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    Tuesday Poland Remembered

    As activists chanted anti-government slogans, on April 10, 2012, Poland remembered the crash that wiped out 96 Russians. Memorials were placed in Warsaw at the Presidential Palace and in Smolensk, Russia, where the crash wiped out dozens of top Polish civilian and military leaders.

    Investigations concluded the crash was due to bad weather, inadequate crew training and poor guidance from Russian air traffic controllers. Some say that the disaster was not properly investigated and others say it was a deliberate assassination.

    The wreckage remains in Smolensk, and according to reports was only recently covered by a tarp to protect it from the elements.

    Jaroslaw Kaczynski, twin brother of the late president and leader of Poland’s Law and Justice party, boycotted the state ceremonies. He believes the disaster was inadequately investigated and that the state findings were in error.

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    Japan Rocket Warning Marks No Fly Zone

    Notice to airmen
    North Korea is launch of a satellite between April 12 and April 16; and as it is going up by rocket which will scatter debris, area Airlines need to be forewarned.

    At least 19 airlines including Philippine Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines and Garuda are rerouting to avoid the rocket or any falling debris. Alternative routes may add 13 to thirty minutes to flights. The Philippines has warned ships to steer from certain arieas where debris might fall into the Yellow sea. The second stage is expected to fall in water 140 km from Luzon.

    However amateur sky watchers are saying in order for the satellite to get into the correct orbit, these experts say, they risk early stages dropping on allies’. The question remains North Korea Lying About Its Rocket Launch?

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    Two Lost in Ultralight in Brazilian Rice Field


    What: Starflight Fox V6 Super #PU-ANG
    Where: Araranguá, southern Santa Catarina Brazil
    When: April 8 2012
    Who: 2 fatalities
    Why: The ultralight was in Araranguá between the towns of Marazion and in Santa Catarina when it crashed in a rice paddy that backs up to highway BR-101. Both the pilot and passenger, Pereira de Souza, 45, and Antonio Carlos Bernardino, 30, died at the scene. Bernardino owned the ultralight and the two regularly flew together. Both victims were residents of Araranguá and in an Araranguá flying club. They were taken to Instituto Médico Legal (Forensic Institute).

    Witnesses say the plane just fell from the sky into the rice field. The incident occurred at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.

    The accident is under investigations; preliminary findings are due within thirty days.

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    Miracle and Tragedy for Two UT Air Ivanyuta and Peil Families


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

    What: UT Air -ATR 72 en route from Tyumen to Surgut
    Where: Siberia
    When: April 2, 2012
    Who: 1 delayed identification
    Why: Today Russia’s Ministry of Transport suspended UTAir at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport for permitting 4 ATR-72s to depart without de-icing and anti-icing in weather conditions conducive to icing; and suspended UTAir’s ATR-72s pending the investigation.

    Only three of the twelve survivors of the UT Air crash are out of intensive care.

    The UT Air crash is a story of 31 tragedies. Amidst these terrible stories, a mistaken identification has come to light. There were four bodies in the crash which could not be identified.

    Konstantin Peil died on April 2.

    One of the passengers reported as missing, Dima Ivanyuta, had been mis-identified as Konstantin Peil. Ivanuyuta’s family was hopeful. When they went to the hospital, they found their miracle. Dima was recognized by his sister Anastasiya. His identity has been verified by DNA testing.

    It is a sad thing for Peil’s family, and a roller coaster for Ivanyuta’s family. While Peil’s family held a funeral for him Monday, Ivanyuta’s family is now praying for Ivanyuta’s recovery. Doctors expect him to recover.

    In George’s Point of View

    For the family that lost their Konstantin, I can only offer condolences.

    For the family who has found their Dmitry, we offer our congratulations. It is said he is conscious and aware and in possession of his memory so we can only wonder what shape Dima must have been in for the mistake to be perpetuated. It may be that in the critical hospital ward where he is located, no one was speaking to him by name. For the family who suddenly has their son back, no one needs to underline what a miracle it must feel. Like going from death to life. That doesn’t happen–nothing is more final. And yet you have your son back, and the possibility of hope and a future. We wish you well. The prayers of the world go with you.

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    RAF Chinook Emergency Landing in AZ

    What: RAF Boeing Chinook HC2 (CH-47D) en route from Naval Air Facility El Centro Imperial Valley, California
    Where: Arizona
    When: April 7 2012 7.30pm BST
    Who: 7 injured
    Why: A UK Chinook made an emergency landing “mishap” in Arizona, about fifteen miles from Yuma.

