AIR SAFETY WEEK :: MARCH 31, 2008

Kemper Aviation Closes as FAA Probe Continues
The Kemper Aviation flight school ,located in Lantana, FL has shut down, surrendering its operating license to the FAA after a series of fatal air crashes, including one that killed four earlier this month. On Mar. 13, Kemper co-owner and chief flight instructor Jeff Rozelle and three Florida Atlantic...

Adam Air 737 Plunged After Pilots Lost Control
A final report into the January 1, 2007 crash of an Adam Air Boeing 737-400 determined that the aircraft plunged into the sea off Sulawesi Island after the pilots became preoccupied with a navigation device malfunction and lost control of the jetliner. The plane crash in Indonesia killed all 102 passengers...

Legacy Midair Pilots to Testify in United States
Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino, the two U.S. pilots of an ExcelAire Legacy 600 that collided with a Gol Airlines Boeing 737-800 over Brazil's Amazon jungle in September 2006 killing all 154 aboard the airliner, will be allowed to testify in a criminal trial from the United States. A Brazilian federal court...

Reducing Runway Incursions
While senior Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials remain preoccupied with aircraft maintenance safety in the wake of the historic Southwest fine and widespread aircraft checks by other U.S. air carriers, the U.S. aviation agency continues to introduce and implement new runway safety initiatives...

TSB Issues Safety Recommendations on Hot Air Balloons
Hot-air balloons must face stricter safety rules to prevent fiery crashes that can result in death or injury, says the Transportation Safety Board. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released two Interim Aviation Safety Recommendations in response to an accident (A07C0151) involving a FireFly...

SR22 Crash in Virginia Under Investigation
National Transportation Safety Board Investigators continue to probe the mysterious fatal crash of a Cirrus SR22 (N141SR) on March 14, 2008 near Front Royal, VA. The SR22 was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain shortly after takeoff from Front Royal-Warren County Airport (FRR). The certificated...

Former Cape Air Pilot Sent to Prison  
A former commercial airline pilot who caused a Cape Air emergency landing six years ago has been sentenced to prison time for lying to the Federal Aviation Administration and his employer about the medical condition that prompted the incident. For his entire career, Ronald Crews, 50, hid his diabetes from...

ANG Pilot Sues Boeing Over F-15C In-Flight Breakup
The pilot of the F-15C Eagle that broke apart last November, forcing an Air Force-wide grounding of F-15s, has sued the fighter aircraft's builder. The F-15 fighter fleet was grounded after the F-15C assigned to the Missouri Air National Guard broke in half Nov. 2, 2007 due to the failure of the upper right...

NATCA Critical of NextGen  
National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Patrick Forrey used a speech before the Aero Club of Washington to rebuke the Federal Aviation Administration's handling of the controller workforce and its multi-billion NextGen program. In a recurring theme, Forrey said "we are rapidly losing too...

Safety &Technology Trends
Major Contract for ADS-B Weather Systems All Weather, a manufacturer of automated weather information systems and meteorological sensors, has been selected by ITT to supply 62 Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) as part of ITT's ADS-B contract with the FAA. AWI's contract with ITT is valued at $45.5...

Security Shortlines
Pistol Packing Pilot A US Airways pilot, who is a member of the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, accidentally discharged his firearm while airborne Mar. 22. US Airways Flight 1536, an Airbus A319, flying between Denver and Charlotte, landed safely.The pilot was removed from flight duty after he...

Safety Rules and Regs  
Passenger Bill of Rights Rejected. A federal appeals court has rejected a law requiring airlines to provide food, water, clean toilets and fresh air to passengers trapped in a plane delayed on the ground. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that New York's new state law interferes with federal law...

Accidents and Incidents
Date Aircraft Type Narrative Death/Injury Remarks March 01, 2008 Key West, FL Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20 N859MS The DA 20, N859MS, was substantially damaged during a ditching in the Atlantic Ocean. The flight originated at the Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH), Marathon, Florida, and was destined...