PR Newswire: Multiple Lawsuits Against TAM Airlines

Masry and Vititoe Partners, MIAMI, March 26 /PRNewswire/ PRESS RELEASE -- Internationally recognized aviation attorneys Steven C. Marks and Ricardo M. Martinez-Cid with the Podhurst Orseck law firm have filed a series of lawsuits on behalf of families of passengers killed in Brazil's worst airline disaster. On July 17, 2007, 199 people perished when TAM Airlines Flight 3054 slid off the runway at Congonhas Airport and slammed into an air cargo building in Sao Paulo. Today, Podhurst attorneys filed 59 wrongful death complaints related to the catastrophe in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

In addition to TAM NYSE: TAM, which is charged with its own negligence and that of its pilots and maintenance personnel, the defendants in the lawsuits are Pegasus Aviation IV, Inc.; Airbus S.A.S.; Airbus Industrie G.I.E. (EADS) (EAD.PA); Airbus Customer Services, Inc.; Goodrich Corporation NYSE: GR; and International Aero Engines AG.

"Responsibility not only lies with the companies that manufactured and handled maintenance for the aircraft," said Marks, "We believe Airbus provided inadequate customer support, simulator services, and training materials for the pilots and flight crew that replicates the performance of the aircraft in all normal and abnormal conditions."

Marks said it's clear the flight crew knew there were problems with the aircraft before the disaster because the plane's right thrust reverser had been deactivated before the flight.

"The thrust reverser is used to slow the jet down upon landing. Without an operational right thrust reverser, it didn't have enough room to stop on the runway, ending in a horrific crash when the plane skidded off the runway's edge," he said.

Podhurst Orseck filed the first lawsuit related to the crash on behalf of the family of 35-year-old Ricardo Tazoe of Miami, an employee with Banco Santander. In all of the cases, the plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial to recover financial damages for pain and suffering; lost value of life; funeral expenses; and all other damages they may be entitled to under the law.

Marks and Martinez-Cid have extensive experience handling Brazilian aviation matters. They currently represent the families of numerous passengers who were killed when Gol Transportes Aeros Flight #1907 collided with an Embraer Legacy 600 business jet over the Amazon Rainforest in September 2006.

They have represented victims in countless significant major commercial airline crashes, including those killed in the crash of Comair Flight 5191 at the Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky. in August 2006. Marks has acted as co-lead trial counsel for the California State Court plaintiffs after a Silk Air crash between Jakarta and Singapore in 1997 (successfully obtaining one of the most significant and largest verdicts in a mass disaster aviation case) and acting as lead liaison counsel for the state court and federal multi- district litigation plaintiffs' steering committees over the ValuJet Flight 592 crash in Miami-Dade County in 1996.

Based in Miami, Podhurst Orseck, P.A. concentrates exclusively in trial and appellate litigation. The firm's general tort practice places a major emphasis on aviation, automobile, products liability and medical malpractice litigation. In addition, the firm has a substantial practice in commercial, matrimonial and criminal litigation, as well as complex commercial tort litigation. Attorneys serve clients and corporations throughout the United States, and in many foreign countries. You can learn more about Podhurst Orseck by visiting the firm's website at www.podhurst.com.

Suit Filed

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)--Relatives of victims of Brazil's Tam Air CRASH filed suit in Miami seeking damages in 59 wrongful death complaints. Plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial for pain and suffering, lost value of life, funeral expenses and other damages. The TAM Airlines Flight 3054 crash killed 199 people. Masry and Vititoe's partner Podhurst Orseck filed the first case ten days after the accident occurred.

Charged are TAM S.A. (TAM), its pilots and maintenance personnel, France-based Airbus; Goodrich Corp. ( GR) of Charlotte, North Carolina; International Aero Engines AG of East Hartford, Connecticut; and Pegasus Aviation IV Inc. of Delaware. The thrust reverser slows the jet down when it lands. Without a working right thrust reverser, it didn't have enough room to stop on the runway, he said.

Atty Steven C. Marks said."Responsibility not only lies with the companies that manufactured and handled maintenance for the aircraft," and that the flight crew knew there were problems with the aircraft before the disaster because the plane's right thrust reverser had been deactivated before the flight.

Brazil's largest airline, was trying to reach agreements with families of victims and did not have an immediate comment.

src: Dow Jones Newswires; South Florida Lawyers blog

helicoptor crash along Carolina Beach Rd. Thursday March 13, 2008

Thursday March 13, 2008-Pilot John C. Miller, 18 year veteran firefighter, died in a helicopter crash behind Strickland Surplus Inc. at 5915 Carolina Beach Road in North Carolina. Miller was a member of a water rescue and recovery team and captain of Station 5. He ran a business, Wilmington Helicopter Rental & Training, and was about to take his final test to become a certified instructor. The helicoptor was a (year 2000) Robinson R22 Beta, a "trainer". Miller was the only person on board the two seater.

We extend our condolences to family and friends.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

Copter Crash Construction Catastrophe

The question is should helicopters be used as aerial cranes in construction?

Helicopters are prone to the vortex ring state (fatally settling into their own downwash), Low-G condition, Dynamic rollover and tail rotor failure, ground resonance, not to mention a serious state of vibration, (among other problems.)

Using helicopters to carry loads connected to long cables or slings to relocate heavy equipment such as large air conditioning units on tall buildings is asking for trouble.

It is not surprising that the aerial crane helicopter crashed at the Willow Island Power this weekend. The pilot was in the process of his fifth lift of the day when he started spinning and the tail rotor came off. The pilot dropped his load but managed to crash land with his props bent up, on a coal heap.

The FAA’s FSDO office is investigating the incident. The St. Louis Helicopter Company pilot's name has not been released.


src: http://www.wtap.com/home/headlines/16432916.html
http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/503230.html?nav=5061
http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=35801

Hamburg - A320 nearly crashes during crosswind approach

1st march 2008 - A320 nearly crashed during crosswind approach at Hamburgs RWY23.

This wise pilot aborted his landing and saved them all from a crash. Pilots should be able to calculate the wind direction and speed to determine if they can execute a safe crosswind landing. This plane landed safely on the second attempt.

Helicoptors: How long has this been going on?

I was looking at the news and noticed this:

Paramedics die in AirCare helicopter crashThe National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash, which may have occurred through negligent acts, i.e. failure to properly maintain the helicopter

Have we always had so many helicopter crashes or are we just hearing about them now because our information management is what it is today?

Look at all of these incidents:

• Fatal Helicoptor Crash in Nebraska
  
• Helicoptor carrying Senator Kerry, Senator Chuck Nagel and Senator Joe Biden crashes in a snowstorm.
  
• 12 left at sea after a helicopter crash
  
• Rescue Pilot walks away from Crash
  
• Families morn midair collision that killed two teenage pilots and an instructor
  
• Swedish Helicoptor Crash *you tube listed below
  
• Training an issue in Helicopter Crash
  

Swedish helicoptor crash. This was supposed to be his birthday present. Some birthday, huh.

Santa Barbara ATR-42-300 photographs

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. There are no words to describe the nightmarish war zone quality of the scene on the ground at the Santa Barbara crash site. Most of the photographs can not be shown--it is just that horrifying and heartbreaking. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims.