9G8 Ebensburg Airport outlook bright

BY SUSAN EVANS

THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT

EBENSBURG — After more than a decade of debate about management and funding, the Ebensburg Airport is now running smoothly and has a bright future.

The nonprofit group running the facility is looking for ways to generate revenue, and wants to carve out the area along Route 22 for seasonal vendors.

In a win-win arrangement, revenue would go toward airport operation and improvements, said James Estep, president of the group. The optimistic message was delivered to borough officials Monday by the nonprofit group that has been running the facility since late 2007.

Borough Manager Dan Penatzer described airport operations as “a well-oiled machine” and said the current administration is doing a standout job.

“There’s been runway improvements, they’ve bought two pieces of snow removal equipment, and put a concrete floor in one hangar,” Penatzer said.

“The difference is like night and day,” he said, referring to chronic problems and maintenance issues that had plagued the facility for years.

The trouble began in 1996, when the borough formed an authority to manage and operate the airport. By 2000, and amid bitter debate, council abolished the authority and voted to close the airport, saying it was too expensive and benefited only a few people.

But by 2001, and with calls from supporters to keep the airport, the nonprofit Regional Aviation Conservation and Recreation Association was formed to take over operations and expenses.

Under terms of the lease, the association is responsible for all operational expenses and receives any income generated.

That relieves the borough of any expense for airport operations, and Penatzer said the arrangement is working well.

Just last year, the airport was awarded $30,000 in state funds to repair outdated equipment at the fuel facility.

The grant is part of a state investment of nearly $3 million for 16 airports to improve safety and facility maintenance.

Funding for the grants comes from the state’s jet fuel tax and is administered by PennDOT’s Bureau of Aviation.

Video: Community rallies around plane crash survivors - Father, son - N2629G Champion 7KCAB

By Kyle Porter

STACY, Minn. -- From family, friends, to complete strangers, hundreds packed Lent Town Hall to show their support for Allen and Nick Tacheny, father and son. They were both battling for their lives just two-months ago.

They've flown numerous times. But on one September day, their joy ride was cut short, when their plane experienced problems and crashed into a field. Allen and Nick were rescued by family member Nate.

"They were pinned in there and I pulled them out in case of a fire," said Nate Tacheny, Nick's twin brother.

"My brother saved my life, that's for sure," said Nick.

Doctors thought Allen could have permanent brain damage and his son Nick, may never walk again. Nick was banged up pretty badly.

"Two broken bones in my leg, three broken vertebrae in my back," said Nick.

But patience and perseverance only scratches the surface, as Allen and Nick showed up to their own benefit Saturday.

"I'm so thankful they can be here, were weren't sure if they would be here or not," said Amber Koecher, a cousin.

"It means everything, big family, and that everyone cares," said Nate.

Although Allen has short-term memory problems now, he is expected to make a full recovery, with no brain damage. Nick should make a full recovery as well.

"We're doing good now," said Nick.

But a priceless moment that could be, is when Nick and his fiance Helena, finally get married this winter.

"They say I might be able to walk, someday," said Nick. "I want to be able to walk down the aisle in my wedding."

The accident postponed their original wedding day which was set just weeks after the plane crash.

"It makes it more exciting for the future wedding date," said Helena.

And many friends and family members have postponed shaving their faces.

"They decided to grow out their beards until Nick can walk. They all look like Lumberjacks," said Koecher.

A lumberjack wedding, or a clean-shaven one, it's up to Nick.

The family has an account set up if you'd like to help out.

Associated Bank, 38860 10th Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056. Attn: Tacheny Benefit.

NTSB to Assist China in Cargo Plane Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board will dispatch a team of investigators to assist the government of China in its investigation of today’s crash of a Boeing/McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, operated by Avient Air (registration Z-BAV).

Today, at approximately 8:14 a.m. local time, the aircraft, flight #SMJ324, crashed on takeoff at Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China, under unknown circumstances. This cargo flight originated in Shanghai and its destination was Harare, Zimbabwe.

Of the 7 crew members onboard, 3 are reported to have suffered fatal injuries and 4 have suffered serious injuries.

NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman has designated senior investigator Bill English as the U.S. Accredited Representative. His team will include an NTSB structures specialist, as well as technical advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney.

The investigation is being conducted by China’s General Administration of Civil Aviation which will release all information on the progress of the investigation.

Airbus military aircraft due to be test flown

Airbus has said its long-delayed A400M military transport aircraft should be ready to make its first test flight around the 7th December.

The A400M, designed to replace ageing military cargo carriers, has been on order by several European air forces for many years, however, a series of technical problems has created delays.

The aircraft was due to enter service with air forces this year, but the date has now been put back to 2013.

French and German officials have already told Airbus it only has until the end of the year to prove that the project remains viable.

Earlier this month, South Africa cancelled a multi-billion dollar contract for the planes.

Pilots drank up to 20 beers before fatal crash - report

The microlight was found at first light near the Wairoa Aero Club runway. Photo / Gisborne Herald

Two men who died in a microlight crash in northern Hawke's Bay last year were drunk, a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) investigation has found.

Each was said to have downed 20 beers before taking to the air, the investigation said today,

Darren John McNay, 39, and Antony Donald Bell, 30, both of Wairoa , left Wairoa Aerodrome in the microlight about 3.15am on May 25.

Mr McNay, a pilot with 220 flight hours, and Mr Bell, an instructor with 560 flight hours, died after the microlight crashed about 400 metres from the runway.

The two men had been drinking at a party before taking the microlight out in the dark.

