What: 1976 Cessna 182P Skylane Where: near Kewanee Municipal Airport When: Nov 23, 2009 , 5:45 pm Who: pilot Harold D. Middleton, his wife Peggy G. Middleton and their fourteen year old grandson Austin Middleton Why: A half a mile south of the airport, just after takeoff, the Cessna crashed in a corn field.
Fourteen year old Austin walked across the corn field to the airport, following the airport lights through the dark.
After reporting the accident, he was hospitalized, as was the pilot, his grandmother. His grandmother died at Kewanee Hospital.
What: Tamir Airways Robinson R44 en route from Tel Aviv Sde Dov airfield Where: Sironit beach in Netanya, Israel When: Nov 24, 2009 Who: 4 on board, the , Yoav Tamir from Tel Aviv and Ran Lapid from Nes Tziona, Hadar Shavit, 39, from the town of Lapid and a tourist from the UK. Why: The investigation is considering a technical failure suspected to have caused the fatal accident and the possibility that the propeller broke in mid flight.
Pilot Ran Lapid, was an experienced helicopter pilot but human error is not ruled out as a cause.
Witnesses heard “an unusual noise” prior to the helicopter landing in the water and “saw it slowly descend toward the water…flip 90 degrees, the propeller hit the water and broke off and the helicopter dove into the water.”
There were no survivors but all the remains have been found.
What: Frontier Airlines Airbus A319-100 en route from Kansas City, MO to Denver Where: Kansas City When: Nov 24 2009 Why: After take-off, the plane struck several geese. The right engine had to be shut down immediately. The plane immediately returned to the airport to land within ten minutes. This is after the same plane flew through a flock of birds last week, sustaining damage in both engines.
What: Dagestan Airlines Tupolev TU-154 en route from Makhachkala Russia to Sharjah Where: Makhachkala When: Nov 24th 2009 Who: 55 passengers and 12 crew Why: After take-off, there were complications with an engine, prompting the flight crew to shut it down. The flight returned to the airport and made a safe landing. Passengers debarked and were provided alternative transportation.
What: Aer Lingus Airbus A321-200 en route from London to Cork Where: Dublin When: Nov 24th 2009 Who: 117 passengers Why: Although the plane completed the Cork to London flight, the return leg London to Cork had to divert to London when the plane experienced (non-specific) problems with its rudder.
A replacement flight flew in to Dublin to provide passengers the rest of the return flight.
What: Easyjet Airbus A319-100 en route from Paris to Nice Where: Paris When: Nov 21st 2009 Who: N/A Why: While en route, the Airbus control panel indicated that the gear door remained open after the gear was retracted. The plane returned to the Orly airport for a safe landing.
Note: We don’t have a follow-up indication telling us if this was a technical problem, a physical problem, or if the sensors or software was just overly sensitive.
Airbus wants to do the impossible. Always pushing aviation physics to be bigger than we thought it was possible to be.
There’s a whole lot of buzz about Airbus’s superjumbo elephantine double-decker, wide-body, four-engine jets with seating for up to 853 people. The families who have lost loved ones at sea–especially those in the recent Airbus flight 447 and the Comoros crash–must feel crushed when they hear about expensive Airbus efforts to make their already huge aircraft series break more size records.
Maybe Airbus should stop trying to be the biggest plane on the block, and work a little harder on safety. If they were as safe as they are big, there would be 380 families not in mourning today. Yes, 380. Here’s the biggest irony.
There were 152 fatalities in the Airbus crash in the Comoros. There were 228 fatalities in AF 477. Does anyone else find it macabre and frightening that that adds up to 380? I’m not a numerologist, but that’s awfully disturbing–
Airbus needs to rethink their entire aviation philosopy, stop making these monstrous death traps, go back to the drawing board, and correct the defects of the planes they already have in service.
If they had done so already, there would be at least 380 mothers, fathers, and children still alive.
