weather

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    Belarus: Helicopter Crash Kills 3


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Sebastian Szaty?owicz

    What: Polish Border Guard PZL Kania
    Where: near Polish-Belarusian border
    When: OCT 31, 2009
    Who: 3 fatalities
    Why: While on a routine border patrol, a pilot and two border guards lost contact. Klukowicze villagers sent out a search party after hearing a crash, but the search was hampered by fog.

    Saturday, following the scent of fuel, the wreckage was found 600 ft into Belarusian territory. The helicopter was totaled.

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    Minsk: S-Air Flight Goes Down in Storm; kills at least 5


    Pictured: A S-Air British Aerospace BAe-125-700B (only because we couldn’t find the original
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Gleb Osokin


    actual plane involved
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer LAlex

    What: S-Air Hawker-125 Executive Jet en route from Vnukovo airport in Moscow to the Minsk international airport.
    Where: Minsk
    When: October 26, 2009
    Who: Two passengers and three crew
    Why: The Russian business jet crashed Monday night into a swampy area near Minsk while on approach to the airport. 5 are confirmed dead, including CEO of the S-Air airline, Marat Romashkin. A sixth passenger was supposed to aboard but missed the flight.

    The plane failed it’s first landing and disappeared off radar. The wreckage was 2.5 miles from the airport.

    The S-Air fleet includes Yak-42D, Tu-134, Yak-40, Hawker-125-700B and Hawker-125-800B planes.

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    Colibri Crashes Stormy Mountainside in San Jose de Ocoa


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Juan Carlos Porcella

    What: Dominican Consul Eurocopter EC120 Colibri en route from Santo Domingo to San Jose de Ocoa
    Where: San Jose de Ocoa, Dominican Republic
    When: 15-OCT-2009 at 14:55
    Who: 3 aboard, all fatalities
    Why: The Colibri light helicopter took off for Ocoa from the Hotel Santo Domingo‘s heliport at 2:35 p.m. but crashed into a mountain in the south of the country in heavy rain, killing all occupants (the pilot and two passengers: first lieutenant Wilker Diaz, Manuel Checo, Yendi Vásquez)

    The last communication with the pilot was at 2:55 p.m. when he told ATC he had Ocoa in sight.
    The Dominican consul in Haiti, Carlos Castillo—whose helicopter it is—was not aboard.

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    Tragic Crash Kills Ontario Family


    Pictured: A Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Luc Brousseau

    What: Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow en route from Kingston to Sudbury, Ontario
    Where: Devine Lake in Algonquin Park
    When: Saturday October 10
    Who: Pilot Kevin Houle, wife Lorraine Houle, granddaughter Emily and her boyfriend, Michael Rollins
    Why: It is speculated that the plane ran into weather as a distress call was heard from the plane, and the weather was rainy and icy at the time.

    The plane hit a tree and one of the wings was broken.

    The family was killed in the crash.

    The plane belonged to Kevin’s company, Tracks & Wheels Equipment Brokers. Kevin had been a pilot for a couple of years.

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    Hail, Turbulence Downs Sicily Airbus


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

    What: Windjet Airbus A319-100 en route from Forli to Palermo
    Where: Catania Sicily
    When: Oct 1st 2009,

    Why: The pilot decided to divert to Catania because of severe weather conditions. On approach, the flight encountered wind shear of +50/-50 knots, severe turbulence and hail that signiicantly damaged the plane.

    Severe storms on Oct 1 in Sicily caused several deaths due to weather complications.

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    Cessna Crash in Mexico. 3 Lost.


    Pictured: a similar Cessna A185F Skywagon 185
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Hidemi Bustamante Prudente

    What: Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (FAM) Cessna 182S en route from Morelia.
    Where: Michoacán Mexico
    When: OCT 02, 2009
    Who: 3 fatalities
    Why: There was fog in the mountains, and the control tower lost contact with the aircraft as the plane was conducting aerial surveys south of the hill “La Union.”

    The cause is under investigation.