A third person, who had also been at the party, raised the alarm, after they did not return. Searchers found the wreckage about 7.30am.

Both men were heavily intoxicated at the time of the crash, the CAA report said.

Mr Bell's blood alcohol level was 320 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood and Mr McNay's 236 milligrams.

The legal limit for driving a car is 80 milligrams.

Tests also indicated Mr McNay had used cannabis before the flight.

Their friend, who raised the alarm, told police they had drunk about 20 beers each before the flight.

Strong winds, passing rain and poor visibility created unsuitable conditions for the plane to be flying, the report said.

"This would have been a challenging flight even if the instructor and the pilot's performance had not been impaired."

Mr McNay had no night flying experience and Mr Bell, though previously rated to fly at night, was not at the time certified to carry passengers or instruct in night flying.

The plane was not certified to fly at night, the report said.

"It is probable that the pilot and the instructor became spatially disorientated after losing reference to the ground lights and/or flying into low cloud or rain."

A post mortem found both men died from injuries sustained in the impact, which likely happened on their return to the runway, the report said.

- NZPA

Kiwi's deadly plunge under investigation

Authorities are investigating the cause of a plane crash that killed a Kiwi cropduster in Western Australia.

Martyn Lial Lilley, 38, died after his Cessna crashed about 260km southeast of Perth, on November 17.

Police said Lilley had been working as a cropduster since moving to the area about two years ago. His funeral was held in Te Kuiti on Friday morning.

Four Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators have examined the crash scene. Lead investigator John Robins told Western Australia media that a definitive reason for the crash had yet to be established.

"There tend to be numerous factors that contribute to an accident."

Robins said investigators were interested in the controls and engine of the aircraft.

"That gives us clues as to what the aircraft might have been doing just prior to impact."

The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority is also investigating. It is the second crop-dusting fatality in the region in two months.

Source
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N694MP Van's RV-6 (built by Michael Poulsen) Makes Emergency Landing on Street

GLENDALE - A pilot was forced to make an emergency landing on 43rd Ave Saturday, after his plane loses power just after takeoff.

The pilot and his passenger departed from Deer Valley Airport for a trip around the valley Saturday morning.

They were only about five miles from the airport when the plane lost power.

The pilot had no choice but to land the plane on 43rd Ave, near Pinnacle Peak.

The two people on-board were not hurt. The road was clear at the time, so no drivers were affected.

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Taking the private jet to Copenhagen

Any celebrity flying the green flag needs glittering eco-credentials. But how do they justify the fleet of customized planes, the luxury homes and the posse of servants?

John Travolta

By Jonathan Foreman

Hypocrisy is the vice we find hardest to forgive, but it’s also the one we most enjoy discovering in others. And nothing piques our interest more than eco-hypocrisy as practised by the “green” celebrities who have been spouting green virtue but spewing out hundreds of tons of carbon from their private jets or multiple holiday homes around the globe.

There was Sheryl Crow, who had called upon the public to refrain from using more than one square of toilet paper per visit (“except on those pesky occasions when two or three are required”) and who was leading a Stop Global Warming concert tour across America. It was revealed that while Crow travelled in a biodiesel tour bus, her 30-person entourage followed in a fleet of 13 gas-guzzling vehicles.

John Travolta notoriously encouraged the British public to do its bit to fight global warming — after flying into London on one of his five, yes, five private jets (one of which is a Boeing 707). In 2006 his piloting hobby produced an estimated 800 tons of carbon emissions, more than a hundred times the output of the average Briton, according to the Carbon Trust. 
Read more: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/celebrity/article6931572.ece
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Video: Two Dead After Glider Collides With Tow Plane in Lake County, California

Cardinal Newman official ID'd as victim in Lake County glider crash

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A Cotati businessman who was on the board of directors at Cardinal Newman High School was identified Sunday as one of two pilots killed Saturday in a collision at a small airfield northeast of Middletown.

Harold Chouinard, 63, was piloting a glider plane that that had just been towed into the air by a single-engine plane when he was forced to return to the airfield because of bad wind conditions, said his son, Tom Chouinard of Cotati.

The other plane also was returning to the airfield but from the opposite direction and the two planes crashed into each other near the airstrip, investigators said.

Tom Chouinard said the tow plane pilot was a good friend of his father’s.

The tow plane pilot’s name has not been released.

Tom Chouinard said he was told both pilots had radioed to an operator at the airfield that they were returning to land.

He said his father was an “extremely prepared pilot, he always took safety precautions.

“It was just a freak accident,” Chouinard said.

He said he and other members of his family went to the airfield, between Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake, on Sunday morning “seeking some closure.”

He said his father had been a glider pilot for eight to 10 years and often had used the Lake County airfield.
He said his father once told the family that if he ever died in a glider plane crash to “remember that he was doing what he loved to do.”

Chouinard said his father was in the process of retiring from his business, Chouinard & Myhre, a Cotati consulting firm that designs and supports computer software systems.

On Sunday morning, investigators were examining the wreckage of the two planes and trying to figure out the circumstances of the collision at the longtime glider port, Crazy Creek Air Adventures.

“From what I understand, the tow plane took the glider up in the air and was coming back. The glider was having a hard time getting lift” and was heading back to the airport, said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Rob Sonsteng.

The crash was reported at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Witnesses told fire officials it appeared the pilots did not see each other.

The wreckage from both planes fell to the ground about 100 yards apart, Sonsteng said.

Glider port owner Jim Indrebo said Sunday he didn’t see the crash but said he thought the two pilots may have been coming in for a landing when they collided.

