Aircraft

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    Knik Glacier Rescue Update

    What: Black Hawk rescue helicopter
    Where: Knik Glacier Alaska
    Why: Attempting to rescue the five stranded on a glacier since Sunday afternoon, a Black Hawk rescue helicopter was damaged sliding and rolling on the glacier. The Air National Guard helicopter was forced to turn around.

    It took a day for the pararescue team (which arrived yesterday) to ski the three miles to the survivors with two days worth of supplies. More supplies have been dropped.

    Tuesday night, two of the original left stranded and one rescuer were flown to Palmer.

    More on Knik Glacier Rescue

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    Boeing Statement on Death of Senator Ted Stevens

    CHICAGO, August 10, 2010 — Boeing extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of former Senator Ted Stevens and others who lost their lives in the August 9 crash of a single-engine plane in Alaska. We wish the survivors of the accident a full recovery.

    We remember Sen. Stevens as a patriot who dedicated himself to public service and who made a real difference to the U.S. military and the lives of countless people. He was a great friend to the men and women of the armed forces, and he used his power in the Senate to fight tirelessly for them. Over the course of his six-decade career in U.S. government, Sen. Stevens was a strong advocate for his constituents and put the good of his nation above politics.

    Our thoughts are with Sen. Stevens’ loved ones, with the families of the others who perished, and with the survivors of Monday’s tragic accident.

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    Cessna Crashes in Orange Mass

    What: Cessna 172M Skyhawk en route from Orange Massachusetts to Bar Harbor Maine
    Where: Winter street, Orange, Massachusetts
    When: August 10, 2010
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: The plane is believed to have originated in Maryland, and to have refueled at Orange airport.

    The plane went down in a wooded area about a mile to the north of the airport, at the end of Winter Street. The plane did not impact any houses. The residential community came together to attempt a rescue, but the two aboard were confirmed dead.

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    2nd Alaska Crash: Piper Strands 5 on Glacier

    What: PA-32 sight-seeing in Alaska
    Where: Knik Glacier, about 113km northeast of Anchorage
    When: Sunday August 8, 2010 1 pm
    Who: pilot, Donald Erbey, 49 and 4 friends
    Why: Erbey had taken Texas friends sightseeing in his small family Piper 32. When he realized he was flying into bad weather, he turned to head back, “hit a downdraft” and crashed in a snowbank, leaving them stranded since Sunday on Knik Glacier, Alaska.

    Monday evening, highly trained pararescuers—Maj. Jesse Peterson, Master Sgt. Al Lankford, Tech. Sgt. Chris Uriarte and Tech. Sgt. Angel Santana—braved a 4 mile trek to walk in food and supplies. The plane’s locator beacon was operable.

    Helicopters with additional supplies and support are in the area but weather conditions have not permitted drops or a rescue. They have adequate resources to wait till weather clears enough for helicopters to land as hiking out is a last resort.

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    Birdstrike at Salt Lake City


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Hongyin Huo

    What: Expressjet Embraer ERJ-145/Continental Airlines en route from Houston,TX to Salt Lake City,UT
    Where: Salt Lake City,UT
    When: Aug 10th 2010
    Who: 46 passengers and 4 crew
    Why: On approach to Salt Lake City, the plane flew through a flock of seagulls. The flight made a safe landing, although there was evidence of at least one bird strike that damaged the skin of the plane which was apparently not a seagull but a pelican.

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    Japanese Coast Guard Helicopter Lost at Sea

    What: Japanese Coast Guard Bell 412EP “Akizuru”
    Where: off Kagawa, Shikoku Japan
    When: August 8 2010
    Who: 5 occupants 4 fatalities
    Why: Akizuru hit offshore power lines and crashed into the sea. The five member crew was missing; but the remains of 4 were found by searchers. One is still missing.

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    Otter Crash in Alaska, 8 Aboard, Survivors


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer John Olafson

    What: GCI Communication Corp de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Texas Turbine Super O en route to Agulowak Lodge near Lake Aleknagik, Alaska
    Where: 20 miles north of Dillingham, AK
    When: August 9, 2010
    Who: 8 aboard
    Why: The 1957 DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter owned by GCI Communication Corp crashed on encountering weather. After the wreckage was discovered, two National Guard rescue teams in helicopters were dispatched but they could not handle the weather and their arrival was (expected to be) delayed until after midnight.

    A volunteer team on the ground was assisting rescue efforts and a doctor is on the scene. Half of those aboard the plane survived. Former Sen. Ted Stevens was aboard the plane.

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    UA Airbus Diverts to Omaha. Twice.


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Royal S King

    What: United Airlines Airbus A319-100 en route from Denver to Des Moines
    Where: Omaha
    When: Aug 10th 2010
    Why: After take-off, the flight ran into weather.

    The pilot diverted to Omaha, where they made a safe landing. However, on departure from Omaha, the plane developed engine vibration, and had to return to Omaha.