    Lost in the crash were Aviator PEDRERO ANTONIO SERGIO NAVARRETE and Air Force Lieutenant Flying Pilot VICENTE ALVAREZ Emilio Castillo and air observer, Chap. 2 / o. Infantry GARIBAY FRANCISCO JAVIER GOMEZ

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    Medical Helicopter Crashes After Delivering Patients


    PICTURED: a Eurocopter AS350B2
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Michal Nowicki

    What: OmniFlight American Eurocopter AS350B2 medical helicopter en route from Charleston to Conway
    Where: 63 miles southwest of Conway, S.C
    When: 2308 PM, ET on Friday, September 25, 2009
    Who: 3 person crew:p ilot, flight nurse and paramedic
    Why: The helicopter had dropped off a patient at about 9:35 p.m. Friday in Charleston. Thunderstorms were in the area at the time of the crash. The weather was described as “convective.”

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    Small Plane Crashes Gated Community

    What: Beech A-30 Bonanza en route from Asheville Regional Airport
    Where: crashed into Kenmure subdivision, a gated golf community
    When: September 10, 2009
    Who: 1 fatality: pilot Larry Youngblood
    Why: In foggy conditions, the plane apparently hit several trees, and landed between two house with its wings torn off. The NTSB is investigating.

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    Mexican Crash Kills 2

    What: Armada de Mexico helicopter Russian-built MI-17 chopper en route from Veracruz to Mexico City
    Where: border between Veracruz and Puebla
    When: 10-SEP-2009
    Who: 2 fatalities, 3 injuries. The two dead are a lieutenant and a mechanic
    Why: No reason is given for the crash. The weather at the time was rainy and foggy with limited visibility. Survivors were taken to hospitalization facilities in Jalapa and Perote

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    Comoros: Putting together the Black Box puzzle

    Yemenia Flight 626 from Paris to Moroni sank into the ocean on June 30, killing 152 people, with one survivor. The black boxes were found Friday.

    Just because the black boxes were found does not mean the route to discovery is on track. Apparently there was so much damage to the black boxes, there is going to be trouble recovering the data. That’s not new. In fact, usually when there is trouble reading the black boxes, investigators call in the company that made the boxes, and they are usually able to mine the data in spite of damage.

    The BEA, the French aviation authority is handling the investigation. Many of those aboard were French and/or French Comoran.

    Did they–are they–sending the boxes to the US? They’d have a better chance of recovery if they do.

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    Emirates Jet Diverts to New Delhi

    What: Emirates Airline EK514 flying from Dubai to New Delhi
    Where: Diverted to the Pakistani port city of Karachi
    When: 10.35 pm
    Who: 101 passengers, including external affairs minister SM Krishn coming from Brazil, and several senior Indian officials
    Why: After waiting for the weather over India to clear, the pilot fly back to Dubai at 11.44 pm

    Replacement flights were available (if crowded)

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    Four Die in Italian Helicopter Crash

    What: dell’eliambulanza medical emergency service helicopter
    Where: Mount Cristallo/ Mount Faloria near Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort
    When: Saturday, 22nd August 2009
    Who: 4 people on board: two engineers (co-pilot Marco Zago and Stefano da Forno), a doctor (Spaziani Fabrizio) and the pilot (Dario De Felipe)
    Why: The helicopter appeared to have hit a high voltage cable while flying in bad weather. The helicopter was in the process of responding to landslide near Rio Gere, towards Passo Tre Croci. Continued bad weather hampered recovery efforts.

    This would have been Zago’s last mission before transferring to another job.

    The remains have been recovered, however, and were taken to the hospitap mortuary in Cortina Codivilla. This hazardous area frequently requires mountain rescue services.

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    Expressjet/Continental Out of the Storm Into the Frying Pan


    An Expressjet/Continental Flight landing at Rochester
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Jonathan Icasas

    What: ExpressJet/Continental Airlines Embraer RJ145 en route from Houston to Minneapolis/St. Paul
    Where: diverted to Rochester
    When: August 9
    Who: 47 passengers
    Why: The flight was diverted by storms to Rochester and landed safely which is certainly a good thing.

    George’s Point of View

    Flight 2816 is going down in aviation customer service infamy. After landing safely at an airport with a closed terminal–with a crew that had run out of flying time so that an alternate crew had to be flown in–the passengers were basically locked in the plane overnight. After six hours of being stuck in the plane with no food, and a stinking bathroom, at 6 a m, understandably grumpy passengers streamed into the terminal to complain. It is not clear who is responsible (ExpressJet or Continental Airlines.) From the sound of the irate passengers, it’s difficult to say if they’d rather have compensation, or just be allowed in a no holds-barred boxing match with whoever is responsible.