    Seven aboard the helicopter were examined at El Centro Regional Medical Center but were reported as both injured and uninjured. The accident occurred during a training mission. How much damage the helicopter sustained is unknown.

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    Air Tanzania Runway Overrun


    Contact photographer Ammann Martin

    What: Air Tanzania de Havilland Canada DHC-8-311Q en route from Kigoma to Dar es Salaam via Tabora
    Where: Kigoma
    When: Apr 9th 2012
    Who: 35 passengers and 4 crew
    Why: Air Tanzania was taking off from Kigoma when it suffered an engine failure. Two passengers were hospitalized with shock but there were no other injuries reported.

    Pilots rejected takeoff.

    The jet overran the runway. Local news reported that the pilots “hit a pothole” which prevented the takeoff. It is not unusual for us to end up with conflicting reasons behind accidents. We do not know if the runway was soft after recent rains. It is up to the official investigation to reveal what happened. We are just delighted that the pilots landed the plane with no loss of life or serious injury.

    The right engine separated, and the right wing incurred some damage; the nose gear collapsed. The plane has been written off with substantial damage. Unless Air Tanzania tells us otherwise, we believe this is the last de Havilland Canada DHC-8 in the fleet.

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    Forty Apartments Damaged, No Fatalities Reported, Virginia Beach Hornet

    What: US Navy – VFA-106 $29 million McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet twin-engine supersonic fighter plane en route from Naval Air Station Oceana
    Where: Virginia Beach
    When: April 6 2012, 12:00 pm
    Who: 40 apartments damaged, no fatalities, 5 injures
    Why: Going 170 mph, a student pilot was in the front seat of the two-seat Hornet and the experienced instructor was in the rear when the plane experienced a “catastrophic mechanical malfunction.” Pilots dumped fuel just before it dived into a Virginia Beach apartment complex in the Hampton Roads area (Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach, near NAS Oceana). No residents of the Mayfair Mews complex were killed in the crash, and the pilots ejected before impact. The plane experienced “catastrophic engine system failure” right after takeoff. The crash site is two miles from the base and a mile from the ocean.

    The fuel and the carbon fibers from the burning composite were a special toxic concern for first responders.

    There were seven injuries on the ground in addition to the two pilots, but no fatalities have been reported. Witnesses on the scene saw smoke billowing from the building. Bystanders found the young pilot still in his parachute, and cut him free before escorting him farther from the fire. Six buildings were damaged, but now the residents, mostly elderly, are homeless.

    The trainee in the front had at least 1 1/2 years of intensive training before boarding the F/A-18D, which is used in training and in combat. The jet was not carrying live ordnance,

    Within 24 hours of the crash, sources confirm no one was killed in the crash. The mayor, and the us fleet forces commander agree that it is miraculous that there were no fatalities.

    A fund has been established for those made homeless by the fire.

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    After Pressure Loss, Mayday, Diversion to Frankfurt


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

    What: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 en route from Milan, Italy to East Midlands
    Where: Frankfurt
    When: Apr 4th 2012
    Who: 134 passengers
    Why: Fifteen minutes after takeoff, while over Lugano Switzerland, the cabin lost pressure, deploying oxygen masks. Pilots made a Mayday announcement heard by passengers on the public address system, and descended to 9000 feet. Passengers were alarmed as they watched the alps approach at a rapid rate. In five minutes, they descended four miles. They diverted to Frankfurt Germany where they made a safe landing at at 12:00 local time.

    A replacement jet was provided.

    Three passengers were injured and hospitalized with ear problems. A news report said there were ten passengers with minor injuries. Some passengers told reporters they were panicking, but no one was screaming.

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    Friction Grinds Emirates Airbus Tire to a Nub in Hong Kong Landing


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

    What: Emirates Airlines Airbus A380-800 en route from Bangkok to Hong Kong
    Where: Hong Kong
    When: Apr 7th 2012,
    Why: Passengers on the Emirates flight disembarked on to the runway after a fast landing where two main tires burst.

    Passengers smelled the burning rubber and reported that they saw sparks.

    On landing, the brakes locked up, which pretty eliminated the tires and part of the wheel (termed an anti-skid failure.) As you can see in the snapshot, the wheels were ground flat by the friction.