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    Beckham Flight Returns to London


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Alasdair Mulhern

    What: British Airways Boeing 747-400 en route from London to Los Angeles
    Where: over Scotland
    When: Aug 7th 2010
    Why: While en route, the British Airways plane developed a problem with the fuel system, dumped the fuel while at sea and returned to Heathrow. No injuries. Safe landing.

    The event has received significant coverage, chiefly because Victoria Beckham was aboard the flight, and managed a wardrobe change–and photos of both outfits have been published online.

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    PIA Flats in Karachi


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Jordi Grife

    What: PIA Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 747-300 en route from Islamabad to Karachi
    Where: Karachi
    When: Aug 7th 2010
    Who: 400 passengers
    Why: After landing in heavy rain, the plane was in the process of taxiing to the gate when the crew was informed that the tires had blown on landing. Passengers disembarked via mobile stairs directly on to the tarmac and were provided transport to the gate.

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    Beechcraft Bonanza Crashes and Burns in Pennsylvania House

    What: TSI Titanium (1982) Beechcraft 58 Baron en route from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
    Where: Bell Township Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
    When: Aug 7 2010 9:19 am
    Who: 2 fatalities
    Why: The plane crashed nine minutes after take-off. Witnesses say it sounded like the engine cut out before it crashed. The pilot did not contact ATC and the cause is unknown, pending investigation.

    Edward Sobota, president and owner of TSI Titanium, was flying his new Beechcraft two engine plane, and working on getting certified in it, when it crashed into a Bell Township neighborhood. Ted Kokolis a pilot for Bayer, who was also on board and killed in the crash. Steve Yanko was sleeping on his couch in his family room and was not injured when the plane crashed and burned in his wife’s art studio at the opposite end of the house. His wife was not in the house at the time.

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    GA: Missing Helicopter found

    What: 2006 Robinson R44II en route North Palm Beach County airport to Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa in Young Harris
    Where: north Georgia mountains
    When: Monday evening
    Who: pilot Adam Reeves, of Jupiter, Fla and unidentified passenger
    Why: The helicopter had been missing since Monday. It was found Friday afternoon by the Civil Air Patrol, having crashed in the N. Georgia mountains in northern Lumpkin County around 2:30 p.m. The search began after relatives of the passengers made inquiries at the airport about a helicopter that had never arrived.

    The flight had been due in Blairsville at 7 p.m but had never arrived.

    The helicopter refueled in Madison, Ga around 6:30 pm Monday. At some unknown time it left North Palm Beach County.

    Reeves was a former U.S. Air Force medic who ran health care and realty companies in Palm Beach County.

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    Recovered: Last Victim of Lake Michigan Cessna Crash

    What: Cessna 206 en route from Alma Michigan to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn
    Where: Lake Michigan, Ludington MI
    When: July 23, 2010
    Who: 4 fatalities, 1 survivor 66-year-old pilot, Jerry Freed
    Why: While en route on a medical evacuation flight, the pilot contacted ATC about experiencing mechanical problems, then the medical flight crashed into Lake Michigan on July 23. The pilot was rescued by boaters Randall Schmidt and his wife, Kristin Berg, about 2 miles from shore. Six foot waves hindered the recovery efforts.

    The Michigan State Police Underwater Recovery Unit sonar found the plane at approximately 6 p.m. last Thursday.

    The remains of Alma school superintendent and cancer patient Don Pavlik and his wife, Irene, were recovered Friday by divers. The body of Dr. James Hall was recovered Saturday night and identified Sunday. Co-pilot Earl Davidson was found last, on Sunday at 9 a.m..

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    Sibir Airbus Hydraulics Failure

    What: S7 Sibir Airlines Airbus A319-100 en route from Perm to Moscow
    Where: Moscow
    When: Aug 6th 2010 19:47 Moscow time
    Who: 94 passengers
    Why: On landing approach, the Airbus hydraulics failed. The pilot managed a safe landing. Smoke from forest fires did not impair visibility.

    George’s Point of View

    No surprise to me. Details of the hydraulic issue might be of interest.

    I recall S7 Airlines Flight 778, an Airbus A310 with 193 passengers and 10 crew members aboard. On landing at Irkutsk , the airbus had a runway overrun. 124 people died when it crashed into the runway barrier.

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    Air India Waits for 787s

    Air India has informed Boeing that it is not making any more pre-delivery payments on 27 Boeings which are currently being built in Boeing’s Seattle plant.

    The delivery of the planes has been pushed back to 2011. Air India representatives independent director, Air Chief Fali Major, and the Chief Operating Officer, Captain Gustav Baldau will be visiting the plant to see the progress made on Air India’s 787s.

    Air India has around 15 Boeing 777s. Air India determined that “Fuel efficiency of the B 787 aircraft was found to be better than that of the competitor A330-200 by 17 per cent.”