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    Indonesian Plane Found


    Pictured: A Merpati Twin Otter plane
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Vector Grafix

    A search plane reported sighting the wreckage of the plane 20 nautical miles from Oksibil on a mountain at 9300 feet.
    Update:
    Fifteen bodies arrived at Sentani Airport, Jayapura on Thursday afternoon and taken to the Bhayangkara Kotaraja Police Hospital for autopsy. Two of the 12 passengers were babies.

    What: Merpati Nusantara Airlines de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 en route from Jayapura to Oksibil Indonesia
    Where: 20 nautical miles from Oksibil Indonesia
    When: Aug 2nd 2009
    Who: 13 passengers and 2 crew
    Why: Initially the weather was reported to be foggy, but 2 hours after the flight, thunder storms were reported. The tower has not been contacted since 10:35 and although the flight was due at 11:05, it never arrived.

    State owned PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines is sent out another twin-otter to search for the missing plane. The search was hampered by continued bad weather.

    The flight was lost while passing through the Jayapura to Oksibil route

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    Bad Landing in Bangkok, Casualty Reports Vary


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Rui Miguel

    What: Bangkok Airways Aerospatiale ATR-72-500,en route from Krabi to Koh Samui Thailand
    Where: Koh Samui Thailand
    When: Aug 4th 2009
    Who: 68 passengers and 4 crew
    Why: While landing in heavy rain, the plane skidded off runway 35 at Koh Samui and into an old unused control tower. Public reports vary (between one and 41 deaths, including the captain).

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    New Zealand Pilot Missing in Bad Weather

    What: New Plymouth Aero Club Cessna 152 en route from North Shore to New Plymouth.
    Where: Waikato, near Te Kuiti New Zealand
    When: 21 JUL 2009 1930
    Who: 1
    Why: Missing plane; circumstances largely unknown.

    At 7:30, the plane’s distress beacon was heard, and though the pilot’s last communication indicated an anticipated landing at New Plymouth by 7.50 pm, the plane never arrived at its intended destination. Search was dispached in the vicinity of the beacon 35 miles west of Te Kuiti, but weather (tornados forecast), low cloud cover, and difficult terrain proved an obstacle to the search.

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    Comoran Crash Update:

    Now that the beacons have been heard, French Navy Divers at Comoros have begun following up the search. On the 12th, their search will be assisted by underwater robotic technology.

    Only one survivor was found, 12 year old Bahia Bakari; and she has gone back to France to her father. Her mother was killed in the crash, and Bahia sustained a broken collarbone.

    The entire island is in mourning; plus there is some local disquiet because the plane that crash had been considered unfit to fly in French and European airspace, but was still allowed to fly to Comoros. (Even though the average income is $300 a year, they are not second class citizens.)

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    Yemen Airbus Crash


    The government sent a rescue crew 8 hours after the crash. The rescue plane was found 17 kilometers from land. A child–either a 5 year old boy or a 15 year old girl–was apparently found alive. Two french ships and a french airplane were already engaged in searching before Yemen sent a ship and military plane.

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    Airbus A320 Struck By Lightning


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Zach Chelsky

    What: UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 468 AIRBUS A320
    Where: SEATTLE, WA
    When: 06/22/2009
    Who: (not released)
    Why: UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 468 AIRBUS A320 AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE INFLIGHT, POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT ELEVATOR

    George’s Point of View

    Statistically, a large plane is hit by lightning an average of once every three years.

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    Northwest Airbus Double-diversion


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Martin Woudstra

    What: Northwest Airlines Airbus A330-300 en route from Rome Fiumicino Italy to Atlanta,GA
    Where: Shannon, Ireland/Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky
    When: Jun 12th 2009
    Who: 285 people on board
    Why: En route, smoke developed in the cabin supposedly from the galley. On landing, Shannon fire services sprayed the right hand main gear. Passengers debarked and re-embarked. The flight reached Atlanta but after circling, weather-caused traffic congestion in Atlanta forced the flight to land in Cincinnati.

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    Air France Press Releases

    Flight Air France 447 Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle

    Paris, 01 June 2009 – 16:44 local time
    Press release N° 4
    Air France expresses its deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the passengers and crew who were on board AF flight 447 on 31 May 2009, which disappeared somewhere between Rio de Janeiro and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

    Air France is doing its utmost to provide support to relatives and friends: counselling with physicians and psychologists as well as specially trained Air France volunteers has been set up at the airports of Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 and Rio de Janeiro.

