We (name any ethic group eg British) have five seasons of the year; winter, spring, summer, autumn. And of course the holiday season. You could also add the busy season and the slack season if you want to and make it seven.
Our friends at Air Data Research in Texas issue a free weekly update on matters that they think will be of value to pilots. One of their tasks is to keep the US government agency NTSB (National Transport Safety Board) on their toes. What they particularly do not like is the time it takes for a report to be published.
These are last weeks comments
”Recently the Los Angeles office of the NTSB issued a factual report after 40 months. That office is responsible for the 15 oldest reports published last week ” all more than 28 months after the occurrence. Maybe all the old stuff is getting flushed out of the system.
Let's see how long it took to publish this week's factual reports:
3 reports are more than 36 months old.
29 reports are more than 24 months old.
18 reports are more than 12 months old.
47 reports are *less* than 12 months old.
5 reports are less than 30 days old.
And ” drum roll, here, please ” the CHI regional office issued the most recent factual report published this week in just 17 days. It can be done, folks.
Here's a few highlights Air Data found this week ” their comments not ABTN!
THE TOUGHEST AIRPLANE AWARD
"(A) Piper PA-32-260, ditched into the Pacific Ocean about 5 miles north of Catalina Island, Avalon, California. The airplane was not recovered and is assumed to be substantially damaged." (Wonder what it takes to *destroy* a PA32?)
http://www.airsafety.com/reports/ROW040722A.pdf
THE DESCRIPTIVE WRITING AWARD
"the helicopter rolled over and came to rest partially upside down."
(OK, was it partially right side up or in parts? Lying on its side, maybe?)
http://www.airsafety.com/reports/ROW040722B.pdf
THE TRUTH EVEN WHEN IT HURTS AWARD
"The National Transportation Safety Board conducted a telephone interview with the pilot about 2 years after the accident."
(Yes, this report was from the LAX regional office.)
http://www.airsafety.com/reports/ROW040722C.pdf
THE EXTRANEOUS COMMENT AWARD
(While buzzing a friend's house) "the (Cessna 402) airplane struck the pine tree at 170-180 knots. The impact shattered the pilot side window and the left forward baggage door came open. The pilot-in-command remained conscious, but was bleeding from the head area." The report goes on to state that the FAA issued an advisory circular recommending the use of shoulder harnesses and discusses the benefits. (While we support the use of shoulder harnesses, these injuries *apparently* came from the broken window and there was no information presented indicating injuries that would have been avoided by the use of shoulder harnesses. We're left wondering why this comment was included in the *factual* report.)”
http://www.airsafety.com/reports/ROW040722D.pdf