Tagged with federal aviation administration
NETTLE ISLAND, FLORIDA (BNO NEWS) — Two people were killed on late Saturday morning when their small plane crashed in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida, authorities said. St. Lucie County emergency operators received several 911 calls about a small plane crashing into the ocean at around 11.45 a.m. local time. Pilots aboard a Palm Beach [...]
NETTLE ISLAND, FLORIDA (BNO NEWS) — A small plane carrying at least two people crashed in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida on Saturday morning, authorities said.
The aircraft carrying at least two people went down east of St. Lucie County’s Nettle Island around 11.45 a.m. local time. “St. Lucie County Sheriff’s dive team members are on scene, as are members of the Sheriff’s Marine Unit and Aviation Unit,” said St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara.
The crash occurred at least half a mile east of South Hutchinson Island’s 9800 block.
Further details were not immediately available.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday proposed a $325,000 civil penalty against Continental Airlines for operating a malfunctioning aircraft on at least 13 commercial flights without properly addressing the problem.
The Boeing 737 was scheduled to fly from Houston to Los Angeles on December 20, 2008 but was diverted to Phoenix, Arizona after the crew noticed the aircraft was burning an excessive amount of fuel.
The agency alleges that the crew of the aircraft saw a warning light on the right main landing gear indicator after the gear retracted on its flight. After discussing the situation with Continental maintenance control, the crew decided to continue the flight.
Later, the crew of the aircraft noticed that the aircraft was burning an excessive amount of fuel. The flight then diverted to Phoenix where Continental maintenance workers inspected the landing gear but did not make a required entry in the aircraft’s maintenance log or any other maintenance record about the abnormal landing.
The FAA said the airline operated the aircraft on at least 12 additional passenger flights before the abnormal gear indication was addressed by mechanics, in violation of Federal Aviation Regulations.
“Air carriers cannot let maintenance issues lapse,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “When a problem is discovered, it needs to be corrected immediately.”
Continental Airlines has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday proposed a $325,000 civil penalty against Continental Airlines for operating an aircraft on at least 13 commercial flights without properly maintaining its right main landing gear.
The Boeing 737 was scheduled to fly from Houston to Los Angeles on December 20, 2008 but was diverted to Phoenix after the crew noticed the aircraft was burning an excessive amount of fuel. Continental Airlines did not properly address the problem until 12 flights later.
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IMPERIAL, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) — One person was killed when a California Highway Patrol (CHP) plane crashed near the San Diego County and Imperial County, California border on Friday, federal officials said.
The CHP Cessna 206 was reported missing late on Friday morning. “[The] last contact with its base was 10.24 a.m. [local time] and the pilot said he was near Imperial at the time,” said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Gregor said the FAA issued an ALNOT alert notice as soon as the CHP reported the missing aircraft. An ALNOT is sent when a missing aircraft is not located within one hour after the first report.
The aircraft was found hours later by search crews, about 12 miles northeast of Agua Caliente Springs Airport. “Search crews found the wreckage and confirmed that the pilot, who was the only person on board, was killed,” Gregor said.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the cause of the crash.
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GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA (BNO NEWS) — A domestic Continental flight from Houston to Dulles International in Virginia was diverted on Wednesday to North Carolina following a security incident, officials said.
The Continental flight, operated by an Embraer ERJ 145, was diverted to Piedmont Triad International Airport following a bomb threat, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
No further details were immediately available.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Tuesday that it has proposed a civil penalty against an Indiana airline company.
The FAA proposed a $348,000 civil penalty against Chautauqua Airlines for allegedly operating some of its regional jets without performing inspections required by five different FAA airworthiness directives (ADs).
Chautauqua’s management of its maintenance program and its system for tracking the status of airworthiness directives, according to FAA investigations, led to alleged violations including one AD compliance issue involved mandated repetitive inspections for possible cracks in the lower wing planks of Canadair Regional Jets (CRJ) after every 5,000 flights.
Eight different Chautauqua CRJs conducted more than 9,900 flights between October 2007 and December 2008 before the required lower wing inspections were done, the airline operated another CRJ on 231 flights without inspecting a different section of the lower wings for cracks and flew a different CRJ for 61 hours without a required inspection of electrical relays in January 2009, and another CRJ made more than 17,600 flights between November 2007 and January 2009 before mandatory inspections of the plane’s GE engines were performed.
Chautauqua also flew one of its Embraer 145 regional jets for 43 days past the time one of its inertial navigation units should have been replaced.
“An air carrier’s maintenance program can’t function without a good system to determine compliance with airworthiness directives,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “Problems with the AD system are inconsistent with an airline’s continued safe operation.”
Chautauqua is a regional airline and a subsidiary of Republic Airway Holdings based in Indianapolis, Indiana, but it was established in 1973 in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, New York. It has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Monday called on airlines to crack down on cockpit distractions such as the use of mobile phones and laptops.
In an Information for Operators (InFO) message, which is an information bulletin for operators to help them meet administrative, regulatory and operational requirements, the agency reminded airlines and crewmembers that cockpit distractions are a safety risk.
“Engaging in tasks not directly related to required flight duties, including using personal electronic devices, constitutes a safety risk,” the InFO read. “Recent incidents and accidents have revealed pilots using personal electronic devices, including laptop computers and mobile telephones, for personal activities unrelated to the duties and responsibilities required for conduct of a flight.”
The FAA mentioned Northwest Airlines Flight 188 as an example, in which two pilots overflew their destination by 150 miles because they were using laptop computers for personal activities. It also mentions another instance, in which an FAA inspector in the jump seat overheard a crewmember’s mobile phone ring during the takeoff roll.
“While personal electronic devices can be valuable tools in aviation operations, crewmembers cannot permit personal electronic devices to distract them from focusing on duties and responsibilities related to the flight,” the FAA said. “Regulations regarding sterile flight decks prohibit crewmembers from performing any duties not relating to the safe operation of the aircraft during critical phases of flight. At other phases of flight, crewmembers must avoid becoming distracted by any task not related to the safe operation of the flight, whether it involves use of a personal electronic devices or not. Maintaining the public trust is both a personal responsibility and professional requirement.”
The FAA called on operators to create a safety culture that clearly establishes guidance, expectations and requirements to control cockpit distractions, which includes the use of personal electronic devices during flight operations.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expressed Monday their support of the European Commission’s decision to resume air traffic in parts of continental Europe.
“Safety is the main priority for both U.S. and European aviation authorities. This gradual, cautious return of operations is reliant on the track of the volcanic ash cloud which is being monitored closely.”
The FAA and the European Union continue to work together by sharing technical information and guidance based on previous experience with weather and volcanic events.
“The FAA remains ready to assist both the air carriers and our colleagues in Europe to do whatever is necessary to help stranded passengers and to safely return air service between our continents.”
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HANOVER, INDIANA (BNO NEWS) — One person was killed when a small plane crashed near a town in Jefferson County, Indiana on Monday, federal officials said.
The single-engine plane crashed five miles north of Hanover, according to Elizabeth Isham Cory, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Cory said one person was on board, and was killed. “That’s all we have at this time,” she said.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the cause of the crash.
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