Tom Horton, former AA CEO and the lead director at GE, is behind this, so it stands a better chance than most, I think. Big question is whether it is well-capitalized, and I'm guessing that it will be better than most.

(Written on 14.02.2020)(Permalink)

Because you are! 😁

(Written on 05.01.2018)(Permalink)

Stewart's 11,800+ foot primary runway is longer than 4L/22R at JFK. Stewart is "small" only in the sense that its rural-ish location near NYC causes it to have limited passenger traffic. It used to be an Air Force Base.

(Written on 05.01.2018)(Permalink)

Delta's app allows you to store your information and access your boarding pass in "offline mode", so as long as your battery works, the absence of a connection isn't a problem. Southwest's should do the same. A dead battery could be an issue, but you can always get a paper boarding pass as the kiosk.

(Written on 22.03.2017)(Permalink)

Well, this is totally wrong. Take a look at my post above as to what they were doing, why, and who they were. The aircraft was intentionally fully cross-controlled (look at the yoke) and decelerating faster than a normal stall test. I would fly in the right seat with Bear flying any day (if he were still around). Also, when criticizing the recovery technique, consider that it's a t-tailed aircraft with tabs.

(Written on 27.02.2017)(Permalink)

Doing a little research on this, it appears that this is a McD test pilot crew in the 1998-1999 time frame. Boeing had owned McD by the time they rolled out the first MD95/717, but remember that McD was still a subsidiary at that point with its existing lines of authority and organization. So these are McD guys in the cockpit, apparently ex-Navy Vietnam fighter pilot Randy Wyatt in the right seat, who went on to be a Boeing test pilot, including on the 747LCF, and Gary "Bear" Smith in the left seat. Bear was a Blue Angel and still active in the Naval Reserves, and was a McD test pilot. He died in 2005 in his Super Decathalon while giving advanced flight instruction to an instrument-rated private pilot near Oroville; apparently the student was at the controls. It appears that this was Developmental or Certification stall testing on the aircraft, specifically the aggravated/accelerated entry points where the speed is changed at more than 1 knot per second. According to a guy that

(Written on 27.02.2017)(Permalink)

This video has been around a long time, including in the original Russian. It was taken at HKG. A Cathay pilot posted some significant information about the conditions prevailing at the time, as well as a translation of the original poster's comments in Russian. Explains a lot. And there's a lot more out there on the 'Net if you look. In fact, a link to the exact same video was posted on FLIGHTAWARE just a year ago, and sparked comment then, too. Oddly, however, the general tenor of it was different.

(Written on 03.03.2012)(Permalink)

For all you guys who are saying "nothing dangerous", I would note that the reports I have seen elsewhere on this takeoff indicate the following: (1) Other international airlines cancelled; (2) because it was in a typhoon; (2a) and other airlines' SOPs did not permit takeoffs in the prevailing conditions; (3) have a look at the aileron deflection in the earliest stages of the takeoff roll; (4) ask yourself why the Aeroflot captain was apparently severely disciplined following this incident.

(Written on 03.03.2012)(Permalink)

Oxygen masks don't deploy because the plane "falls fast". They don't deploy because the plane is falling. The deploy because there is a loss of cabin pressure. It has been established a long time ago that the aircraft was largely intact until it hit the water. Intact aircraft equals no loss of cabin pressure equals no masks deploying. Really dumb headline.

(Written on 16.05.2011)(Permalink)