"Every experienced international pilot has things on his or her personal checklist that they assiduously take care of, that they are careful about, so every pilot who’s had a problem with the lav will never have it again, every pilot who’s been under-fueled will never be again, and so forth,” observed Gary Tucker, Ball Corp.’s flight department safety officer.
Nov. 2 — About 1456 PST, a Cessna T210M (N1593M) was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Jacksonville, Oregon. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. It was VFR for the cross-country flight that was operating on an IFR flight plan originating from Grants Pass, Oregon, with an intended destination of Long Beach, California. The pilot reported that during cruise flight at an altitude of about 12,000 ft.
For $300,000 to $450,000, you can a buy a 1986 to 1989 Beechjet 400 (RJ-0001 to RJ-0065) that climbs directly to FL 400 to FL 410, that cruises at 440 KTAS and that can carry four passengers more than 1,600 nm. While there are plenty of choices in today’s pre-owned light jet market, few offer this aircraft’s blend of speed, cabin comfort and full-tanks payload. Of the 65 units built, around 50 remain in service.
Five passengers were killed and two pilots suffered serious injuries when Beech Premier 390 — N777VG —crashed during a balked landing at Thomson, Georgia on Feb. 20, 2013. NTSB has completed its investigation with a finding that the probable cause was “the pilot’s failure to follow airplane flight manual procedures for an antiskid failure in flight, and his failure to immediately retract the lift dump after he elected to attempt a go-around on the runway.
A passenger leans into the cockpit and says, “Captain, there is smoke pouring from behind the lav. It’s getting hard to see and breathe.” As you turn to look, another voice shouts, “Fire!” These words may be the most chilling you will ever hear in flight and they are your clarion call to battle. Dealing with a cabin fire is the worst kind of aerial combat you will ever face, and to prevail, you need a plan. Fire is a deadly adversary.
NBAA’s 17th annual convention at Bal Harbour, Florida, exceeded even the most optimistic predictions as the most successful confab in the Association’s history. Registration topped 1,400 and the aircraft on display at nearby Opa Locka was estimated at $75 million in value.
If you ask maintainers what’s their most unpleasant, even disgusting, job the response is invariably working on lavatory systems. They’d prefer cleaning out the nastiest, fungus-lined fuel tank to wearing the “blue stain of courage.”
