Aviation

A Malaysia Airlines flight carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members is missing hours after it lost contact with air traffic control and a search-and-rescue effort is underway, officials are reporting. Flight MH370 was scheduled to land in Beijing at 6:30 a.m. Saturday after taking off from Malaysia’s capital of Kuala Lumpur, but it never arrived, media reports say. It departed at 12:41 a.m. and lost contact about two hours later, officials are reporting. Officials…

Having been aware of a possible problem with a moving flap in the tail-section of Boeing 767 aircraft responsible for aiding in elevation shifts since 2000, the FAA issued a new order in Monday’s Federal Register demanding increased inspection and safety tests for these crucial components. This order of inspection comes on the heels of past problems with the movable tailpiece and a desire for greater guarantees of safety, as the loss of control of…

Robert A. Clifford, Senior Partner at Clifford Law Offices, Chicago, is concerned by the information revealed at yesterday’s NTSB Public Hearing on the crash of Asiana Flight 214, a Boeing 777 widebody airliner. The Hearing information indicates that poor piloting, pilot training, and airplane systems design issues likely led to the fatal crash of Asiana Flight 214. While the full NTSB report and Probable Cause statement will not come for many months, the Public Hearing…

At the end of a long flight, or even a short one, the last thing anyone wants is another cumbersome procedure. People are more willing to participate in, and are accustomed to, security screenings in the airport than they were a decade ago. However, the latest addition of exit portals at the Syracuse airport caused some ire similar to when shoe screenings and body scanners became part of the air travel experience. As part of…

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decided that it will begin lifting restrictions on the use of some portable electronic devices so that they now can be used during all phases of flight. Tablets, e-readers like Kindles and other electronic devices that play games and videos can be used safely and can provide travelers more comfort during the critical take-off and landing phases of the flight. The FAA said it is providing airlines with guidelines to…

When flying, many passengers opt to sit as close as possible to the front of the plane, usually for the added convenience of leaving the aircraft first. Still others choose to sit over the wings of a plane with the mindset that this is one of the safest places to sit in the event of a plane crash. Where is, in fact, the safest to sit? Boeing is sure to reinforce the idea that, “One seat’s…

The Buffalo News is reporting that the families of those who lost loved ones in the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 on Feb. 12, 2009, are asking for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to reopen its investigation as to the cause of that crash. Jerry Zremski, Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief for the newspaper, wrote in a July 13, 2013 story that any new details could, “have implications for the 12 wrongful death lawsuits…

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has long forbid the use of most electronics while in flight; however, that may be changing. The agency’s recent announcement on in-flight cell phone use has some questioning the impact on flight safety. Changes in Restrictions The FAA announced last year that it was in the process of reevaluating its restrictions on in-flight electronic usage. And while potentially more electronics will be allowed, it has been made clear that full…

After many news reports and a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) video focusing on the July 6, 2013 plane crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214, we now know that the pilot who was landing the Boeing 777 logged only 43 hours on that particular aircraft. We also know that the pilot was still considered “in training” on the 777. The question remains, does the amount of pilot flight hours relate in any way to an…