He directed questions to crash investigators.

“It is difficult,” he said of the two deaths.

The crash is being reviewed by investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

“The wreckage was still there. They were looking at the planes and looking at the impact of how they collided,” Sonsteng said.

Video:

 Audio:
KCBS’ Bob Butler Reports

 LAKE COUNTY, CA (KGO) -- Investigators are looking into the possibility that high winds were a factor in a plane collision that killed two people. A glider and a tow plane crashed into each other around 11 a.m. Saturday afternoon in Lake County.

The crash happened at the Crazy Creek Glider Port. The FAA and NTSB are investigating and are still trying to figure out what happened.

The glider was a Shlecker, that's the smaller of the two remains, while the tow plane was a Piper PA-25. The collision happened when the two aircrafts were trying to land on the same air strip, but they were coming from different directions.

A long time flight instructor said that gliders always have the right of way when landing and that the glider and plane should have been trying to land in the same direction, not opposite.

"Pilots who operate at airports that are not receiving air traffic control services, generally operate on a common radio frequency and try to stay out of each other's way visually and I think it will be part of the investigation why these two planes came together," said FAA spokesperson Laura Brown.

While it's not clear if the high winds played a role in this fatal crash, the instructor said she wouldn't even consider flying in this weather. The victims have not been identified.

Accident Kills Two Pilots in Lake County

The Federal Aviation Administration reports that 2 planes collided in mid-air killing both pilots.

Authorities were notified of the crash around 11:24 a.m.

Apparently a glider struck a Piper 25 tow plane as both plans were doing a visual flyover above the landing strip at Crazy Creek Soaring, a full-service gliderport near Middletown, off Highway 29.

The gliderport lies in the center of a 600-acre privately owned ranch, and has a 4000x150 foot grass runway.

No word yet as to what caused the collision.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. (KCBS)  -- The FAA is investigating a fatal crash today in Lake County that killed both pilots involved. 

The mid-air collision happened shortly before 11:30 Saturday morning at the Crazy Creek Gliderport in Middletown.

Fire Captain Joe Peterson said the two small planes were preparing to land when the crash occurred.

KCBS’ Bob Butler Reports

"Units arrived at the scene and had found that two aircrafts had collided and were on the ground with two subjects, one in each aircraft were confirmed deceased," Peterson said. "The F-A-A had been notified and contacted and I believe they're going to be organizing the investigation."

Two killed in glider, tow plane collision over Middletown

By KERRY BENEFIELD
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A glider and the tow plane that pulled it in the sky over Middletown collided Saturday, killing the pilots of both aircraft.

The collision occurred just after 11 a.m. The names of the two pilots were not available late Saturday.

The tow plane and glider smashed into each other about a mile south of a landing strip outside of Middletown and south of Hidden Valley Lake.

Witnesses said it appeared the pilots did not see each other, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Rob Sonsteng said.

“It sounded like they were both coming into the airport and didn’t see each other and had a mid-air collision,” he said. “Both were coming from different directions and didn’t see each other up there.”

The collision occurred about a mile south of the runway and the wreckage from both planes fell to the ground abut 100 yards apart, Sonsteng said.

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Authority were on scene Saturday. Representatives from the National Safety Transportation Board were expected late Saturday or early Sunday.

Winds reached 52 mph in some locations in Lake County but it was unclear how windy it was near the Middletown air strip because the National Weather Service does not have monitoring equipment at that location, according to meteorologist Eric Kurth.

Now, DGCA to oversee all state aircraft

NEW DELHI: Nearly two months after Andhra CM YSR Reddy died in a chopper crash, aviation ministry has brought aircraft and helicopters owned by state governments under the regulatory control of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Till now, almost all the 14 choppers and 21 aircraft belonging to various states have operated without any "laid down regulations" and are not even registered under normal and passenger category. This despite the fact that all states (except in the Northeast, Himachal Pradesh and Orrisa) have helicopters or aircraft for use of the CM, ministers and other VIPs.

"The DGCA has found that stringent controls on operations of aircraft/helicopters by state government and oversight by DGCA is required for safety of passengers, which include VIPs. It will follow the principle of 'one-level safety' to extend safety oversight of DGCA on all kinds of operations — commercial, general, helicopters and state governments," a statement issued by the aviation ministry said. This came after a meeting that aviation secretary M M Nambiar and DGCA chief Nasim Zaidi held with state government officials.

Nigeria: Federal Government to Buy Four More Presidential Aircraft

Lagos — The Federal Government is proposing to buy four more aircraft for the presidential fleet, according to the 2010 Appropriation Bill sent to the National Assembly yesterday by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

The expenditure item, which came under the "Intelli-gence Community" budget, listed the cost of purchasing "4 Nos Presidential Air Craft" at $210 million, which is about N31.5 billion, although only N23.4 billion is to be provided for it in the next fiscal year.

The presidential fleet currently boasts of 8 aircraft - including three jets - but the types of the proposed purchases were not stated in the budget. The individual costs were also not stated, presumably because of state security secret.

The East-West Road in the Niger Delta, which has been a source of agitation in the oil-producing region, has also been provided for in the Ministry of Niger Delta budget. This is expected to cost N28.33 billion.

Under the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO), which is supposed to keep electricity tariff within a certain band through subsidy in order to encourage private investment, the government has budgeted N65 billion.

Tariffs are being increased yearly under the scheme but consumers are not supposed to pay the entire cost until the sector is fully weaned of government involvement. The scheme, which took off last year, was initially planned for three years.

Another highlight of the budget is the completion of the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Onitsha, Anambra State, for N252 million.

Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria and first Senate President, died in May 1996 and a promise was made to build the mausoleum in his memory, but the structure had not gone beyond lintel level since the project started. The Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development has however included it in next year's budget.

The Federal Government has also taken steps to fulfil its promises to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which went on a three-month strike to press home its demands for better working conditions.

There is now a provision of N74 billion for "ASUU and other unions" under "Public Service Wage Adjustment". Also to be accommodate under this is the implementation of the Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) which has also become a major source of conflict between the government and medical doctors. There is a budget of N10 billion for this.

A breakdown of the N4.079 trillion budget proposal indicates the Works Sector has the biggest allocation of N249.425 billion.

This is composed of proposed recurrent expenditure of N28, 119,267,120 and proposed capital expenditure of N221, 305,748,561.

Education sector is running neck and neck as one of the biggest spenders with Works at N249.086 billion but still has to settle for second position with N339 million lesser than Works' figure.

The sector is proposed to commit N195,418,320,506 into recurrent expenditure and N39,450,000,000 into capital expenditure.

These are some of the proposed expenditures in the Appropriation Bill which would be read for the second time today in the Senate.

The vital document did not contain any profile spelling out how the Federal Government intends to generate revenue to fund its proposed expenditures and deficits.

Normally, the profile should have formed part of the budget presentation address by Yar'Adua to the joint session of the National Assembly.

But Yar'Adua, due to the twin issue of the row between the Senate and the House of Representatives on the venue of the joint session and his travel to Saudi Arabia for medical check-up, could not present a budget address that would dwelled extensively on the revenue profile and the performance of the previous year's budget.

Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji had yesterday, on behalf of Yar'Adua, laid the proposal on the table of the Senate at exactly 11.34 a.m.

Abba-Aji, in company with the Special Assistant to the President (Senate), Dr. Ojougboh, was admitted into the chamber at 11.30 a.m. following the adoption of a motion to that effect by the Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin.

Folarin had invoked Order 17 of the Senate Standing Rules (2007 as Amended) to suspend its rule to allow Abba-Aji to perform by proxy the presidential assignment in line with Section 81(1) of the 1999 Constitution. Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora seconded the motion.

The Bill as presented is for an Act to Authorise the issue from the Consolidated revenue Fund of the Federation the total of N4, 079,654,724,257 only.

While Senate proposes to spend N1 billion on committees' public hearings, the House of Representatives plans to expend N4.232 billion.

Another N1 billion is in the budget for Constitution Review. The amount is to be shared at N500 million apiece by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Speaking with Senate Correspondents yesterday after the presentation of the budget, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze said the budget would be given a thorough treatment before it is passed.

According to him, "The budget will be given a thorough treatment as I promised before. We are not going to stampede any committee; we will allow them to do their work well and the supplementary is compensating for that.

"The supplementary appropriation which we have now approved has technically extended the life of the 2009 appropriation to March next year; so they have ample room to continue what they are doing while we are treating the budget; but as soon as possible, we will try to do it as expeditiously as possible."

He explained why the Senate went into a closed door session before plenary where the budget was laid its table by Abba-Aji at a short ceremony.

He stated, "I am obliged to speak to you because of the closed door session that we held. It was an opportunity for the senate leadership to brief the entire house about meeting and the decision of the caucus of the majority party.

"We had a caucus meeting last night (Monday night), the issues that came before us, we had to discuss them today (yesterday) and they are not new anymore; they are issues to do with the decision of the president to transmit the budget and cause it to be laid in accordance with Section 81(1) of the constitution following the intractable differences between the two chambers.

"We wanted to brief our members and inform them the decision that the majority party has taken and that is to accept the decision of the president, believing that the president has not flouted the Constitution.

"We briefed that it is very desirable if we can keep up then tradition of the president coming to speak to us in a joint session because that is also provided for in the constitution, that occasionally he can speak to us in a joint session on the state of the nation address or anything concerning financial matters, but that it is at his discretion.

"There is no law compelling him. In section 81 which deals with appropriation, he shall only cause it to be laid and when we discussed it with members of the other parties, they also agreed with the decision of majority party, that it was in order for us to allow the president to send somebody to lay the estimate, more so when the president has also travelled out of the country.

"That was exactly what we discussed in the closed session and I want to let you know that the Senate was unanimous in its decision to endorse the procedure of the president to transmit the budget pending when we put our house in order.

"If tomorrow the National Assembly is properly constituted and we want the president to come and present budget to a joint session, definitely he will come."

Bombardier Adjusts its CRJ Aircraft Production Rate

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Nov. 26, 2009) -

- Additional 715 layoffs to be implemented in Montreal-area facilities

- Investments in new aircraft programs continue as well as recruitment for these programs

Bombardier confirmed today that the current economic and airline industry environments continue to make it difficult to gain new aircraft orders, particularly for the CRJ aircraft family.

Consequently, as Bombardier had previously indicated, it will reduce its CRJ aircraft production rate.

The adjustment to the CRJ aircraft production rate will result in the layoff of approximately 715 employees in Bombardier Aerospace's facilities in the Montreal area, starting January 2010 through to the first two quarters of the next fiscal year. The adjustment to the workforce level also includes a small number of layoffs related to the decrease in the Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft production rate. Severance costs associated with this latest reduction in the employment level are approximately $10 million US. This is in addition to the approximately 4,360 layoffs previously announced this fiscal year for Bombardier Aerospace worldwide.

