Big Jets Bring Big Runway Issues, Will FAA Make Matters Worse?

April 12, 2011

The FAA’s Annual Runway Safety Report 2009 states: The mission of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Runway Safety is “To improve runway safety in the United States (U.S.) by decreasing the number and severity of surface incidents and runway incursions.” In light of the recent runway incursion at John F. Kennedy International Airport on […]

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Southwest Airlines Structural Failure Points to Flaws In Commercial Aviation System

April 4, 2011

The key language in the flurry of posts surrounding the Southwest Airlines 737-300 fuselage fatigue on Saturday is what Mike Van de Ven, Southwest’s chief operating officer, said in a statement: “Prior to the event regarding Flight 812, we were in compliance with the FAA-mandated and Boeing-recommended structural inspection requirements for that aircraft. What we saw with […]

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FAA Launches General Aviation Safety Program

March 28, 2011

FAA safety teams will visit close to 100 GA events beginning April 2, beginning with the annual Sun ‘n Fun gathering in Lakeland, FL., in an effort to engage pilots in safety and awareness programs and discussions with the goal of bringing fatal accident rates for general aviation down another 10 per cent in the […]

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TSB Cites Several Causes In Cougar Helicopters Flight 491 Crash In Newfoundland

March 6, 2011

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released its final report on the March 2009 helicopter crash in which 17 people were killed.  The report states a “complex web” of factors combined to cause the tragedy.  The Sikorsky S-92A was transporting workers to the Hibernia and Sea Rose offshore oil rig when the aircraft went […]

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WHAT TO DO AFTER A HARROWING AIRLINE EXPERIENCE

February 16, 2011

If you have flown commercially at all, you probably have had one of those commercial airline flights which caused you to wonder if you were going to get to the ground safely.  In fact, you might have been scared almost to death. It has happened to me.  I was on a regional propjet out of […]

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New Safety Regulations Aimed To Keep Sleepy Pilots Out Of The Cockpit, ATA Disagrees

February 14, 2011

According to Senator Charles Schumer of New York, the industry is trying to “water down” the August 2010 safety regulations he sponsored after 50 people lost their lives in the February 2009 crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407. The new regulations include more training for pilots, crew, flight attendants, engineers and dispatchers to be in […]

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THE CAUSES OF HELICOPTER CRASHES – Part 1

February 3, 2011

The start of this analysis must be the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) and its web site. The IHST was created in 2004 by manufacturers, operators, government agencies and NGO’s to slow the increasing rate of helicopter accidents.  The accident rate amont all other aircraft modes was decreasing, and this group set out to find […]

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Helicopter Safety – Why Helicopters Crash and How to Prevent Accidents

February 1, 2011

There has been much on the internet lately about helicopter crashes and their causes.  Not only do the accidents continue, but it seems every day someone is sending out messages–with a wide range of credibility–giving his or her view on why helicopters crash. It’s time we weighed in by starting a new, ongoing series concerning […]

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Mentally Behind the Power Curve

January 27, 2011

“Bonanza 47S, following your turn to 270°, you will be cleared to descend to 4,500 feet and commence the back course ILS for landing runway 27L.  Call the outer marker inbound commencing.  Switch to tower frequency 237.50.  Traffic will be a Cessna crossing right to left, co-altitude.  Skies are partially obscured, 3/4 mile visibility with […]

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Addressing Criminal Prosecutions In Aviation Disasters

January 21, 2011

In reference to our blog regarding criminalization of aviation accidents, posted here on December 10, 2010, I wanted to post the following book review that I just did on Flying in the Face of Criminalization. The review will be published in The Times of London Higher Education Magazine within the next month or so. The […]

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