aircraft Make: EMBRAER
Aircraft Model: EMB505
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: WEST CHESTER
State: PENNSYLVANIA

Cessna R182 Skylane RG, N3637C, Three Seven Charlie LLC: Incident occurred June 05, 2017 at Capital City Airport (KCXY) New Cumberland, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

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

Three Seven Charlie LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N3637C

Aircraft on landing, struck taxiway lights.

Date: 05-JUN-17
Time: 19:03:00Z
Regis#: N3637C
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: C182
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: HARRISBURG
State: PENNSYLVANIA

Waco YMF, N63WC: Incidents occurred June 22, 2019 and June 02, 2017 in Bar Harbor, Hancock County, Maine

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Maine 

June 22, 2019:  Aircraft crashed into a marshy area. 

https://registry.faa.gov/N63WC

Date: 22-JUN-19
Time: 14:50:00Z
Regis#: N63WC
Aircraft Make: WACO
Aircraft Model: YMF
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: UNKNOWN
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 91
City: BAR HARBOR
State: MAINE



BAR HARBOR — A biplane carrying a pilot and two passengers went down in a marsh near Mount Desert Island high school Saturday morning. All three people were taken to MDI Hospital in ambulances, but injuries were reported to be minor.

Officials have not given a reason for the crash, but people in the area reported hearing the plane’s engine cut out as it flew over Somes Sound late morning, and seeing the plane go down into the trees.

The incident will be reviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board, Bar Harbor Fire Chief Matt Bartlett said in a statement.

The yellow, open cockpit biplane is believed to be owned by the Trenton-based Acadia Air Tours company.

The Bar Harbor police and fire departments received word of the crash at 10:47 a.m., Bartlett said, and the agencies began a search for the three people.

“The search team located the downed plane and occupants quickly with assistance from a Maine Forest Service helicopter” crew, Bartlett said. “The three occupants of the plane were walked out to waiting ambulances” from the Bar Harbor Fire Department and Northeast Harbor Ambulance Service.

The Maine Warden Service, Maine State Police, Hancock County Emergency Management Agency and Acadia National Park also assisted at the scene, Bartlett said.

Original article ➤ https://www.mdislander.com





BAR HARBOR (WGME) -- A plane crash near Mount Desert Island High School injured one person Saturday.

According into pictures from the Maine Forest Rangers, the plane landed upside near the Bar Harbor school.

Bar Harbor Fire Chief Matt Bartlett said there were no fatalities in the crash but one person was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Three people were said to be on board the plane.

Forest rangers responded along with firefighters and police.


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

June 02, 2017:  Aircraft on landing, went off the runway into the grass.

Date: 02-JUN-17
Time: 16:24:00Z
Regis#: N63WC
Aircraft Make: WACO
Aircraft Model: WACO
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: UNKNOWN
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: SIGHT SEEING
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: BAR HARBOR
State: MAINE