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    Sao Jose do Rio: Tam Hits the Fence


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer BravoAlpha

    What: TAM Linhas Aereas Airbus A319-100 from Sao Paulo to Sao Jose do Rio
    Where: Sao Jose do Rio
    When: Aug 5th 2010
    Who: 137 people on board,
    Why: Before touching down, the crew reported technical problems. A hundred meters before the runway threshold, they landed onto grass, damaged a perimeter fence, and had a flat, but managed to taxi to the gate. There were no injuries. An alternate plane will be provided for the next leg of the journey.

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    Small Plane Crash in Phoenix

    What: Cirruss S-R 22 single-engine plane in Phoenix
    Where: Deer Valley Commerce Park, near 19th Avenue and Deer Valley Road
    When: August 4 2010 6:00 a m
    Who: pilot
    Why: The pilot of the plane was in contact with Deer Valley air controllers prior to the accident but did not radio for help. Apparently the engine had caught fire, and the plane lost altitude. On impact, the plane was engulfed in flame.

    The plane with only the pilot aboard crashed not long after takeoff.

    The plane was registered to Magneto Investments of Phoenix.

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    UA Boeing Evacuated During Fire


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Manuel Wenger

    What: United Airlines Boeing 767 en route from London to Chicago
    Where: Chicago
    When: August 4, 2010
    Who: 178 passengers and 12 crew, 7 injuries
    Why: On landing in Chicago, the left main gear caught on fire. As the plane waited on the runway, the fire was put out by fire crews who sprayed the gear and surrounding areas with fire retardant.

    Emergency slides were deployed, and half the passengers evacuated via them, which is where the injuries occurred. After the fire was out, the slides were no longer used. About five were hospitalized after suffering minor injuries during the evacuation. Some individuals were treated at the airport and released.

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    Smoke Break leads to Albuquerque


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Duy Tran Duc

    What: American Airlines Boeing 767-200 from New York to Los Angeles
    Where: Albuquerque
    When: August 4, 2010
    Who: 168 passengers and 11 crew (or 158 passengers and 11 crew)
    Why: The story behind this one is two-fold. One source says the plane diverted to Albuquerque because of smoke in the cockpit. No smoke, no cause of smoke, no evidence thereof was found.

    Another source says an unruly passenger was behind the diversion. This person was detained by the FBI on landing, after which the plane was inspected for explosives. During the search, passengers hung around the tarmac for three hours.

    This man is being questioned about the odor like cigarettes that was discovered in the bathroom, along with some used matches. Another report says he lit matches in the cabin and then hid in the bathroom.

    The plane left Albuquerque for LA around midnight.

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    Monarch Nails Emergency Landing in Birmingham


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Paul Markman

    What: Monarch Airlines Airbus A321-200 en route from Birmingham to Tenerife
    Where: Birmingham
    When: Aug 3rd 2010
    Who: 213 passengers
    Why: After takeoff from Birmingham (UK), the left engine made an explosive noise, and began streaming fire and smoke. The crew turned off the engine and made an announcement to the passengers that they were going to make an emergency landing.

    Although it was less than a quarter hour later that passengers were safely on the ground, they had plenty of time to be terrified. In an interview, a passenger told reporters that after the announcement the entire plane went silent except for the sobbing.

    A replacement plane was sent from Gatwick.

    George’s Point of View

    As traumatic as it must have been, any landing where you make it out alive, is a good landing.

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    FAA Air Traffic Controller Could Not Provide

    FAA air traffic controllers provided the pilot outdated flight visibility information that made navigation difficult for Steven Bunker. Bunker had requested an “airport surveillance radar approach”, a ground-based radar approach. After the FAA air traffic controller told him she could not provide “airport surveillance radar approach” service, the four people in Bunker’s helicopter died.

    On Sept. 27, 2008, the medevac helicopter that crashed in a wooded area of Walker Mill Regional Park: Kenneth Mallard, State police pilot Stephen J. Bunker, Trooper 1st Class Mickey C. Lippy and Ashley J. Younger.

    Jordan Wells who was also aboard, survived.

    Kenneth Mallard was an EMT for the Waldorf Volunteer Rescue Squad. Michael Loyola Rowan, his wife Tanya Mallard’s lawyer, is filing a $7 million federal lawsuit against the FAA for ” not doing everything necessary to ensure a safe landing for the Maryland State Police Trooper 2 helicopter.” Christina P. Lippy has sued for $15 million.

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    Brussels Airlines Flight Diverts to Luxembourg


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Klaus Ecker

    What: Brussels Airlines Avro RJ-85 EN ROUTE from Milan to Brussels
    Where: Basel Switzerland
    When: Aug 2nd 2010
    Why: While en route, the flight developed cabin pressurization problems. The crew decided to divert to Luxembourg where they made a safe landing. No indication is provided as to the source of the issue.