"There are not enough projected CRJ aircraft sales to maintain the current production plans," stated Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace. "Although we are in discussions with several airlines, we had to finalize our aircraft delivery schedule for the next fiscal year. We fully recognize the impact this additional workforce reduction will have on our affected workers and their families."

"We continue to invest in current and in future products, including the CRJ1000 NextGen, Learjet 85 and CSeries aircraft programs. In September, we broke ground for the first building of our new CSeries aircraft Mirabel facility, which will be used for ground testing and certification activities. More recently, we celebrated another major milestone in the CSeries aircraft program as construction got under way on our new state-of-the-art aircraft wing manufacturing and assembly facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland," added Mr. Hachey.

With investments in new aircraft programs continuing, Bombardier is currently recruiting for more than 500 positions for these programs in the fields of production support and engineering.

About Bombardier

A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2009, were $19.7 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.

Bombardier, Bombardier 415, CRJ, NextGen, CRJ1000, CSeries and Learjet 85 are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

New aircraft delivery delay downs PB Air - Fight operation put on hold from this month

A delay in the delivery of new aircraft has forced PB Air, an airline founded by Boon Rawd Brewery beer baron Piya Bhirom-Bhakdi, to halt its entire flight operation.

Delivery of the two Saab 340s, leased from the US-based aircraft lessor AeroCentury, was postponed because PB Air found the condition of the Swedish-made turboprops unacceptable.

The first Saab 340 was supposed to be delivered in September and the second in October, but the delivery was put off until "probably" the end of next month, said PB Air chief executive Pornsartid Naruenartwanich.

The airline was forced to suspend all flights, starting this month, as it has no aircraft at its disposal because of the delivery delay and Bangkok Airways repossessing two ATR 72-500 turboprops at the end of October it leased to PB Air.

Bangkok Airways declined to extend the lease of the two French-made ATRs to PB Air until the 33-seat Saab 340s are available because it wants to use them to serve high-season demand.

PB Air began the lease in April this year to substitute for two Brazilian-made Embraer ERJ 145 LR jets that were returned to the American aircraft lessor Gecas after seven years in the airline's service.

AeroCentury has not yet confirmed delivery by around Christmas of the planes leased for five years, said Mr Pornsartid.

PB Air's website said all flights were "suspended until further notice".

While it is unclear why PB Air declined to accept the two Saabs, he said: "We want to make sure that corrections are made to the two aircraft so when we take delivery they are in perfect condition."

He stopped short of saying PB Air would make the California-based aircraft leasing firm accountable for the loss of business opportunity during the high travel season.

PB Air operates from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport to seven domestic destinations: Lampang, Mae Sot, Nan, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Buri Ram and Roi-et.

The 19-year-old airline earlier announced plans to inaugurate flights to Chumphon, probably with four flights a week, and Surin, with three flights a week, later this year using the twin-engined Saab 340s.

The two Saab 340s leased by PB Air are about 12-13 years old, and were used in flights in the US previously.

The Saab 340 was first rolled out in 1983 and production ceased in 1999 after 459 were built.

Writer: Boonsong Kositchotethana

Position: Deputy Editor Business

 

Virtual Globetrotting: Musee Europeen de l'Aviation de Chasse

http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/musee-europeen-de-laviation-de-chasse/

More Info	www.meacmtl.com
Location:	Montelimar, France (FR)

http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/musee-europeen-de-laviation-de-chasse/

Video: White Cliffs Of Dover - Spitfire Show - Music

Spitfires fly alongside Vera Lynn's White Cliffs Of Dover.  Go to www.spitfirepilots.com for articles, downloads and pictures of spitfires and historic aviation.

 

"Aviation's Rig mantra" By Captain A. Ranganathan

The author is an Airline Instructor Pilot on Boeing 737 with a flying experience of 20,000 hours. He is also a Consultant for Wet Runway Operations Training and Accident Prevention.
Read the full article:  http://www.hindu.com/mag/2009/11/29/stories/2009112950150400.htm

Aviation safety doesn't seem to be an important criterion. If we truly care about accidents, we would find out the true causes. Not rig or fudge facts…

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First we “deny”. Then we delay, dilute the findings with trivia…

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Minor incident? A private jet which overshot Indore runway in heavy rain and smashed into the compound wall. 

Be perfectly resigned, perfectly unconcerned; then alone can you do any true work. No eyes can see the real forces; we can only see the results. Put out self, forget it; just let God work, it is His business.

Swami Vivekananda

Ours is a country with a base in Vedas and mythology. The Rig Vedais the oldest of the four Vedas, written more than 3,000 years back. But in the present century, a modern version RIG-Veda has been written by the civil aviation authorities in India. The best example is the event on May 8, 2007 when a private jet aircraft belonging to a business house smashed into a wall while landing in heavy rain at Indore. By all definitions it was a pure accident. But, to the experts in our civil aviation authority, it was written off as a ‘minor incident'. On board, to carry out the proficiency check of the pilot, was the Chief Flight Operations Inspector of the Director General of Civil Aviation. The word “accident” was redefined as a minor incident. Aviation safety enters the realms of mythology! The registration of the aircraft, ARV, could well be the abbreviation for the title of the article.

November 28, 1979. An Air New Zealand flight with 237 sightseers and a crew of 20 on board crashed into Mt. Erebus, a volcano in Antarctic. Last month, the airline apologised to all those affected who did not receive appropriate support and compassion from the company following the incident.

