Operator Believes Training Is The Answer As Others Call To Ground Aircraft

Having lost four of its pilots in three Mitsubishi MU-2s over the past twelve years, including one last August, you would perhaps think Denver's Flight Line Aviation would be among those seeking stronger government oversight -- or an outright ban -- of the controversial airplane. Such is not necessarily the case.

"We love the Mitsubishis," Flight Line owner Tony Mulei told Denver's KMGH-7 recently. "I don't believe for a minute the Mitsubishi is not a good airplane."

Flight Line, along with sister company American Check Transport, is one of the largest operators of the MU-2 in the US. The Front Range Airport-based company's fleet of MU-2s fly across the country five days a week, delivering Federal Reserve Bank clearing work, medical specimens, and other time sensitive freight that needs to meet an overnight -- or sooner -- deadline.

Mulei maintains the airplane is safe, even as Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar and Representative Tom Tancredo have called on the FAA to immediately ground the speedy twin-turboprop over its troubling safety record. According to the NTSB, 247 people have died in fatal accidents involving 80 MU-2s, approximately 10 percent of all MU-2s ever built.

Two of Flight Line's MU-2s have gone down in the past ten months, killing three pilots. Both accidents are currently under NTSB investigation. A 1993 Flight Line MU-2 accident also claimed the life of the pilot on board.

Flight Line grounded the fleet for one week after the August 2005 accident to review its policies towards the aircraft. Mulei also brought in an independent evaluator to review the company's training procedures on the aircraft.

"We needed to have someone else," said Mulei. "Experts came in and looked at our operation."

Mulei acknowledges his company is very mindful of the unique qualities of the MU-2 that make the aircraft different from, say, a piston-twin such as the Piper Navajos also flown by Flight Line and other freight outfits.

To that end, Flight Line officials implemented type-specific training for its MU-2 pilots following the August accident. This training is akin to a type-rating, says Flight Line, something that is not currently required by the FAA for operating an MU-2.

"We needed to do everything above and beyond to really analyze that our operation was being run properly and if there are weak points, we can get them corrected," said Steve Edner, the operations director for Flight Line.

The company will also require its pilots to undergo simulator training, conducted by an outside firm, once a year. The training will focus on those flight characteristics believed to be at the root of the airplane's accident history.

Edner, a veteran MU-2 pilot, says the airplane's slow-flight characteristics, in particular, can surprise pilots accustomed to more docile aircraft. "The Mitsubishi has certain characteristics that are different than other multi-engine aircraft," said Edner. "It doesn't make it a bad airplane, but it certainly does need to have the pilots to be trained specifically on it and on its systems, and its handling characteristics."

Critics maintain that training is not the answer, however. As previously reported in Aero-News, many feel the aircraft should be permanently grounded instead.

"It's a recipe for disaster because the airplane is different enough that it really does require special training," said Dr. Don Kennedy, a former professor with a PhD in aeronautical engineering. "Some [pilots killed in MU-2s] were only transport pilots, with many thousands of hours of flying time, that could not manage to fly this airplane."

Sen. Salazar has sent letters to the FAA asking for the aircraft to be grounded pending the outcome of the agency's investigation. "It would make sense for them to ground the aircraft until they have completed their investigation and then set forth their recommendations," said Salazar.

Edner, and Mitsubishi, maintain specialized training is the answer for the MU-2, and the best way to ensure pilot safety when operating the aircraft. While Flight Line continues to stand by its aircraft, Edner says there is something the FAA could do to help ease pilot losses in the MU-2.

"If the FAA feels that they want to have the [MU-2] require a type rating, I would support that," said Edner.

E-I-C Note: Little scares me more than politicians sticking their nose(s) into aviation matters for which they are plainly unqualified. As I have said before, the MU-2 is a fine airplane and doesn't have a dishonest bone in its body... but if you don't know the beast, ignorance is likely to make you regret it. There is nothing wrong with the MU-2 that pilot education and competency can't fix. --Jim Campbell, ANN E-I-C, Occasional MU-2 Jockey

FMI: www.americanchecktransport.com, www.faa.gov