    The friction just pours off the pavement in the youtube clip. No injuries were reported.

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    Colgan Main Gear Landing in Houston


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

    What: United/Colgan de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Little Rock,AR to Houston
    Where: Houston
    When: Apr 7th 2012
    Who: 31 passengers, 4 crew
    Why: While on approach to Houston, the gear did not come down. The crew performed a fly by, and ATC confirmed that the main gear were down but not the front (nose) landing gear.

    The pilots made a second approach which concluded landing on the main gear. The pilots kept the nose up as long as possible.

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    Kananaskis Pilot Dies Waiting for Air Ambulance


    What: Kananaskis Heli Tours Bell 206B JetRanger II sightseeing tour from Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino to Bow Valley
    Where: Canmore, Alberta
    When: March 30, 2012 10:30 a.m.
    Who: 1 fatality, 4 survivors
    Why: A sightseeing helicopter crashed near Grotto Mountain near Banff National Park, Canmore, killing pilot Matthew Goodine of Prince George, British Columbia. The crash occurred at 10:30 a.m. Canadian Forces Base Trenton heard the emergency beacon at 12:30 and notified the mounties. EMS did not arrive until 2:45 and the pilot died while waiting to be airlifted to a hospital in Calgary. Rescue efforts on the remote back country mountain slope were hampered by high winds and snow, along with the rugged terrain. Rescue personnel rappelled from the chopper, and the two couples from Britain were airlifted in slings to be flown to hospitals.

    It began to snow around 10:30 a.m., and that may have been a factor. Weather will delay the investigation as much as a week due to snowy forecasts. There is no black box.

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    5 Injured in Kit Plane Crash through Publix Roof


    What: Seawind 3000 kit plane built by Larry E. Sapp
    Where: Northgate Shopping Center in DeLand Florida
    When: April 2, 2012, 7:20 pm
    Who: 2 aboard, 5 injured
    Why: Taking off from Deland Municipal-Sidney H. Taylor Field Airport, the small kit plane developed engine problems and crashed into a Publix market in the Northgate Shopping Center on International Speedway Boulevard on Monday. The pilot and passenger are in critical condition. Brendan Beitler, a Stetson University student is in stable condition. Cordova and Morris Beitler were also injured.

    A fire occurred when the fuel tanks burst. Three individuals in the store were injured. The store has been closed, and 175 employees are working at other Publix. The city has issued a demolition permit.

    The plane is made of composite material and was amateur-built in 2002.

    The pilot was Kim Presbrey, an attorney from Chicago who is in the intensive care unit at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Presbry is managing partner of Presbrey & Associates Thomas Rhoades from Illinois was the passenger.

    What remains of the melted aircraft has been loaded on a flatbed trailer.

    Video shot by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office above the North DeLand Publix supermarket shortly after the kit plane crashed into the supermarket roof.

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    Octogenarian Lands Plane Beside Unconscious Pilot/Spouse

    What: C And S Manufacturing Corp Cessna 414A en route from Marco Island, Collier County, Florida to Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin
    Where: Wisconsin
    When: April 2,2012
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: After her husband John passed out at the controls of their Cessna, eighty-one year old Helen Collins took some quick lessons “on the fly” and managed to land the plane, with minor damage.

    Air Traffic Control talked to her until pilot instructor Robert Vuksanovic took his plane up to fly by her as he coached her down. The distress call came at 5:05 pm. after Collins was three hours in flight from Marco Island, Florida. On landing, Helen and her husband John were hospitalized; John was declared dead at 6:38 p.m. Helen had back pain, minor bumps and bruises and a broken rib, but her son Richard Collins did not lose both of his parents that day.

    A heroic effort from ATC, Collins and flight instructor Robert Vuksanovic.

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    Turbulence Injures UA Passengers, Crew



    Large view
    Contact photographer Paul Spijkers
    What: United Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Tampa to Houston
    Where: Louisiana
    When: April 4, 2012
    Who: 146 passengers and six crew, seven injuries
    Why: From seven to twelve people aboard United Airlines flight were injured when the plane ran into severe turbulence flying over Lake Charles Louisiana and the same cell that caused the tornadoes sweeping through Texas.

    (The number of injured reported varies. Earlier reports indicated seven injuries, three going to the hospital.) Pilots declared emergency in order to have a priority landing in Houston. From three to twelve people were hospitalized on arrival at 8:00 a.m.

