Plane Had Been In Storage Since January Accident

A jet that had been stored in Sitka, AK since its companion aircraft crashed in January is now back on the ground in Washington state.

Air USA President Don Kirlin says he and another pilot flew the Czech-made L-39MS Albatros from Alaska to Washington on Sunday. The jet was among a small fleet of L-39s Anchorage air charter company Security Aviation Incorporated was buying from Air USA.

Air USA repossessed the four L-39MS jets from Security Aviation and its affiliate, Regional Protective Services, in a move that came just days before one of the jets crashed January 25, killing its pilot.

The repossession and broken business deal is now a battle that will play out in the courtroom.

The Anchorage Daily News reports Security Aviation and Regional Protective Services are suing Kirlin, as well as his businesses Air USA and Red Air Incorporated for more than $3 million over what they contend was a wrongful repossession, and what they are calling problems with four less-sophisticated L-39Cs.

Security Aviation and company principal Rob Kane were indicted in February on federal charges of illegally possessing and transporting rocket launchers that the government contended could have been used with the military jets.

As Aero-News reported, in May a jury acquitted the company, and Kane.

We'll just have to wait and see what the courts say about the repossession.

FMI: www.securityaviation.biz