Vibrating Boeing in Russia

What: A Skyexpress Boeing 737-500 en route from Moscow Vnukovo to Sochi (Russia)
Where: Moscow's Vnukovo Airport
When: Apr 4th 2009
Who: 69 passengers and 6 crew
Why: When instrumentation revealed unacceptable (dangerous) vibration of the left hand engine, the pilot shut down the left engine down, and burn off fuel before landing back at the airport of origin an hour after takeoff. There were no injuries.

George’s Point of View

Maintenance.
Maintenance.
Maintenance.

---- nuff said.

Flat Tire Tornado Diverts Airbus to Spain

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Paul Markman
What: British Airways Airbus A319-100 en route from London Gatwick to Gibraltar.
Where: Malaga Spain
When: Apr 3rd 2009
Who:
Why: Airbus passengers got a little extra traveling in when the runway at their Gibraltar destination airport was blocked by a Tornado fighter with burst tires after its brakes overheated on landing.

The British Airways jet flew on to Malaga Spain where the runway was thankfully NOT blocked; and the plane was able to land safely, and allow passengers to take a bus ride back to Gibraltar, their actual destination.

And for those individuals left planeless at the Gibraltar gate, eventually the Tornado was moved off the runway; and the Airbus was able to land and pick up those passengers.

Continental Safely Lands Hot Plane

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Mark Kryst
What: Continental Airlines Colgan Air de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Newark to Montreal .
Where: Burlington,VT
When: Apr 3rd 2009
Who: 33 passengers and 4 crew
Why: The pilot and crew reported high temperatures, requesting diversion to Albany, NY. They shut down the left engine but decided against Albany because of weather (severe precipitation), and landed instead at Burlington,VT.

George’s Point of View

Emergency landings are always a cause for concern. The pilot who responds with a cool head and skill in an emergency situation is to be commended.

What about the maintenance of the plane? Who chose to fly instead of maintain, or to maintain in half-measures? Someone needs to look into this--

Ill Infant Lands for Emergency Surgery in Russia

What: Russian plane en route to Moscow
Where: Volgograd, southern Russia
When: was forced to make an emergency landing
Why: A six-month old girl with Hydrocephalus was being flown from Nalchik to Moscow for surgery, but during the flight the baby lost consciousness. The plane made an emergency landing so the baby could receive immediate treatment.

George's Point of View

Prayers for the baby that her surgery was a success.

Eagle Lands for Rubber Strip

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Charin deSilva
What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-135, registration N847AE en route from New York JFK,NY to Toronto,ON
Where: John F. Kennedy
When: Apr 1st 2009
Who: 26 on board
Why: Rubber window strip on the right side detached and the plane returned to JFK. Passengers debarked and boarded another plane to finish their flight.

Helicopter Update: 16 Passengers All Lost

The Bond website is temporarily suspended.

Helpline phone number for relatives is 01224 836479


Pilot Paul Burnham, 31, from Methlick, Aberdeenshire
Co-pilot Richard Menzies, 24, of Droitwich Spa, Worcs.
Oil workers from Aberdeen; Raymond
Brian Barkley, 30
James Costello, 24,
Vernon John Elrick, 41
Alex Dallas, 62,

Oil workers
Doyle, 57, of Cumbernauld
James John Edwards, 33, of Liverpool,
Nairn Ferrier, 40, of Dundee,
Nolan Carl Goble, 34, of Norwich,
Gareth Hughes, 53, of Angus,
Warren Mitchell, 38, of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire,
David Rae, 63, of Dumfries,
Leslie Taylor, 41, of Kintore,
Aberdeenshire
Stuart Wood, 27, of Newmacher, Aberdeen.

The name of one Latvian victim has not been released.

March 31-April 1 was a Busy Day

George's Point of View

Let me know if you want the details here, I barely know what to choose. No deaths were reported with any of these incidents. (Altogether, it does look like our aviation has been taken over by the keystone cops)

I think my favorite is the plane that stuck a deer, in Kill Devil Hills. Though I do have some regrets for the deer. Do you think he had his pilot's license or was officially a "Devil"? For the deer's sake, I am hoping this was an April Fools Day joke.

Seriously folks. Maintain the planes.

• AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED AND CRASHED, NEAR GRIFFIN, GA;
  
• AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, GEAR COLLAPSED, AND PROP STRUCK THE RUNWAY, LANCASTER, TX
  
• AIRCRAFT DURING HIGH SPEED TAXI RUN, BRAKES CAUGHT FIRE, AURORA AIRPORT, SUGAR GROVE, IL
  
• AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A WOODED AREA, LINCOLN PARK, NJ
  
• AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF, STRUCK A BIRD, RETURNED AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT, PHILADELPHIA, PA
  
• AIRCRAFT ON LANDING ON A ROAD, GROUND LOOPED AND WING STRUCK A TREE, 40 MILES FROM BEAVER, UT
  
• N901DA, DELTA AIRLINES FLIGHT 1220 MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD 90 AIRCRAFT, ON PUSHBACK FROM GATE, DOOR STRUCK THE JETWAY, NO INJURIES REPORTED, DAMAGE IS UNKNOWN, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
  

April 1

• AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP AT A GRASS AIRSTRIP, BATAVIA, NY
  
• AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, STRUCK A DEER, KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC
  
• AIRCRAFT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE, CRASHED INTO A FIELD, TAYLOR, TX
  
• AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD, NEAR FRANKLINVILLE, NJ

Boeing Emergency Landing in Bangor.

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Dan Vincent - New England Airports
What: United Airlines Boeing 767 Flight 923 London to Washington, D.C.
Where: Bangor International Airport
When: 4/01/09, 10:00 am
Who: 178 passengers and 11 crew members
Why: Pilots said there was smoke in the cockpit and that one of the plane's two engines failed. They landed safely at Bangor International Airport, Maine.

Air Canada Airbus A333 Diverted for Illness and Bad Manners

George's Point of View

Sometimes you really have to wonder what air travel is coming to--especially when you hear about the Air Canada Airbus (you know I keep an eye on those Airbuses)--that stopped for a medical emergency. That's not the big thing--the big thing is after the medical emergency, we had yet ANOTHER person whose basic bad manners caused enough disruption for the authorities to be called. Apparently a Toronto TV and radio host decided to pitch a fit on the plane. Drunk, cussing and escorted off by police to sleep it off in the drunk tank. I prefer my flights without that kind of live entertainment, thank you very much. Maybe the airlines should start giving a little deportment test before every flight, and those who flunk have to go to a session of charm school NOT run by Larry King.

I started to put up a new category, "cracked passenger" right above "cracked windshield" but decided to settle for "disruptive passenger."

And below, for those who are here for the aircraft, please note the plane, when it is in operation and NOT boarded by publicity hounds.

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

What: Air Canada Airbus A330-300, registration C-GFUR en route from London to Toronto
Where: St. John's, Canada
When: Mar 31st 2009
Who: Shall remain nameless simply on general purposes
Why: see above.
src avherald.com

* This incident is NOT to be confused with Robert McDonald, of Glasgow, who opened an emergency exit hatch as his flight waited out two and a half hours of bad weather delay at JFK.

* OR Southwest Flight 1402 where a large woman started pummeling someone for touching her

* OR American Airlines Flight 1343 from Charlotte to Dallas/Fort Worth where a man ran and jumped into a plane to slide down the the inflatable exit slides

North Sea Helicopter Crash: 18 on board

Actual helicopter G-REDL NOT pictured
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer
What: Bond Helicopters Eurocopter AF332 L2 Super Puma crashed
Where: In the sea off north-east Scotland
When: 2pm Wednesday April 1
Who: 16 people
Why: Returning from an oil platform, the helicopter crashed in the North Sea

Normand Aurora supply vessel was in the area and is looking for survivors and RNLI lifeboats from Peterhead and Fraserburgh are racing to the scene.

Relatives of victims have been asked to call 01224 836479.

You may remember Bond Helicopters Feb 18 crash in which 18 people on board survived. That was when individuals were allowed to wear transmitters. (Currently there are safety concerns over the use of personal distress beacons--they are NOT allowed because they interfere with the on board transmitter.)

George's Point of View

When I was 16, I took my hard earned bucks and purchased a used car, my first car. And my Dad said, "Son, you have to change the oil regularly. Check the water in the radiator, air in your tires and take it to a mechanic regularly for a checkup."

Aviation vessels need simple attention and lots of love and care by mechanics.

You have to wonder about maintenance. Some planes, helicopters, are busy all day long, taking off and landing. When are they on the ground enough to get checked?

At this time, eight dead have been found. Would they all have been found alive if they had been allowed PCBs (Personal Locator Beacons) like in Bond's February crash where they had PCBs and were rescued?

Smoke on Boeing...

Pictured: UA Boeing 767-322
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer
What: United Airlines Boeing 767 en route from London to Washington D.C.
Where: Bangor International Airport
When: Wednesday April 1
Who: 178 passengers
Why: When the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit, the plane was granted permission to land at Bangor International, which it did, safely.

George's Point of View

I worry about all emergency landings, I’ve experienced just one.