    Air France has also established a special toll-free number for the attention of relatives and friends of passengers who may have been on board. They can use this number to obtain information on whether or not a member of their family or friends was on board.

    Phone number reserved for relatives and friends

    0800 800 812 in France,
    0800 881 20 20 in Brazil,
    and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from all other countries.

    Air France will release further information as soon as it is available.

    NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for relatives and close friends.

    Português
    Air France dirige suas sinceras condolências às famílias e amigos dos passageiros e membros da tripulação que se encontravam a bordo do voo AF 447 do dia 31 de maio, desaparecido entre o Rio de Janeiro e Paris Charles de Gaulle.

    A Air France está concentrando todos os seus esforços em dar suporte às famílias e parentes: uma assistência psicológica foi instalada no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 e no aeroporto do Rio de Janeiro. Ela é composta de médicos e psicólogos, assim como voluntários da empresa, especialmente treinados para estas situações.

    A empresa também colocou à disposição um número de telefone toll free especial de atendimento às famílias dos passageiros. Ela informa, conforme solicitação, de uma eventual presença a bordo de um familiar.

    Números de telefone reservados às famílias
    0800 881 20 20 para o Brasil,
    0800 800 812 para a França,
    e 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países

    Air France comunicará outras informações assim que elas estiverem disponíveis.

    NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias.
    Paris, 01 June 2009 – 15:59 local time
    Press release N° 3
    Air France has sent all the information in its possession on the disappearance of flight AF 447 operating the Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle route to the French Accident Investigation Bureau for civil aviation (BEA), the French organization in charge of technical investigations into civil aviation incidents and accidents, and to the aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Air France is in permanent contact with the BEA and Airbus.

    The Airbus A330-200 aircraft, registration F-GZCP, left Rio on 31 May at 7:03pm local time (12:03am in Paris). The aircraft hit a zone of stormy weather with strong turbulence at 2am this morning (universal time), i.e. 4am in Paris. An automatic message was received from the aircraft at 2:14am (4:14am in Paris) indicating a failure in the electric circuit in an area a long way off the coast.

    The aircraft was powered with General Electric CF6-80E engines.

    The aircraft had totalled 18,870 flight hours and went into service on 18 April 2005.
    Its last maintenance check in the hangar took place on 16 April 2009.

    Air France shares the anxiety and distress of the families concerned. The families are being taken care of in a specially reserved area of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2.

    A toll-free number has been opened at 0800 800 812 in France,
    at 0800 881 20 20 in Brazil
    and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from outside France.
    NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for families and close relatives.

    Português

    Air France informou ao Bureau de Investigação e Análises para a Segurança de Aviação civil, organismo responsavél na França pelas investigações técnicas sobre acidentes e incidentes da aviação civil, e para a Airbus, fabricante do avião, as informações que tem em seu poder após o desaparecimento do voo AF 447, fazendo a ligação Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle : a companhia está em contato permanente com o Bureau e com a Airbus.

    A aeronave, do tipo Airbus A330-200, matrícula F-GZCP, deixou o Rio dia 31 de maio às 19h03 (hora local).

    A aeronave atravessou uma zona de tempestade com fortes turbulências às 2 horas da manhã (horário TU) – 23 horas horário do Brasil. Uma mensagem automática foi recebida às 2h14 da manhã (horário TU = 23h14 horário do Brasil) indicando uma pane do circuito elétrico numa zona afastada da costa.

    A aeronave é equipada de motores General Electric CF6-80E.

    O avião tem um total de 18 870 horas de voo e começou a operar em 18 de abril de 2005.

    A última visita de manutenção em hangar foi feita em 16 de abril de 2009.

    A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no Salão Nobre do Galeão.

    Um toll free está disponível :
    0800 881 2020 para o Brasil
    0800 800 812 para a França,
    e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países

    NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias.
    Paris, 01 June 2009 – 15:10 local time
    Press release N° 2
    Air France regrets to confirm the disappearance of flight AF 447 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, scheduled to arrive at 11:10am local time today, as announced to the press by Air France CEO, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.

    The Airbus A330-200, registration F-GZCP, left Rio on 31 May at 7:03pm local time (12:03am in Paris).

    The aircraft hit a zone of stormy weather with strong turbulence at 2am this morning (universal time), i.e. 4am in Paris. An automatic message was received from the aircraft at 2:14am (4 :14am in Paris) indicating a failure in the electric circuit a long way from the coast.

