Friday, February 19, 2010

Tesla Airplane Crash Investigation Gets Uunexpected Clue


One wonders if we are not already at the age of Big Brother, in light of the most recent, albeit, welcome news that the airplane crash that killed three executives of Tesla Motors was caught on audio tape and is now providing assistance to air safety investigators.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

American Eagle Flying Planes With Known Safety Problems F.A.A. Says


I'll grant that math was never my strongest subject, so correct me if I'm wrong here. But after reading the Federal Aviation Administration announcement today that it will fine American Eagle $2.9 million for failing to comply with an airworthiness directive, I got out my calculator to see just what this fine really represents. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's characterization notwithstanding, it doesn't sound so "stiff" to me. But first some background.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Blaming the pilot gets us nowhere


The Airline Pilots Association is furious about the probable cause issued by the National Transportation Safety Board in the crash of Continental Express flight 3407, (Colgan Air) and not just because the labor union exists to look out for the best interests of its members. No, ALPA is outraged because in determining what happened to Continental Express flight 3407, the NTSB focused on a symptom and ignored the cause.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Colgan Air Crash Hearing Could Expose Larger Problem


As the National Transportation Safety Board begins its hearing today into the cause of the crash of Continental Express flight 3407, I draw your attention to the list at the end of my comments, which I assembled after reviewing the accident database for all regional airline accidents in the United States over the past 10 years.