The initial investigation blamed the pilots for the fatal crash. A subsequent inquiry by Justice Mahon made one of the most significant findings in investigation: He found that airline executives and senior (management) pilots engaged in a conspiracy to whitewash the inquiry, famously accusing them of “ an orchestrated litany of lies”by covering up evidence and lying to investigators. Mahon found that in the original report, the investigator had a poor grasp of the flying involved in jet airline operations. The investigation techniques were revealed as lacking in rigour, allowing for errors and avoidable gaps in knowledge to occur in reports. Consequently, the investigator entirely missed the importance of the flight plan change and the rare meteorological conditions of Antarctica. Had the pilots been informed of the flight plan change, the fatal crash would have been avoided.

Justice Mahon was a much-maligned man after this report, due to the influence wielded by many in the airlines and the government. Perseverance by the families of the dead resulted in the truth being the ultimate winner. In March 2009, Justice Mahon was posthumously awarded the Jim Collins Memorial Award by the New Zealand Airline Pilots Association for exceptional contributions to air safety, “in forever changing the general approach used in transport accidents investigations worldwide.”

Indian aviation safety needs a Justice Mahon-like figure. The procrastination and cover-ups in various incidents and accidents makes us wonder if safety exists, at all. Since the beginning of this century, we have seen every aspect of Indian aviation getting rigged. True to our mythological bearings, civil aviation takes a ‘Kumbakarnan' avatar. They think that sleeping over investigations or actions will make people forget the reality and continue in their dreams and myths. The mythological figure might be famous for his ‘six month sleep cycle' but his true character was an epitome of virtues, integrity, gratitude, valour and bravery. These qualities are, sadly, lacking in our system.

Contrasting pictures
The aviation systems in the US and India project contrasting perspectives on safety. One believes in seeking the truth, providing lessons to prevent a recurrence, transparency and independence of aviation safety investigation and that safety of passengers is paramount. The other believes in divine grace, priority for commercial interests of airlines, stonewalling and procrastination. The years that Americans have spent in Vietnam have made them understand a folk saying from that country: “A grief shared by many is half a grief. A joy shared is twice a joy”. Our aviation authorities have a different version of fairytale endings: “And if they didn't live happily ever after, that's nothing to do with you and me”.

Two events in recent past highlight the glaring differences between the two systems.

1. On October 21, 2009, a Northwest Airline flight 188 from San Diego to Minneapolis overshot the destination by over 150 miles. There was no radio contact for 91 minutes according to the investigators. The pilots voluntarily disclosed that they were involved in a “heated discussion on company matters” and they were both working on their laptops. Several radio calls and messages sent on company message system were ignored. On October 28, 2009, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration ), the Regulator in the US, revoked the licenses of both pilots for endangering the safety of the aircraft and all on board. One week is all it took for them to act.

2. On October 3, 2009, the crew of the Air India flight 884 enacted a mid-air drama. The fist fight that ensued in the cockpit while the aircraft was flying over Pakistani airspace and violated every single norm of flight safety is a perfect example of our wonderful safety system. The fact that the crew continued the fight even after landing and medical attention was required to treat the injuries to a few of the crew would have shocked anyone in the safety world. The airline and the Regulator are still dilly-dallying on action. All that has been achieved by the October 31, 2009 is the rebuttal of the air hostess charge of sexual harassment! This serious incident was not reported, either by the crew or the airline, to the Regulator.

Aviation safety is a potent subject in America while it is an impotent one in India. We are impotent because we have an ineffective hierarchy — Ministry, Legislators and Regulator controlling aviation. Here again, a comparison of the two systems will highlight the glaring difference.

On February 12, 2009, a Colgan Air turboprop flight crashed on approach to Buffalo International airport, killing all on board. The investigation findings threw up several issues concerning the training, experience levels of the crew and fatigue. Concerned with the findings, a law was brought in the US Congress on aviation safety. They have made it mandatory that the minimum experience levels for being in the cockpit of a passenger airliner is 1500 hours and the highest category of license, Airline Transport Pilots License.

In India, our requirements are a mere 200 hours for a copilot with the lowest category of license for commercial operation — the CPL (Commercial Pilots License ), and for an expatriate captain the experience levels have been specified as just 100 hours as a captain on the type of aircraft he is being contracted to fly! The legislators have not bothered to raise this as a safety issue but spend their time on trivial issues like their class of travel. Safety is not an important criteria.

In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are independent. When serious safety infringements are noted, the airline is reprimanded with a severe fine and warnings. The watchdog factor prevails, barring a few aberrations. The NTSB is totally independent and their focus is entirely on finding the real cause for the accident or incident and make recommendations to prevent a future occurrence. Their reports and findings are public knowledge. The time frame of the reports are almost immediate when the data is available. The investigations are total and transparent.

Contrast this with what we have in India. First we “deny”. Then we delay, dilute the findings with trivia and then, boast that we have one of the safest aviation systems in the world. There is no accountability or transparency. The statements of Justice Mahon is a common factor in many of our investigations.

Lack of action
The year 2009 has thrown up several near disasters in Indian aviation. We have witnessed three near collisions on ground in Mumbai airport. Recently, a jet with 154 passengers almost crashed in Mumbai's shortened runway. Pilots have been reporting for duty in inebriated state on a regular basis. Pilots are operating passenger flights with invalid licenses and ratings. The only action that is visible from the authorities is the constant rigging of several issues. When the inevitable crash does take place, we can take solace in Jesus Christ's words, “Father, forgive them. They know not what they are doing”.