    The Brazilian, African, Spanish and French air traffic control centres all tried to make contact with flight AF 447 but to no avail. The French military air traffic control centre tried to detect the aircraft but did not succeed.

    216 passengers were on board: 126 men, 82 women, 7 children and one infant.

    There were 12 flight crew members: 3 pilots and 9 flight attendants.

    The flight captain had a record of 11,000 flight hours and had already flown 1,700 hours on Airbus A330/A340s.

    Of the two first officers, one had flown 3,000 flight hours (800 of which on the Airbus A330/A340) and the other 6,600 (2,600 on the Airbus A330/A340).

    The aircraft was powered by General Electric CF6-80E engines.

    The aircraft had totalled 18,870 flight hours and went into service on 18 April 2005.
    Its last maintenance check in the hangar took place on 16 April 2009.

    Air France fully shares the anxiety and distress of the families concerned. The families are being taken care of in a specially reserved area of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2.

    A toll-free number has been opened at 0800 800 812 for calls from France,
    and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from outside France.
    NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for families and close relatives.

    Português
    A Air France lamenta informar o desaparecimento do voo AF 447 que efetuava a ligação entre Rio de Janeiro e Paris-Charles de Gaulle, chegada prevista às 11h10 (hora local), acaba de anunciar o Diretor Geral da Air France, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.

    A aeronave, do tipo Airbus A330-200, matrícula F-GZCP, deixou o Rio dia 31 de maio às 19h03 (hora local).

    A aeronave atravessou uma zona de tempestade com fortes turbulências às 2 horas da manhã (horário TU) – 23 horas horário do Brasil. Uma mensagem automática foi recebida às 2h14 da manhã (horário TU = 23h14 horário do Brasil) indicando uma pane do circuito elétrico numa zona afastada da costa.

    O conjunto dos controles aéreos civis brasileiro, africano, espanhol e francês tentaram em vão estabelecer contato com o voo AF 447. O controle aéreo militar francês tentou detectar o avião, sem sucesso.

    216 passageiros estão a bordo : 126 homens, 82 mulheres, 7 crianças e um bebê.

    A tripulação é composta por 12 pessoas : 3 tripulantes técnicos e 9 comissários.

    O comandante tem 11 mil horas de voo e já tinha efetuado 1700 horas no Airbus A330/A340.

    Os dois co-pilotos possuem: um 3000 horas de voo, sendo 800 horas em Airbus A330/A340 e o outro 6600, sendo 2 600 em Airbus A330/A340.

    A aeronave é equipada de motores General Electric CF6-80E.

    O avião tem um total de 18 870 heures de voo e começou a operar em 18 de abril de 2005.

    A última visita de manutenção em hangar foi feita em 16 de abril de 2009.

    A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no do Galeão.

    Um toll free está disponível :
    0800 881 2020 para o Brasil
    0800 800 812 para a França,
    e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países
    NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias
    Paris, 01 June 2009 – 13:31 local time
    First press release
    Air France regrets to announce that it has lost contact with flight AF 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, expected to arrive this morning at 11:15 local time.

    The flight left Rio on 31 May at 7pm local time.

    216 passengers are on board.

    There are 12 crew members on board: 3 pilots and 9 cabin crew.

    The following toll-free number is available in France: 0800 800 812,
    and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 outside France.

    Air France fully shares the anxiety and distress of the families of the passengers concerned. The families are been taken care of in a specially reserved area at Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 airport.

    Português

    Air France lamenta informar que se encontra sem notícias do voo AF 447 que efetuava a ligação entre Rio de Janeiro e Paris Charles de Gaulle, com chegada prevista às 11h15 da manhã (hora local).

    O voo decolou do Rio no dia 31 de maio às 19 horas locais.

    216 passageiros estão a bordo.

    A tripulação é composta de 12 pessoas : 3 tripulantes técnicos e 9 comissários.

    Um toll free está disponível :
    0800 800 812 para a França,
    e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países

    A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no do Galeão.

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    Air France Flight 447 Airbus Missing


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

    Family members can call — 0 800 800 812 for people in France and 00 33 1 57 02 10 55 for families outside France.


