At 1439 PDT, a Cessna 172N (N75558) was substantially damaged when it hit trees while flying near McMurray, Wash. The commercial pilot and her two passengers were killed. The airplane was registered to Crest Airpark Inc., Kent, Wash., and operated by the pilot. It was VFR and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Roche Harbor Airport (WA09), Roche Harbor, Wash., at about 1402 with an intended destination of Auburn, Wash.
USUALLY, WE SAVE THE "lessons learned" comments for the end of this column, but this month's lessons are so important they need to come at the front. This case involved a well-experienced pilot dealing with an old light-twin. But with the median age of the light-twin fleet growing older and younger pilots moving into the aging fleet, a review of the basics seems in order. ?228-137?A light twin is simply a big single with its power divided and moved from the nose to each wing.
San Diego Air & Space Museum will be honoring the Class of 2008 on Oct. 25 at the Pavilion of Flight in the museum. The honorees are: Cdr. Scott Carpenter, U.S. Navy (Ret.) Cdr. M. Scott Carpenter is one the "original seven" Mercury astronauts and was the second American to orbit the earth in May 1962. Carpenter's goal during the three-orbit mission was to demonstrate that astronauts could work in space, a major prerequisite for America's Apollo moon missions later in the decade. Tuskegee Airmen
Meet Isidore Haas, an infantryman in Richard (ol' Zachary's son) Taylor's "Louisiana Tigers" brigade. And Maj. Rafael Moses, too. Maj. Moses was a commissary officer under Gen. James Longstreet's Georgia infantry. As it happens, both of the above personas are re-created from time to time by Dale Jacobs, who plies his profession - he's a CPA - as controller of Sun Air Jets of Camarillo, Calif.
Worldwide retail sales of previously owned business jets slowed in the second quarter, but used turboprop sales picked up slightly, according to figures published by the National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA) and compiled by AMSTAT, the Tinton Falls, N.J., market research firm.
Santa Monica Airport (SMO) has become one of the first general aviation airports to jump into the carbon trading fray, formally establishing itself as an offset facilitator. In July, the Los Angeles-area airport added a feature on its Web site that allows aircraft operators to calculate their carbon footprint and purchase carbon offsets. The calculator will estimate carbon produced by specific flight distances and number of passengers. Santa Monica said the purchases will be channeled to nonprofit organizations involved in reforestation and alternative energy projects.
Agusta/Westland Global Support Plan (GSP) -- Designed to provide comprehensive cost control measures, the GSP covers parts and labor for both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, repair and replacement of components, overhaul, life-limited parts and pilot refresher training. Parts and labor for mandatory Service Bulletins are included. Avionics are also included. Engine services are provided by engine OEMs. The contract is transferable.
There are no plans to sell the poster, but if that changes, I'll let you know. As for omissions, there are many more of those than inclusions. There was simply no way to get 50 years of our dynamic industry's technological, human and corporate history into such limited a space, albeit a gatefold, so we settled on representative items.
I want to thank you for dredging up the 30-year-old photos just to remind me of what the 70s were like. Nice shot of Bob Stangarone, too. And then you show a contemporary photo of yourself instead of the real Bill Garvey that we know must be lurking somewhere from the 70s. I thought you did a good job with the anniversary issue.
Congratulations on a grand tribute to the all-star team that made BCA the unique jewel of business aviation. The staff photo review is so appropriate in this very special industry (aka elite club) of aviation zealots. It is a glowing trip down memory lane. It has been an honor to serve with all of you and I am sure Dave is smiling proudly up there. BCA proves it is not lonely at the top.
Hypoxia is a silent killer and pilots often are unaware of their condition because lack of oxygen affects their judgment. Technicians who fly regularly or who participate in pressurization system maintenance flights need to be prepared as well for this invisible, tasteless danger. To help increase awareness of hypoxia's threat, the military exposes pilots to high-altitude pressure simulators.
*Agusta A109E, A109S and A119 helicopters -- Inspect the pilot and copilot doors' emergency release system. If any interference is found between the lower hinges of the doors and the housing on the helicopter structure, rework the housing slot of the lower hinge. *Cessna Caravan 208 and 208B airplanes -- Inspect the left and right wing wire bundles and repair or replace damaged wire.
*Le Castellet International Airport, Le Castellet, France, announced that Philippe Gurdjian is stepping down from his position as president and general manager. At press time, a successor had not been named.
I love your July issue with the "centerfold" time-lining the 50-year advance of business aviation. Will you be offering this as a poster for sale? We would love to get our hands on it! By the way, the rich history of business left out General Dynamics' purchase of Gulfstream in 1999.
As the world's first all-digital air carrier, DayJet, the Boca Raton, Fla.-based startup, has relied on breakthroughs in both emerging aviation and computer technologies, offering a new and unique travel option. The concept of "Per Seat, On Demand" jet service offers the efficiency and convenience of corporate jet travel with the affordability and availability of traveling with scheduled airlines. But you won't hear the word "scheduled" bantered among the DayJet faithful. Instead, they insist, "DayJet sells time."
NATA is holding to the position that it is discriminatory for the FAA to take enforcement against an operator when the action in question was known to and approved by the operator's local FAA inspector. If the FAA intends to continue to state that their inspector workforce acts with the authority of the Administrator, the association maintains that an inspector's approval must then be respected and relied upon as a defense by an operator.
A Skyship 600 blimp is patrolling the Florida Straits for the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy as part of a six-week joint evaluation of the airship's effectiveness in the patrol mission. The lighter-than-air (LTA) craft and its crew of three pilots, two mechanics and 15 ground crew members began operating from Boca Chica Naval Air Station on June 30. The airship, which is owned and operated by Airship Management Services (AMS) Inc., Greenwich, Conn., is leased to the government. The contract, including mission equipment, is valued at approximately $1 million.
I can report with some certainty that it was not the thermostat, the fan belt clutch or the water pump. I'm next focusing (i.e. replacing) the radiator (as I did with the thermostat, etc.). As for the gauge, it seems to be providing valid information in general, but remains suspect. And it, too, can be replaced.
*Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga., announced that Mark Burns has become president of Gulfstream Product Support and General Dynamics Aviation Services, replacing Larry Flynn, who's moving on to take over sales and marketing.