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    Hard Landing in Denver

    What: United/Expressjet Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Peoria,IL to Denver,CO
    Where: Denver
    When: Apr 3rd 2012
    Who: 22 aboard
    Why: The pilot made what is described as a “hard short landing” and informed ATC that he struck the lights. To exacerbate matters, smoke was reported in the cockpit. A firefighter reported hot spots on the control panel.We haven’t heard verification if he actually hit the lights, but apparently one passenger was injured and the plane was reported as being “disabled” on the runway for two hours.

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    Grounded Planes but 31 Passengers will be IN the ground


    After Monday’s ATR crash when the pilots of the UTAir flight were returning to the airport and crashed in a snowy field, with much of the world not flying on ATR 72-200 planes, you can not believe how many people today mentioned to me their opinion that these planes should just be grounded, period. Frankly, I agree.

    There have been questions about this kind of plane since 1994, when American Eagle Flight 4181 crashed, and killed 68 people. Though the “Anti Ice” boots were “improved” this model has a known problem with ice. A TransAsia Airways crashed due to icing in 2002. Since ice is a known problem of these planes, any failure to deal with icing is surely negligence. But of course it is too soon to tell.

    There are plenty of rumors flying. (They seem to have better lift than the planes.) A Reuters article claims the black boxes indicate all engines were functioning, but there are also indications that this plane may not have been correctly or properly de-iced before takeoff, and that smoke was spotted from the engine. Not that Russian skies are particularly safe, given there were fifteen Russian crashes last year alone.

    Russia is not particularly known for keen government supervision of the Russian sky or some of their crumbling airports either, for that matter, but grounding ATR 72-200 aircraft is a step in the right direction. Let’s just see if they pull aging aircraft, look at crew training or start considering safety over profits.

    Even if they do, it won’t bring back the decedents.

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    UT Air Crashes in Siberia, 43 aboard, Casualties Climbing


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

    What: UT Air -ATR 72 en route from Tyumen to Surgut
    Where: Siberia
    When: April 2, 2012
    Who: 39 passengers aboard, 4 crew, casualty numbers pending.
    Why: ATC lost communication with the plane not long after it was underway. It went down not long after takeoff, about thirty kilometers from Tyumen.

    The plane was en route when it crashed near Tyumen, Siberia, Gorkovka Village. The pilots were attempting to make an emergency landing. Witnesses in Gorkovka said that the plane broke into three parts and caught fire. Most of the injured are suffering burns. The ministries of Emergency sent three planes with medical equipment, doctors and personnel.

    Initial reports are that there were 17 survivors flown by chopper to medical facilities in Tyumen. Some reports say everyone aboard died. Many of the victims are children.

    The plane caught fire after the impact. Two hundred emergency service personnel and rescuers are on the scene, and 43 emergency vehicles.

    The phone number for relatives is 8-800-775-17-17

    Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Irina Andrianova announced that a dozen people were rescued and sixteen bodies recovered. One more of the rescued died, bringing survivors to 11. One man died in the helicopter on the way to the hospital.

    Investigators are on the scene. Before anyone arrived, there was already speculation of pilot error and “technical difficulties.” The flight data recorders have already been recovered.

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    Japan Airlines Landing in High Winds Suffers Tail Strike, Go-Around, No Injuries

    What: Japan Airlines Boeing 777-200 en route from Shanghai Hongqiao to Tokyo
    Where: Tokyo
    When: Mar 31st 2012 4:08 pm
    Who: 296 passengers, 12 crew
    Why: On approach to Tokyo, the plane was just above the runway when gusty wind made the pilots chose to go around. On the go-around, the tail scraped the runway. In spite of significant damage to the plane, the second approach resulted in a safe landing about thirty minutes later.

    The Japan Safety board sent three inspectors on Sunday.

    The rear section of the plane’s body sustained scratches, and the pressure bulkhead between the cabin and tail was “slightly misshapen.” No injuries were reported.

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    Missing Light Craft Discovered Crashed in NZ field

    What: Zenair CH 601 UL Zodiac microlight en route from Ohakea to Dargaville
    Where: South Head, Kaipara NZ
    When: April 1, 2012
    Who: 2 aboard, 2 fatalities
    Why: The microlight crashed in a field in South Head, Kaipara, NZ after sending a distress call at 1 pm. The flight went missing at 1, and was found before 7 when weather delayed the recovery of the bodies.

    The owner of the field (on Fuller Rd in South Head, about 31km north of Helensville) contacted authorities after finding the microlight wreckage around two. The medic who arrived by chopper found both passengers deceased. The cockpit was crushed, and the tail shattered. There was no fire. Officials are investigating but the names of the victims have not been released.

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    Piper Crashes near Holitna River

    What: Private (Richard Wilmarth) Piper PA-18A-150 Super Cub
    Where: near the Holitna River, Red Devil, Alaska
    When: March 30 2012, 5:30
    Who: 2 aboard, 2 fatalities
    Why: A red and white Piper Super Cub owned by Richard Wilmarth, crashed while apparently attempting to land on a private airstrip near the Holitna River. Wilmarth and his passenger Kenneth Mellick died in the crash.

    Aircraft Registration (N7276D)
    Summary
    1957 PIPER PA-18A
    Fixed wing single engine
    (2 seats / 1 engine)
    Owner WILMARTH RICHARD C
    RED DEVIL, AK
    (Individual)
    AIRWORTHINESS Standard/Normal
    Serial Number 18-5685
    Engine
    LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
    Horsepower: 180 (Reciprocating)
    WeightLess than 12,500lbs
    Speed 97mph
    Mode S Code 52340273
    Certificate Issue Date 1977-05-03
    Airworthiness Date 1974-06-18
    Last Action Date 2011-09-12
    Expiration 2014-09-30

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    India Bucking the EU System

    From January 1st, European Union imposed a carbon levy on air travel. In support of this, carriers air carriers submit their emission stats.

    In a March statement, India opposed the EU Joint declaration. It appears that the government of india has boycotted the directive and forbidden its carriers to comply under the concept that it is a trade levy in disguise. India follows China, who in February forbade its carriers to comply.

    The cost of the measure will add from 4 to 24 euros to the cost of each round trip flight.

    Expect to see backlash escalating trade conflict with countries opposing the ETS as governments resist or comply and trade repercussions ensue such as China’s suspension of 12 billion in Airbus orders.

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    Emergency Landing in Memphis

    What: Expressjet/United Express en route from Memphis to Houston
    Where: Memphis International Airport
    When: March 30, 2012
    Who: 44 passengers
    Why: The Expressjet had such a rocky take-off the pilot announced to the passengers he was flying over the tower to see if there was something wrong.

    There was something wrong. He had a flat, the tower observed.

    The jet landed safely at Memphis International Airport with emergency services on standby. After passengers disembarked, they were provided overnight accommodations until the replacement flight arrived (Saturday.)

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    Rolls Royce Trent Engine Defection Causes Singapore Airlines Airbus toReturn to Origin

    What: Singapore Airlines Airbus A380-800 en route from Singapore to Frankfurt
    Where: Singapore
    When: Mar 27th 2012
    Who: 430 passengers
    Why: While en route, the Airbus’s number three engine surged. Pilots shut down the engine and returned to Singapore.

    The engine involved was one of four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines. A “surge” refers to “a disruption of airflow that affects an engine’s normal operation.”

    A Nov 2010 engine explosion that forced an emergency landing in Singapore initiated a grounding of Qantas entire A380 fleet in order to determine the safety of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines.

    Passengers were provided an alternative flight to Germany.

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    Air Ambulance Emergency Landing

    What: ORNGE AugustaWestland air ambulance en route from Billy Bishop island airport to a patient west of Toronto
    Where: Colonel Samuel Smith Park south of Lake Shore Boulevard West.
    When: March 23, 2012, 6:00 pm
    Who: 2 pilots, 2 medics
    Why: While en route to pick up a Toronto patient, the air ambulance door opened and a window blew out. The pilots had to make an immediate emergency landing near Humber College.

    No one was injured, but they had been in jeopardy. Sn ORNGE insider said if the door or window hit the tail rotor “it could have been catastrophic.”

    Two aircraft engineers removed the faulty door. The flight crew flew the chopper back to the airport for examination.

    A known problem of the AW139 is the helicopters tail rotors. An EASA directive of Aug. 19 2011 ordered helicopter owners to replace the tail rotors after 600 hours of flight following a fatal accident “possibly caused by cracks in a TR (tail rotor) blade.”