    What: 4 year old Air France Airbus A330-200 en route from Rio de Janeiro,RJ (Brazil) to Paris Charles de Gaulle
    Where: Missing over the Atlantic Ocean
    When: June 1
    Who: In all, there were 216 passengers (incl seven children and one baby, 82 women and 126 men) and 12 crew. 60 French citizens were on the plane. Italy said at least three passengers were Italian.The pilot had 11,000 hours of flying experience, and 1,700 hours flying this aircraft.
    Why: The last known radio contact was an automatic message made at 0133 GMT when the plane was near the Island of Fernando de Noronha; since then, the airplane has made no radio communication. Fifteen minutes after flying through a storm and strong turbulence, there was an electrical short-circuit. There is speculation that the plane may have been hit by lightning.

    Search planes left Fernando de Noronha Island looking for signs of the plane concentrating in an area 230 miles off the northeast Brazil coast. Though there is not radar over the entire ocean, the black box will be emit a signal even if it is under water.

    The flight left Rio at 7 p.m. and was expected in Paris on Monday at 11:15 a.m. By now, fuel would have run out.

    Families of the missing are being brought to an information centre at Charles de Gaulle airport.

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    Helicopter Lands in Lake

    What: Tonnesen Aviation’s Robinson R44
    Where: Y-Landing Marina on Meredith Neck, Lake Winnipesaukee
    When: May. 26, 2009 11:30 a.m.
    Who: 4 aboard
    Why: The helicopter was struck by wind gusts on approach to the landing pad, and landed in 15 foot water. Everyone made it safely to shore. Pilot was Glenn Tonnesen. Passengers include Phil Davidson.

    George’s Point of View

    I saw a comment online where someone cites the Robinson Helicopter Safety Notice:
    “Flying in high winds or turbulence should be avoided..”
    Sounds like a good idea to me.

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    Brazil Crash Kills Businessman and Family

    What: King Air 350 jet en route from Sao Paulo to Trancoso
    Where: seaside resort town of Trancoso, Bahia near the resort area of Porto Seguro. Their destination had been the Terravista complex in Bahia.
    When: 23 May 2009
    Who: Eight passengers and three crew members including Roger Ian Wright, founder of a Sao Paulo-based investment company, his wife Lucilia Lins and two children–Veronica and Felipe, two grandsons, a grand daughter, a great aunt,and the 56-year-old pilot Jorge Lang Filho
    Why: UPDATED:The plane left Sao Paulo at 6:31 pm, and crashed in a forested area near the runway at 9: 10 pm while attempting to land during a heavy storm. Prior to impact, the pilot reported that “visual and landing conditions were normal.”

    In addition to being the ex-director of Banco Garantia, Roger Wright, was the owner of Arsenal Investmentos and a friend of Prince Andrew.

    George’s Point of View

    We share the sentiments expressed on the Arsenal Investment’s website:

    Arsenal Investimentos está profundamente pesarosa diante do trágico acidente aéreo ocorrido na noite de sexta-feira, dia 22 de maio, em Trancoso, na Bahia, que tirou a vida de seu sócio-fundador, o empresário Roger Ian Wright, e de seus familiares. Diante desse momento doloroso, a empresa se solidariza com todos os amigos e parentes das vítimas.

    Arsenal Investments is deeply sorry the tragic crash occurred on the evening of Friday, on May 22 in Trancoso, Bahia, which took the lives of their socio-founder, the entrepreneur Roger Ian Wright, and their families . In this painful moment, the company in solidarity with all the friends and relatives of victims.

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    Six Fatalities in Guatemalan Crash


    What: Six-seat twin engine plane en route from the La Aurora to Belize bound for the neighboring country of Belize.
    Where: Guatemala City 200 yards (meters) from the airport
    When: Thursday 1942 GMT
    Who: Passengers included four Francisco Marroquin University professors; pilot Hector Ramos, and passengers Rafael Araneda, Claudia Porras of Araneda, Joseph Godoy, Juan Roberto Brenes and Helmuth Wintzer
    Why: The crash destroyed a home, and parts of the wreckage also ended up in a swimming pool. The cause of the crash is under investigation but bad weather is thought to be responsible. The pilot was attempting a turn when he crashed at 15th Avenue and 20th Street area near the 13th Air Force. The plane fell on house 20-21.

    Four people inside the house were shocked by the noise, but no one was hurt.

    George’s Point of View

    We offer our condolences to the families of Hector Ramos, Rafael Araneda, Claudia Porras, Joseph Godoy, Juan Roberto Brenes and Helmuth Wintzer