Pilots Noted Runway Lights Were Off

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 08.28.06 2215 EDT: The pilots of Comair Flight 5191 noted the runway was not lit as their aircraft sped down the runway, according to statements by NTSB spokesperson Debbie Hersman at a press briefing Monday night from Blue Grass Airport.

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8071 Issue Date: August 28, 2006 at 17:26 UTC Location: Conconully, Washington Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for fire fighting Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Seattle (ZSE) Center, 253-351-3520

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8070 Issue Date: August 28, 2006 at 17:21 UTC Location: Granite Falls, Washington near PAINE VOR/DME (PAE) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for fire fighting Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Seattle (ZSE) Center, 253-351-3520

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8061 Issue Date: August 28, 2006 at 16:52 UTC Location: Wendover, Utah near LUCIN VORTAC (LCU) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for fire fighting Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Salt Lake (ZLC) Center, 801-320-2560

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8018 Issue Date: August 27, 2006 at 22:46 UTC Location: Pinedale, Wyoming near DUNOIR VOR/DME (DNW) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for fire fighting Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Salt Lake (ZLC) Center, 801-320-2560

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8017 Issue Date: August 27, 2006 at 22:18 UTC Location: Lexington, Kentucky near LEXINGTON VORTAC (HYK) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: September 02, 2006 at 21:30 UTC Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for investigation and recovery Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Indianapolis (ZID) Center, 317-247-2242

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8015 Issue Date: August 27, 2006 at 22:11 UTC Location: Waitsburg, Washington Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for fire fighting Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Seattle (ZSE) Center, 253-351-3520

The NTSB has issued five recommendations to the FAA stemming from an ongoing investigation of an uncontained engine failure on an airliner in Los Angeles. Two of the recommendations are classified "Urgent" by the Safety Board.

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8060 Issue Date: August 28, 2006 at 16:47 UTC Location: Crawford, Texas Beginning Date and Time: August 29, 2006 at 21:30 UTC Ending Date and Time: August 30, 2006 at 15:55 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions for VIP (Very Important Person) Movement Type: VIP Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8059 Issue Date: August 28, 2006 at 16:32 UTC Location: Waco, Texas Beginning Date and Time: August 29, 2006 at 21:35 UTC Ending Date and Time: August 30, 2006 at 15:50 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions for VIP (Very Important Person) Movement Type: VIP Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

No Labor Agreement Reached 

PHI tells ANN that no agreement was reached this week in the last round of mediation in Washington, D.C., convened to resolve the labor dispute between PHI and the OPEIU, which represents PHI's domestic pilots. The Company has been in negotiations and mediation with the OPEIU over a renewed labor agreement since February, 2004.

Will Launch After Storm Passes

If there is a dominant theme for the upcoming launch of the shuttle Atlantis, it might be that one must ALWAYS respect Mother Nature.

Boeing has confirmed a previously unidentified Air Sahara order for 10 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes. Air Sahara placed the order in the first quarter of 2006 and was listed in the unidentified category on Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries web site. Valued at more than $700 million at list prices, deliveries are scheduled to begin in mid 2009.  

Cessna has just delivered the 100th Citation CJ3 to Jeffrey Mark, chief executive officer, principal owner and co-founder of Mark-Taylor Residential Inc., an Arizona-based real estate development corporation. A pilot for 16 years, Mark learned how to fly in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

America's missile defense capabilities are increasingly important now, as more countries demonstrate the ability and willingness to develop ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said after touring missile assembly and storage facilities at Fort Greeley, Alaska.

Controllers May Have Averted Potential Accident in 1993

ANN has learned that the runways implicated in the Comair 5191 tragedy have been the target of previous confusion by Transport Category aircraft. A similar incident in November of 1993, was averted by on-duty controllers who helped warn the pilots and may have prevented a potential tragedy nearly 13 years ago.

The Aeronautical Repair Station Association reports that the FAA's Engine and Propeller Directorate has re-released draft Advisory Circular (AC) 33-XX, "Turbine Engine Repairs and Alterations-Approval of Technical and Substantiation Data," including 164 pages of appendices and repair templates that accompany the draft guidance. The AC's comment deadline also has been extended 30 days, to Sept. 26.

Four-Year Contract Requires Ratification by Pilots

FedEx Express and the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l. have jointly announced that they reached a tentative agreement (TA) on a new labor contract on Saturday evening. Negotiations have been conducted under the guidance of the National Mediation Board since October 2005 and both parties acknowledged the Board's support.

In an incident that occured shortly after 1000 local time, today (Monday), a four seat Cirrus (like that shown below) used its BRS system to save the four persons onboard after an inflight emergency occurred just after departure from Eaglel Creek Airport in Indiana.

The Crash Of Comair Flight 5191 In Lexington, KY

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 08.28.06 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 08.28.06 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- The Crash Of Comair 5191: 08.28.06 (ANN Special Feature, with Jim Campbell's analysis of the accident, as well as Comair CEO Don Bornhorst.)

"I Cannot Adequately Express... Our Sadness"

On behalf of everyone at Comair, I cannot adequately express to you our sadness about this accident and our deep concern for everyone involved.

Sub-Launched Projectile Reportedly Hits Target

Iran tested another in a series of missiles Sunday. This time, however, the weapon involved was a submarine-launched, long-range missile reportedly capable radar evasion.

Negotiations Took More Than Two Years

Some possible good news for pilots at worldwide package delivery service FedEx... as Aero-News has learned that company and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract Saturday night, after more than two years of often-heated negotiations.

Let's Hope The IAU Never Gets Its Hands On "The Doomsday Machine"

Aero-News learned over the weekend that Diamond Aircraft has named Columbia Aircraft Sales as the exclusive distributor for Diamond aircraft in New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Aero-News has learned unmanned aerial vehicle developer Elbit Systems Ltd. has introduced a new variant of its Skylark family, called the Skylark II.

Aero-Tips!

There was a time not very long ago when the radios in one airplane worked pretty much like the radios in all others. That day is gone.

Aero-Linx!

A great program for teachers. Southwest Airlines helps present several school subjects like math, science, geography and history through the use of aviation by tracking a Southwest Airlines pilot.

Aero-Terms!

Initial transmission by a pilot who encounters an urgent (as opposed to distress) condition.

"It is horrible seeing an airplane sitting in a field, in an unnatural setting."

Source: Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn, speaking with reporters Sunday after the fatal accident involving a Comair CRJ-200 regional jet that went down shortly after takeoff from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, KY.