The authorities are under the false sense of belief that nothing has happened to warrant proactive action. They would do well to read what Bryan O'Connor, Deputy associate administrator, Space Shuttle of the National Aeronautical and Space Administration, said in an interview in January 1996. During the 10 {+t} {+h} anniversary meet on the Space Shuttle Challenger accident, which happened on January 28, 1986, he said: We fooled ourselves into thinking this thing wouldn't crash. When I was in astronaut training I asked, ‘what is the likelihood of another accident?' The answer I got was: one in 10,000, with an asterisk. The asterisk meant, ‘we don't know.'

When countries care for loss of lives in an accident in air or space, their conscience rankles even after 10 or 30 years. For a country like ours, where divine grace and destiny is the order of the day, loss of life become just a Karma. Swami Vivekananda would not have realised that his sayings would take a new meaning, with an asterisk!

The author is an Airline Instructor Pilot on Boeing 737 with a flying experience of 20,000 hours. He is also a Consultant for Wet Runway Operations Training and Accident Prevention.

Read the full article:  http://www.hindu.com/mag/2009/11/29/stories/2009112950150400.htm

By Captain A. Ranganathan

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WWII Plane Resurfaces After 65 Years

Specialized crew docks WWII fighter jet at Waukegan Harbor

By NICOLA ORICHUIA 

After 65 years of lying quietly at the bottom of Lake Michigan, a World War II fighter plane will be hoisted back to ground on Monday.

And for the first time since he crashed on Jan. 5, 1945, the pilot of that plane is ready to tell his story.

"I went straight underwater," Walter B. Elcock told the Chicago Tribune.

Elcock, now 89 and living in Georgia, still remembers the day his F6F-3 Hellcat fell into the cold waters of Lake Michigan and how he had to swim back to the surface with all his heavy gear.

He was rescued shortly after by a Coast Guard ship.

"Relief, I guess, is the best word," Elcock said, as he thought about the feelings of that near-death experience.

Elcock’s grandson, Hunter Brawley, started searching for the aircraft after finding a Chicago-based team specialized in recovering warplanes from Lake Michigan and getting special permission to perform the search from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office.

"I grew up hearing the story of this crash," Brawley, 36, told the Tribune.

The plane’s recovery started at 6 a.m. on Nov. 21, when a crew from A&T Recovery started raising the plane from under 250 feet of water.

After four hours of painstakingly pulling up the plane, the crew led by Taras Lyssenko started towing the aircraft back towards Chicago.

Now the plane is safely docked at Waukegan Harbor, where it is waiting to be hauled to the ground by a nautical crane on Monday.

This is the second WWII fighter plane recovered since last summer.

Read the full story at chicagotribune.com.

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Last planes leave Brunswick Navy base

One of the last two P3 Orions is moved onto the tarmac as it prepares for the final flight at Brunswick Naval Air Station on Saturday, Nov. 28, in Brunswick, Maine. The base is relocating its aircraft and personnel to the naval air station in Jacksonville, Fla. (Photo by Robert F. Bukaty)

BRUNSWICK, Maine — The two last planes at Maine's Brunswick Naval Air Station have lifted off in blustery winds, ending nearly 60 years of maritime patrol operations at New England's last active-duty military air base.

The P-3 Orions lumbered down an 8,000 foot runway Saturday afternoon before heading off toward a six-month deployment in Central America. After that, they fly to their new home at Florida's Jacksonville Naval Air Station.

Brunswick, once home to 4,000 sailors and six patrol squadrons, now has a skeleton crew. Its two runways are scheduled to close in January and personnel will continue to leave the base until it closes for good in May 2011.

Read more: http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/131211.html

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Video: Pilot injured when plane crashes after take-off at Lake Elmo airport near the Minnesota-Wisconsin border

LAKE ELMO, Minn. -- A man was hurt after his plane crashed into a grassy field shortly after take-off.

The Washington County Sheriff's Department says David Graff of Oakdale was taking off around 12 p.m. on Saturday when he lost power.

Sgt. Tom Stafford says Graff couldn't maintain his altitude and crashed his rear-prop single engine airplane. Stafford says the plane did not roll over, but Graff had lower back pain and was taken to Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater.

Stafford says the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will investigate the crash.

KARE 11 talked to a man who witnessed the crash and shot video of the accident. Watch KARE 11 at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. for updates.

Plans for jet pilot training raise concerns

STEVE MILLER Rapid City Journal

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Air Force is moving ahead with plans to quadruple the airspace for its bomber training complex over South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota, despite objections from some ranchers and small aircraft pilots.

The Air Force needs additional airspace to provide more realistic training for its B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress, said Col. Jeffrey Taliaferro, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

The B-1s from Ellsworth, along with B-52s from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, use the current Powder River Training Complex.

The complex covers a small area of northwestern South Dakota north of Belle Fourche, a small area in Wyoming north of Sundance, and a larger area of Montana roughly between Alzada, Broadus and Ekalaka. Total air space is about 3.8 million acres. Under the full proposed expansion, air space would increase to more than 20.3 million acres, not including a high-altitude segment called Gateway in South Dakota and Wyoming.

The proposal would expand the training air space into more of northwest South Dakota, much of southwestern North Dakota and more of southeastern Montana. The training area’s northern boundary would stretch about 300 miles between Billings and Bismarck, N.D.

Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_2f1b0b74-dbde-11de-a79e-001cc4c03286.html

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Video: North Weald Hangar 11 and some Hurricanes By David Taylor

By David Taylor

"A visit to North Weald on Sunday 25th Oct 2009. There was the the amazing sight of 4 Hurricanes once more lined up on the grass at this famous fighter base and a large number of surviving Hurricane pilots were also present. I took the opportunity to take my camera over to Hangar 11 and luckily found both the Mustang and the Kittyhawk out in the afternoon sun and Peter Teichman took the Kittyhawk off for a short trip. I've included some of Peter's display in the P-51 at Kemble the previous month. Superb flying. This is shot in the best Hi-Def, but alas any panning motion still suffers 'the jitters' with the extreme compression that any video on the web requires. If you view in full frame mode, do wait for it to load fully to avoid any extra playback stuttering"

Hangar destroyed at Coulter Field

BRYAN - A hangar burned to the ground at Coulter Field in Bryan on Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters from both Bryan and College Station were dispatched around 4:00. At the fire's peak, the flames were about 400 feet in the air. Crews were able to contain the blaze in about 20 minutes, but the hangar was completely destroyed.

According to Bryan Fire Chief Mike Donaho, a golf cart inside the hangar may have shorted out and sparked the blaze. Donaho said none of the buildings nearby were threatened.

The hangar was an old wooden structure that housed compressors and generators. Only one plane was inside.

Plumes of black smoke could be seen for miles around the area.

Northern Illinois Aircraft Hangar For Sale

http://cgi.ebay.com/Northern-Illinois-Aircraft-Hangar-For-Sale_W0QQitemZ170407624946QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCommercial?hash=item27ad1600f2


"For Sale is this unique 50X70 well lit, heated hangar located in the heart of Northern Illinois, in beautiful Huntley. This hangar offers no limit to whatever you want to do with airplanes. Right now it is the home to Midwest Flight Check Inc. which makes this deal a business opportunity for someone looking to expand an existing business; or continue this one; with an established customer base and a good reputation. We are offering this turn key business as an option along with the real estate."


"If you are just looking for a hangar to keep your plane in and don't want the business, ownership has great privilege here at The Landings Airport (82IS) with unprecedented fuel pricing. Right now you can fill your plane with 100LL for $3.08 per gal. That equals huge savings for those who fly regularly. This hangar is the largest on the field and closest to the fuel pit, making storing your plane after fueling a short powered tow away. With all things considered, this cuts down on the wear and tear of starters, tires, and brakes, which over a short time can add up to real savings. The hangar features: room for 3 airplanes, office w/DSL internet, executive bathroom, great lighting, two furnaces, deepsink, workbench, lots of storage on two lofts and huge shelving, oil drain tank, electronic locks, 55' bi-fold door, airplane wash facility outside, and many more amenities."
http://cgi.ebay.com/Northern-Illinois-Aircraft-Hangar-For-Sale_W0QQitemZ170407624946QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCommercial?hash=item27ad1600f2
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Video: In Memory of the Soliders of "Red River 44" and in honor of the air crew that brought them home. Angel Flight - Radney Foster

Radney Foster music video for "Angel Flight" Proceeds benefit Texas National Guard Family Support Foundation. Available on CD "Revival" at www.radneyfoster.com

Sana'a airplane hijack attempt thwarted

SANA'A, Saba - Police at the International Sana'a Airport foiled on Saturday an attempt to hijack a Yemenia airplane that has left for Cairo.

The would-be hijacker, a young man aged 24, came from Yemen's northern province of Saada, where the army has been fighting the Houthi insurgents since 2004, according to the Interior Ministry's website.

Police checked up his two bags and found a hand grenade and a loaded firearm inside them.

Initially, he confessed to the failed hijack, saying the attempt was aimed at pressuring the authorities to meet 'just personal demands.'

Police didn't rule out the man was a Houthi follower.

He was turned over to interrogators, who would find out the motives for the first-of-its kind attempt in the country and if others were involved in it.

Such incidents are uncommon in Yemen.

Plans aired to cut Jones airport influx

By D.R. STEWART

Ten years ago, a flurry of runway incursions at Jones Riverside Airport alarmed airport tenants and the Tulsa Airport Authority.

In 1999, officials at Jones Riverside reported eight runway incursion incidents, ranking Jones as the fourth most dangerous airport for incursions in the nation.

The series of incidents at Jones sparked proposals to keep vehicles away from Jones' runways and taxiways, which are the busiest in Oklahoma.

In 2008, Jones had 335,826 aircraft operations — a landing or takeoff — making it the fifth busiest general aviation airport in the United States.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=45&articleid=20091128_45_E2_Tenyea417010

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Aircraft variety brings onlookers to Jenks airport

A helicopter flies near a proposed public observation spot, which now is an empty field just south of Jones Riverside Airport along 91st Street.

CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World

By D.R. STEWART

On just about any Saturday, Jones Riverside Airport at Jenks is an interesting place to be.

With nearly 500 aircraft based at Jones, aviation enthusiasts can see a variety of planes without much effort, airport tenants and officials say.

"Riverside has a collection of classic, vintage and home-built aircraft. It has a little bit of everything except commercial aircraft," said Paul Mackey, president of the Jones Riverside Airport Association.

"We have two (World War II) P-51s, we have seven active (World War II) T-6s, a number of Stearmans (biplanes). On Saturday, if you like airplanes, it's almost like your own air show."

But viewing aircraft at Jones, unlike an air show, is unsupervised, and it can attract visitors who are unfamiliar with the airport and its network of runways and taxiways, airport officials say.

In some instances in recent years, visitors have driven vehicles on active runways and taxiways, setting up potential collisions between vehicles and aircraft, airport officials said.

"It's confusing for people who are unfamiliar with the airport," said Alexis Higgins, marketing director for the Tulsa Airport Authority, which operates Jones Riverside Airport.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=45&articleid=20091128_45_E1_Ahelic724363

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