When I see a United doing an emergency landing for any reason, my skin creeps because I fly United all the time. No pun intended.

Emergency On Board

When you read about an on board medical emergency such as the Continental Airlines medical emergency, it does make one think about the potential for on board emergency rooms. Not only is the technology (two-way air-to-ground RDT equipment) available, it is becoming cost effective, especially considering the expense of a 525-passenger Airbus A380 making an emergency landing can cost up to $200,000. Imagine if an online emergency room could care for a critically ill individual until the flight actually reached it's destination. Or even if the equipment were only used DURING an emergency landing--it would result in a greater survival rate when a medical emergency occurs. It bears thinking about.

Accidental death verdicts

The death of 4 individuals--pilot, Martin Rhodes, 48, of Stoke-on-Trent, Simon Marshall, 51, of Lichfield, Ryan Birch, 15, and his father, Tony Birch, 52, of Wolverhampton, have been recorded as accidental deaths. They were flying to France in a Piper Cherokee light aircraft when it crashed close to the Isle of Wight Airport, in Sandown, on August 5, 2007.

source http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burtonmail-news/displayarticle.asp?id=404453 author JONATHAN HORSFALL

Airbus Emergency Landing in Toulouse

What: Air France Airbus A319-100 en route from Paris Orly to Toulouse
Where: Toulouse
When: Mar 30th 2009
Who: 115 passengers and 6 crew
Why: In flight, the left engine surged. The crew did not shut it down, but did reduce power; and the plane landed without injury with emergency crews on standby.

Air Canada Emergency Landing

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Patrick Hilverda
What: Air Canada Embraer ERJ-190, registration C-FNAW en route from Montreal Calgary
Where: Montreal
When: Mar 29th 2009
Who: 98 passengers people aboard
Why: The pilot reported slat problems and returned to the airport for a safe landing

Cessna Emergency Landing in Palm Springs

What: Cessna Citation business jet en route from Palm Springs International Airport to Winnipeg, Manitoba
Where: Palm Springs International Airport
When: 10:55 a.m Tuesday
Who: six people aboard
Why: When smoke was detected in the cabin, the pilot then burned off fuel before landing back in Palm Springs. The cause of the smoke is under investigation. No injuries.

Emergency Landing in Omaha

What: American Airlines en-route from Las Vegas to Chicago
Where: Eppley Airfield
When: ten o'clock on Monday night
Who: 140 passengers and five crew members
Why: Near Omaha, the plane lost cabin pressure. The pilot coped by dropping oxygen masks and dropping altitude from 25,000 feet to 14,000 feet. At Eppley, the passengers debarked, and took another flight to Chicago provided to them by American Airlines.

Smoke on American Airlines MD-80

Pictured: McDonnell-Douglas-MD-82 similar to the one involved in the incident
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Durning
What: American Airlines MD-80 en route from Lindbergh Field San Diego,CA to Dallas Ft. Worth,
Where: San Diego's airport Lindbergh Field
When: 6:19 p.m. Sunday
Who: 146 passengers
Why: When smoke was discerned on board, the crew turned back to land at Lindbergh field

A Bad Day to Be A Vine

What: en route from Madera Municipal Airport
Where: crash landed just south of Avenue 17 just north of the airport at the north end of Madera
When: 1:30 p.m.
Who:
Why: When the engine lost power, the pilot, attemptedan "off-runway" emergency landing. The plane ripped through a barbed wire fence, skidded across the road and ended up in a vineyard after taking out a few rows of vines. The pilot was taken to Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno; the passenger was airlifted to the same hospital.

also:
What: 1006N EXP AEROCONVER Fixed Wing Single-Engine
Where: PASO ROBLES CA
When: 03/25/2009 at 18:40
Who: Pilot
Why: AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A VINEYARD, 3 MILES FROM PASO ROBLES AIRPORT, PASO ROBLES, CA


Are these separate incidents? Not enough information to tell.

Watch out for Falling Bottles

What: easyJet London to Edinburgh
Where: priority landing in Edinburgh
When: Thursday
Who: unwary passenger
Why: unnamed passenger was rushed to hospital but was found to have no serious injuries

George's Point of View

So here you are on the plane, minding your own business, and some guy opens an overhead locker and a champagne bottle rolls out and pops you on the head and knocks you out cold. That would hurt. The guy should have yelled "Fore!" or something.

Can you say "Lawsuit"?

Another Airbus Emergency

pictured: Airbus similar to the one in the incident
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Simpsonmeng
What: China Southern Airlines Airbus A320-200
Where: en route from Dayong to Shenzhen
When: Mar 27th 2009
Who: 100 passengers
Why: The right engine failed. After circling the airport for forty minutes, the plain landed without further incident in Dayong.