Or they should be responsible, and ask that their planes be grounded until they are made safe.
Airbus needs to stop throwing money at air shows, and start compensating the families of those that have died or been injured due to design flaws of Airbus planes.
Yes, even the much vaunted new jet has niggling problems surfacing all of the time, but the flaws in the Airbus 380 skywhale behemoth are being downplayed by the powers that be.
Issues have been found with all of these systems:
a braking system fault
a plethora of system nuisance warnings based on alleged over-sensitivity
weight growth during development
fuel tank indication
nose wheel steering
This is just what has come to light so far.
Please, let’s go back to the drawing board Airbus, for the sake of your human family. There is nothing, nothing, nothing you can do to bring joy back to 380 families who remain wounded, broken, with holes in their lives that can never be filled, lives that have been deformed by damage that can not be undone. Airbus, you want to do the impossible, be ever bigger. How about doing something in the realm of the possible? Let your heart be big. Step up to the plate, and compensate the grieving, who are suffering from lives lost in Airbus planes. This is beyond the physics of aviation and above the laws of man. It’s the right thing to do.
What: Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Istanbul to Konya Where: Istanbul When: Nov 22 2009 Who: 101 passengers Why: While en route, the crew received an open cargo door indication. The plane returned to Ataturk Airport and made a safe landing. Passengers debarked and transferred to alternative flights.
What: South Korean Forestry Service Kamov Ka-32T Where: Jeolla lake, Yeongam County, South Jeolla South Korea When: Nov 23 2009 Who: 3 on board Why: The helicopter was participating in training for dumping water on forest fires when it crashed. Rescuers found the wreckage in the lake, with only its tail protruding above the water line.
The aviation office lost contact with the helicopter about 12:15. It was practicing filling up the tank with water from the lake. Since the weather is calm, it is not known if wind was a factor, or practice, or if this was a case of mechanical failure. Sixteen Russian model Ka-32Ts are in use by the forestry service, to put out forest fires.
The deceased are a 52-year-old crew chief named Park, and a 46-year-old and a 44 year old, both named Lee.
What: AMI 46′ Brigata Aerea Lockeed C-130J Hercules Where: Le Rene, near Coltano Italy When: Nov 23, 2009 Who: 5 airmen (two pilots and three officers) Why: While en route, the Lockeed C-130J Hercules crashed on the railway line Pisa-Collesalvetti-Cecina, killing all aboard the plane.
The crew was from the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa, out practicing the “touch and go” maneuver. The plane had touched and was gaining altitude when it veered to the right and crashed.
Although the plane crashed on the train tracks in a widespread area, train traffic was not disrupted.
The Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi expressed condolences to the families of the five victims.
What: JAL Japan Airlines/ J-Air Canadair CRJ-200 en route from from Osaka Itami to Yamagata Japan Where: Nagoya When: Nov 23rd 2009 Who: 17 on board Why: While en route, the plane’s generator began running too hot. The flight diverted to Nagoya where they made a safe landing. The cause of the problem appeared to be a faulty cable.
What: TACA Peru Airbus A321-200 en route from Lima Peru to Buenos Aires Where: Resistencia Argentina When: Nov 23rd 2009 Who: 180 passengers Why: While en route, the flight encountered a high altitude hail storm, which cracked the windshield. The flight diverted to Resistencia after the crack was found. There is no indication if the crack caused a disruption of cabin pressure; however passengers were still booked on alternative flights on landing.
Bombardier Aerospace today celebrated another major milestone in the CSeries aircraft programme as construction got under way on its new state-of-the-art aircraft wing manufacturing and assembly facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
“This is another significant milestone in the ongoing development of the CSeries aircraft programme. In August, the test fuselage barrel arrived ahead of schedule at our St-Laurent, Québec site, from China, and in September we celebrated the groundbreaking of our first CSeries aircraft manufacturing building in Mirabel, Québec. The CSeries aircraft programme is progressing well and to schedule, and we look forward to receiving the first test wing from Belfast in 2011,” said Guy Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace.
The new 600,000 sq ft (55,742 m2) factory is being built in two phases and will incorporate an existing production building. The facility’s design and layout are being optimised both for the production process and to minimise environmental impact. The structure will ensure maximum energy efficiency, and will incorporate low energy solutions into its mechanical and electrical infrastructure. Waste management was also a key consideration in the design, with a particular focus being given to waste segregation and recycling.
Joining Michael Ryan, Vice President and General Manager, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast to lay a special corner stone to mark the construction was Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster, along with guests including contractors.
“We are delighted to mark this major investment in a new facility for the production of advanced composite aircraft wings. The CSeries aircraft programme will help to build on our track record of almost 40 years experience in composites technology. We are currently testing and proving out the design, manufacturing and assembly processes for the CSeries aircraft wing. We are making excellent progress and are very pleased with the results so far,” said Michael Ryan.
“Just over a year ago, the CSeries aircraft project was announced. Today we have laid the corner stone for a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. This is a 20-year programme which will generate around 800 high quality jobs at Bombardier Belfast in addition to the many employment opportunities during the build phase for the local construction sector during the current downturn,” declared Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster.
“Locating the CSeries aircraft wing project in Northern Ireland is a clear endorsement of the expertise and skill which exists in our aerospace sector and highlights our international reputation for excellence. As this project develops, I hope that there will be further opportunities for Bombardier and Invest Northern Ireland to strengthen the Northern Ireland aerospace industry,” she added.
Bombardier Belfast has successfully assembled a pre-production demonstrator wing using its innovative Resin Transfer Infusion advanced composites process, and is on track to begin testing this in early 2010. Testing will be undertaken in a specialised test rig where hydraulic jacks will be used to induce bending and twisting into the wing structure, replicating every possible combination of severe loading that the wing may experience in service.
Almost 400 engineering and support staff in Belfast are currently engaged in the research and development of the wings. Some 800 jobs will be generated during full production, as well as many more in the wider supply chain. In addition, around 450 construction personnel are involved in this first phase of the building project.
“We are delighted that Bombardier Belfast’s capabilities and skills, as well as the wider economy, will benefit strongly from the CSeries aircraft programme,” Mr Ryan added.
Since launching the CSeries family of aircraft at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2008, Bombardier has recorded firm orders for 50 CS100 and CS300 aircraft from Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Lease Corporation International Group. The CSeries aircraft, which are optimized for the longer range, single-aisle 100- to 145-seat market, will deliver the lowest operating costs in their class, exceptional operational flexibility, wide body comfort and an unmatched environmental scorecard.
AVIC, China’s aviation manufacturing conglomerate, is a risk-sharing partner for Bombardier’s latest CSeries aircraft due to enter service in 2013.
Shenyang Aircraft Corp, the subsidiary of AVIC, designs and produces the center fuselage for the new CSeries. Bombardier will develop China’s ARJ21-900 regional jet, help to enhance the competitiveness of the ARJ21-900 and explore commonalities between the ARJ21-900 and Bombardier CSeries.
So far, Bombardier has 25 CSeries aircraft.orders from Lufthansa and 25 from Lease Corporation International. Shenyang Aircraft Corp builds the fuselage for Bombardier’s 70-seat Q400 turboprop regional airliner.
What: Iberia Airbus A320-200 en route from Brussels Belgium to Madrid, Spain Where: Bordeaux When: Nov 22nd 2009 Who: 94 passengers and 6 crew Why: While en route from Brussels, the flight experienced a loss of cabin pressure. The plane performed an emergency descent, and diverted to Bordeaux, where it landed safely.
Some passengers were treated for ear pain, but otherwise there were no medical issues reported. Passengers were booked on alternative flights.
What: Allegiant Air McDonnell Douglas MD-87 en route from Wichita,KS to Bulkhead City, AZ Where: Wichita Mid-Continent When: November 19, 2009 Who: 125 passengers and 5 crew Why: While en route, the plane recorded an engine fire indication. The left engine made an explosive noise and flames were visible coming from the (left) engine. The flight returned to the airport. The flight landed safely. Some passengers debarked via slides and some debarked via stairs.
What: single-engine Cessna 182K Skylane (registered to Harold Gartner III of Janesville, Calif) en route from Susanville to Lodi Where: Northern California near the Nevada border When: Nov 20, 2009 12:45 pm Who: pilot Why: While en route, the plane encountered bad weather, crashed and burned. The crash occurred two miles north of the airport.
What: Lancair Legacy 2000 Where: 2276 Freedom Boulevard, Watsonville, CA When: Nov 21, 2009 Who: 1 fatality Why: On approach to the Watsonville Municipal Airport, the plane’s engine was on fire. ATC lost contact with the pilot.
The wreckage was found on the apple orchard property at 2276 Freedom Boulevard, Watsonville, CA.
What: Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow II en route from Hammonton Mun. Airport Where: Myrtle Street, Atlantic County, NJ When: NOV 21, 2009 Who: pilot Why: After takeoff, the engine failed. The pilot landed safely in a nearby field.
What: Cape Air/Hyannis Air Service Cessna 402C en route from Boston to Martha’s Vineyard. Where: Barnstable Municipal Airport HYANNIS, MA When: Saturday Nov 22, 8 pm Who: Pilot and 5 passengers Why: At 7:15 prior to a flyby of the airport, Pilot John Call reported to ATC that his indicator revealed a nose gear problem .
On landing on a retracted, or not fully locked gear, the nose gear on the plane collapsed and struck the tarmac. No injuries were reported. Emergency crews were standing by
Air France Airbus A380 crosses the Atlantic and lands at JFK. Passengers commented on how weirdly quiet the plane is inside, not being able to hear the engines.
A380-800 Brake test in overweight landing situation.
Dynamometer energy: 125.2 MJ
Brake application speed: 90.07 m/s
Stop distance: 1120 m
Mean deceleration: 3.62 m/s/s
Energy absorption rate: 5.04 MJ/s
Air France on Friday became the first European airline to operate the double-decker Airbus A380 in commercial service, completing its inaugural flight from Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
Thank god for the success of this flight. In an earlier flight this time of the year (November) in 2007, during testing, an an Airbus 340-600 crashed through a barrier and rammed into a wall at the Toulouse-Blagnac airport. Nine on board, and one person on the ground were injured. When the airplane’s four engines were throttled up and the brakes applied, the plane lurched into the barrier and wall “for reasons still unknown.”
What: Delta Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Santo Domingo to New York Where: Santo Domingo When: Nov 20th 2009 Who: 142 passengers Why: About to take-off, the plane had two flat tires, and had to be towed. Passengers debarked, the flight was cancelled; and the airline provided hotel accommodations for the passengers.
What: Contact Air /Lufthansa Fokker 100 en route from Stuttgart to Berlin Where: Stuttgart When: Nov 20th 2009 Who: 75 passengers Why: While en route, the gear proximity sensor failed, indicating that gear was indicated unsafe after retraction. The flight returned to Stuttgart, and had to be towed as nose gear steering was inoperable.
What: Brussels Airlines Airbus A330-300 en route from Kinshasa N’Djili to Brussels Where: Kinshasa When: Nov 19th 2009 Who: 125 passengers Why: While en route, one of the planes engines exceeded vibration limits and had to be shut down. The plane returned to Kinshasa and made a safe landing.
What: US Airways Airbus A330-300 en route from Philadelphia to Madrid Where: Atlantic When: Nov 17th 2009 Who: not available Why: Over thirty minutes into the flight, the flight experienced computer problems and turned around to return to Philadelphia.
