Former Comair flight attendant (FA) Gilbert Knops has filed suit against the airline, claiming his ethnic appearance and anti-war sentiment bred suspicion of an involvement in terrorism that led to his firing. According to the suit, a coworker reported him for showing her a sticker ridiculing “support the troops” car magnets and a cartoon lampooning President George W. Bush.
Accidents, Safety, Security and Training
News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports; information on safety procedures and concerns; crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues; and news about simulators and training procedures.
October 2, 2006 - 11:17am
Italian authorities strongly suspect that fuel starvation or contamination caused the crash of a Tunisian ATR 72 off the northern coast of Sicily on August 6, and have placed under investigation the chief pilot, a fuel depot manager and the driver of the tanker truck that fueled the airplane in Bari, Italy. The accident claimed 16 of the 39 occupants.
October 2, 2006 - 10:59am
While most speakers discussed current training issues and new learning concepts at the Air Traffic Control Association’s recent “ATC Training for the Future” conference, one presenter proposed that tomorrow’s air traffic controllers should possess, at minimum, a bachelor of science degree with emphasis on mathematics, computer science, engineering, probability theory and interpersonal psychology from an accredited university.
October 2, 2006 - 9:12am
At the annual Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) Convention held in Vancouver earlier this year, CBAA president Rich Gage announced that all Canadian private corporate operators have enrolled in the CBAA/Transport Canada Private Operator Certificate (POC) program.
October 2, 2006 - 8:39am
In the aftermath of 9/11, the number-one priority quickly became answering “How did it happen?” and “How do we stop it from happening again?”
Four years later, we know how it happened, leaving the matter of how to stop it from happening again, and raising a third question: “How safe are we?”
September 29, 2006 - 11:40am
King Schools introduced an online course that the San Diego company said meets FAR Part 61.31 requirements for pilots to receive high-altitude training for flying above 25,000 feet. The approximately two-hour course costs $249 and includes a training certificate for the FAA and a cockpit reference code with oxygen requirements and tips on radar use at high altitude.
September 29, 2006 - 11:31am
Denying it is re-evaluating safety aspects of the Mitsubishi MU-2 in response to requests from several Colorado legislators, the FAA said its investigation is the result of a “recent increase in the accident rate” of the turboprop twin. As of press time, 11 people have been killed in six accidents involving MU-2s since last March, including two in Colorado. The MU-2 was the subject of two previous evaluations–in 1983 and 1991.
September 29, 2006 - 11:28am
Halon fire-extinguishing agents have been used for many years to protect valuable electronics, oil and gas production facilities, military systems, aircraft and other critical operations. The Army Corps of Engineers developed Halon (short for halogenated hydrocarbons) in 1948 as a less toxic but highly effective alternative to methyl bromide.
September 29, 2006 - 11:24am
SimCom now offers Socata TBM 700 training at both its Orlando, Fla. and Scottsdale, Ariz. centers. Increased training options at both locations include the introduction of an upgrade course, specially designed for the piston or low-time pilot upgrading to the TBM 700. Meanwhile, FlightSafety International next year will add another Piaggio Avanti simulator at the company’s West Palm Beach, Fla.
September 29, 2006 - 11:19am
The NTSB determined that the Sikorsky S-76 that crashed in the East River in Manhattan on June 17 had a bent compressor blade on one engine. No other anomalies have been found as yet. Meanwhile, at press time no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions had been discovered on the Bell 206L that went down in the East River on June 14. There were no fatalities in either accident.