Feds Debark Unruly Passenger

What: Southwest Airlines Flight 1402 en route from Phoenix to Detroit
Where: Denver International Airport
When: after 2 p.m Saturday
Who: undisclosed woman
Why: While on board, the woman "became unruly and combative" leading up to a physical confrontation. She was escorted from the plane into federal custody as it is a felony to disrupt a commercial flight

George’s Point of View

We already put US Marshalls on plane to keep the bad guys in their seats and so they don’t try anything. With all the recent misbehavior on planes, maybe we're looking at the wrong profession. Do we need on board referees? A corner for time out? Nuns with rulers?

Turkish Helicopter Crash

What: Rented Helicopter leaving an election rally in southern Kahramanmaras province
Where: On a snow covered Turkishmountain top between the towns of Sisne and Elmali in the southeastern province of Kahramanmaras.

When: Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Who: 6 victims including Muhsin Yazicioglu leader of nationalist Great Unity Party in Ankara, Turkey. injured passenger Ismail Gunes survived the crash, and called for help on his cell phone and a cameraman was injured; but by the time rescuers made it through the snow and fog, there were no survivors.
Why: Under Investigation but it is speculated that the cause of the crash was heavy fog. Recovery of the bodies was hampered by snow. Helicopter pieces were spread over an area of about 50-60 meters. One or more of the crash victims survived the crash but not the cold, nor the delay of the rescue teams, which were stalled by the weather.

Stillwater Crash Pilot Identified

Pictured: Cessna 337C Super Skymaster flying in Malta. The plane in the crash was in Oklahoma, and painted blue, according to photos at the scene of the crash.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Malcolm J.Bezzina
What: CESSNA 337C registered to George Waller en route from a private airstrip to Stillwater for fuel.
Where: STILLWATER, OK
When: 03/27/2009
Who: George Waller, fatality at the scene
Why: The plane made a series of turns and was westbound when it crashed in a grove of trees on a private residence near 92nd Avenue and Washington Road eight miles from Stillwater. Witnesses said the "plane didn't sound right."

Update: Japan Air Commuter Lands on One Engine

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer James Scott
What: Japan Air Commuter de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Tanegashima to Kagoshima
Where: Kagoshima
When: Mar 25th 2009 10:26 a.m
Who: 42 passengers
Why: When the left hand engine's oil pressure dropped, the pilot shut down the engine and continued on to Kagoshima. Maintenance crews discovered significant damage in the engine. There were no injuries reported.

This was also reported as a Bombardier Inc. DHC-8-Q400. The Bombardier Dash 8 was formerly known as the de Havilland Canada Dash 8; Bombardier acquired de Havilland Canada (DHC) .

Due to the engine damage found by maintenance crews, two investigators rated this as a serious incident. The gearbox of the engine had failed and several turbine blades were found to be damaged

Arrow Cargo Crumbles in Flight over Brazil

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Carlos A. Morillo Doria
What: Arrow Cargo McDonnell Douglas DC-10 freighter, en route from Manaus, AM Brazil to Bogota Colombia
Where: Manaus (rua Humaita, Terra Nova)
When: Mar 26th 2009
Who: 4 crew flew the plane that damaged 12 houses
Why: The crew heard an explosion but kept going, unaware the engine had disgorged parts of the engine nacelle, its combustion chamber, turbine and outlet. The company has already said they'll reimburse locals for the damage.

No doubt.

They continued on to Bogata...or they would have if weather hadn't diverted them to Medellin.


View Larger Map

Emergency: AeroLineas Argentinas Smoke in Cabin

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Baires Aviation Photography
What: Aerolineas Argentinas McDonnell Douglas MD-88 en route from Buenos Aires to Trelew, Argentina
Where: Trelew
When: Mar 25th 2009
Who: 41 passengers
Why: On approach to Trelew, an electrical problem caused the cabin to fill with smoke. After the safe landing, passengers debarked via slides. One flight attendant was treated for smoke inhalation.

Arrow Cargo Crumbles in Flight over Brazil

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Carlos A. Morillo Doria
What: Arrow Cargo McDonnell Douglas DC-10 freighter, en route from Manaus, AM Brazil to Bogota Colombia
Where: Manaus (rua Humaita, Terra Nova)
When: Mar 26th 2009
Who: 4 crew flew the plane that damaged 12 houses
Why: The crew heard an explosion but kept going, unaware the engine had disgorged parts of the engine nacelle, its combustion chamber, turbine and outlet. The company has already said they'll reimburse locals for the damage.

No doubt.

They continued on to Bogata...or they would have if weather hadn't diverted them to Medellin.


