Airplane & Helicopter Crashes
Did You Know? Aircraft Door Plugs
Did you know? A door plug is a piece of metal shaped like a door used to fill the space that an aircraft door would otherwise take. There has been a lot of media attention about “door plugs” since a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing Max 9 aircraft on…
Read MoreDid You Know? Airline Cabin Depressurization
Did you know that all airliners and private jets have pressurized cabins that permit passengers to ride comfortably at high altitudes without oxygen masks? Most airliners fly at altitudes between 30,000 and 40,000 feet to avoid weather and improve operating efficiency. Do you know how long you can survive without oxygen if the cabin suddenly…
Read MoreDid You Know? Clear Air Turbulence
Did you Know? Clear Air Turbulence is Sudden Severe Turbulence Unrelated to Storms? This week, Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence over the Andaman Sea resulting in the death of a passenger and serious injuries to other passengers. Over 80 passengers required hospitalization after the pilots made an emergency landing…
Read MoreDid you know? Federal Aviation Regulations
Did you know that the comprehensive Federal Aviation Regulations may have been inspired by the work of a city attorney in a small Florida town that had no airplanes? In 1908, P.A. Vans Agnew, city attorney in Kissimmee, Florida, drafted the first law of its kind in a city ordinance that restricted low flights…
Read MoreThe Montreal Convention and International Passenger Rights
International airline passengers are protected under the Montreal Convention, and unfortunately, many people are unaware this treaty exists. The Montreal Convention can protect passengers when serious situations arise that are the fault of the airline, such as if a passenger is injured or dies. The Montreal Convention, or MC 1999, is an international treaty that…
Read MoreAugust 19 Is National Aviation Day – Celebrating the Power of Flight
August 19th is National Aviation Day in the United States. It is an annual celebration of the history and invention of aviation. It is a day to reflect on the power of flight, in all its capacities. August 19th also happens to be the birth date of Orville Wright. Orville, along with his brother Wilbur,…
Read MoreHot Air Balloon Season Is Almost Here! Make Sure You Stay Safe
This is the time of year that hot air balloon festival season kicks into drive, including the Plano Balloon Festival September 22-25, 2022 Enthusiasts in Texas and across the country will travel to see these gorgeous balloons in flight, and to maybe take a ride into the sunset. We’re big fans of hot air balloons,…
Read MoreHawaii Helicopter Crash is a Reminder of How Dangerous This Touring Industry Can Be
The crash of a Bell 407 helicopter carrying five passengers on June 8, 2022, on the Big Island is a reminder that the Hawaii helicopter tour industry continues to be responsible for deaths and injuries associated with commercial helicopter sightseeing flights. The most recent crash occurred on a flight operated by K&S Helicopters which does business…
Read MoreCirrus SR22T Engine Failures Caused by Too Much Fuel or Too Little Fuel
The NTSB reports are replete with unfortunate and preventable accidents caused by aircraft running out of fuel. Engine failures can also be caused by too much fuel. The issue with too much fuel is especially prevalent in the Continental TSIO-550 series engines that power some of the most popular high performance single engine aircraft, including…
Read MoreNTSB Makes Recommendations for Improving Alaska Air Safety
In an effort to make flying in some of the most dangerous air space in the U.S. safer for pilots and passengers, the National Transportation Safety Board wants pilots flying in Alaska to be required to report their positions and direction on existing or new radio frequencies. Noting the continued high frequency of fatal in-flight…
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