View Larger Map

Emergency: AeroLineas Argentinas Smoke in Cabin

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Baires Aviation Photography
What: Aerolineas Argentinas McDonnell Douglas MD-88 en route from Buenos Aires to Trelew, Argentina
Where: Trelew
When: Mar 25th 2009
Who: 41 passengers
Why: On approach to Trelew, an electrical problem caused the cabin to fill with smoke. After the safe landing, passengers debarked via slides. One flight attendant was treated for smoke inhalation.

Air Canada Emergency Landing

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Fast
What: Air Canada Embraer ERJ-175 en route from Toronto,ON (Canada) to Chicago O'Hare
Where: near Toronto
When: Mar 23rd 2009
Why: After take-off, the crew reported there was smoke in galley and returned to Toronto for a safe landing

Airbus Emergency Landing in Montreal

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Mick Bajcar
What: Air Transat Airbus A310-300, registration C-GTSD en route from Panama City Panama to Montreal,QC Canada
Where: Montreal, QC Runway 06L
When: Mar 23rd 2009
Why: The crew reported an unsafe gear indication on approach, and initiated a go-around. They managed to lower and lock the gear but then nose gear steering was unavailable. They landed safely and had to be towed away, blocking the runway for fifteen minutes.

Unsafe Gear on MD-88 Lands Safely in Guadalajara

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Juan Carlos Guerra - APM
What: Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-88 en route from Guadalajara Mexico to Atlanta, GA
Where: Guadalajara
When: Mar 24th 2009
Who: 120 passengers and 5 crew,
Why: When the crew discovered an "unsafe gear indication" they burned off fuel, (Airport spokesman Miguel Aliaga said the pilot dumped fuel) and requested emergency services to stand by as they undertook an emergency landing on runway 28.

Japan Air Commuter Lands on One Engine

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer James Scott
What: Japan Air Commuter de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Tanegashima to Kagoshima
Where: Kagoshima
When: Mar 25th 2009 10:26 a.m
Who: 42 passengers
Why: When the left hand engine's oil pressure dropped, the pilot shut down the engine and continued on to Kagoshima. Maintenance crews discovered significant damage in the engine. There were no injuries reported.

This was also reported as a Bombardier Inc. DHC-8-Q400. The Bombardier Dash 8 was formerly known as the de Havilland Canada Dash 8; Bombardier acquired de Havilland Canada (DHC) .

Airbus Birdstrike In Bologna

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Ruby Allesina
What: Eurofly Airbus A320-200, registration I-EEZI en route from Sharm El Sheikh Egypt to Bologna Italy
Where: Bologna Italy
When: Mar 21st 2009
Why: Bird strike on approach to Bologna. The plane suffered minor damage. No injuries were reported

Press Release: S-92TM Helicopter Operators Complying Worldwide With Sikorsky Bulletin on Gearbox Oil Bowl Studs

March 23, 2009

STRATFORD, Connecticut - Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. announced today that the majority of the worldwide S-92TM helicopter fleet already has complied with the company notice to retrofit the aircraft's gearbox oil bowl with steel mounting studs. The company expects to have close to 100 percent compliance by the end of this week. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

The company contacted all S-92 helicopter operators on March 20 after broken titanium studs were found during a helicopter crash investigation in Canada. The investigation is continuing, and no determination has been made that the broken studs contributed to the accident or if they resulted from it. Sikorsky immediately notified the operators as a safety precaution, and the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to issue an Airworthiness Directive instructing the retrofit.

As of this moment, more than 50 of the 91 S-92 helicopter retrofits were completed. Sikorsky has made available all the parts and tools necessary for all operators to swap out the studs.

"While the investigation remains ongoing, our priority has been to maintain safety and eliminate any potential risks," said Marc Poland, Vice President of Sikorsky Global Helicopters. "The operators are reacting quickly, and we are doing all we can to encourage full and rapid compliance."

Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is leading the investigation into the March 12 helicopter accident that occurred off the coast of Newfoundland and resulted in 17 deaths. Sikorsky is assisting with the investigation.

"Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to the families of all involved in this terrible tragedy," Poland said. "The investigation continues, and we are providing support and technical resources to assist the TSB while we continue to support the fleet."
The S-92 helicopter was designed with numerous structural and avionics safety features. The worldwide fleet has accumulated more than 140,000 flight hours since 2004. Approximately 66 percent of current S-92 operators are offshore oil customers. The remainder are performing search and rescue (SAR), Head of State, VIP, and airline missions.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
Contacts
Marianne Heffernan
Phone: +1 203-386-4373
Paul Jackson
Phone: +1 203-386-7143