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MGW on pace to soar past 14,000 enplanements in 2025
MGW on pace to soar past 14,000 enplanements in 2025

Dominion Post

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • Dominion Post

MGW on pace to soar past 14,000 enplanements in 2025

MORGANTOWN — 7,302 enplanements in six months. That's 7,302 paying customers boarding aircraft at the Morgantown Municipal Airport between Jan. 1 and June 30. To get some perspective on the impact new Essential Air Service carrier SkyWest Airlines has had since taking over for Southern Airways Express in December, consider the enplanement number this time last year was about 3,600. For all of 2024, the count was just over 7,700 — a good year by recent standards, as it marked just the second time in a decade the airport surpassed 7,300. This year, the state's only city-owned airport is on pace to fly past 14,000. And they're just getting warmed up. 'When SkyWest presented their service to us, they felt that they would be able to get close to 20,000 passengers a year,' Airport Director Jon Vrabel said. 'They didn't think it would happen maybe the first year, but possibly starting in years two and three.' For small airports, enplanement numbers mean big money. In basic terms, falling short of 10,000 enplanements – as MGW has done each year since 2011 — has traditionally slashed the amount of the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program dollars received from $1 million to $150,000 annually. AIP funds are capital improvement and infrastructure dollars, making them critical for airports looking at expensive facility upgrades, like, for example, the $60-million-plus runway extension project underway at MGW. Consistently missing out on those AIP funds was heavy on the collective mind of the selection committee this time last year as it considered staying with Southern Airways — the city's EAS carrier since 2016 — or taking off in a different direction. Essential Air Service, or EAS, is a federal subsidy provided directly to carriers to offset the cost of rural operations and ensure air service in smaller communities. 'It is impossible to be productive in today's world and stay where we're at,' former City Manager Kim Haws said at the time. 'I feel very strongly that we need to move forward and increase, not only enplanements, but the speed with which we are attempting to extend the runway.' It certainly appears as if the first box has been checked, which should help with the second. The project to extend the MGW runway by 1,001 feet to 6,200 feet is expected to conclude sometime between 2028 and 2030, depending on the flow of funding. When it meets Tuesday, Morgantown City Council will consider receipt of a $9.5-million grant from the FAA for construction of Phase 5 and the design of Phase 6 of the project. In order to accept the grant, the city must provide a $500,000 local match. Once complete, the extension will allow MGW to step up in terms of the variety of aircraft it can accommodate. It will also allow its own carrier to fully utilize the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 jets that make up the bulk of its fleet. 'The runway length here limits how many passengers they can carry on the Chicago flight. So, that's been restricted down to somewhere between 32 and 40. During the summer, it's down around 32 and it's up in the 40s in the winter,' Vrabel said, explaining the calculation comes down to weight and air density. 'In the summer, the air is thinner and the airplane doesn't perform as well. So it needs more runway to get off the ground with the same amount of weight,' he said. SkyWest offers daily flights from Morgantown to Dulles International Airport, in Virginia, and Chicago O'Hare International Airport. 'They're just a very professional company. We see that across the board with them and they've been great to work with; easy to work with. They conduct business very much like all the major carriers do,' Vrabel said of SkyWest. A representative of the carrier said the support is appreciated. 'The Morgantown community has shown incredible support for their local air service since the first United Express flights, operated by Skywest, began last December. We are pleased that so many people have taken advantage of flights to both Chicago and Washington, D.C., and the community is continuing to utilize and enjoy SkyWest's reliable, convenient travel options for Morgantown travelers.'

Kathmandu plane crash: Probe blames Saurya Airlines tragedy on cargo shift, speed errors and oversight lapses
Kathmandu plane crash: Probe blames Saurya Airlines tragedy on cargo shift, speed errors and oversight lapses

Times of Oman

time4 days ago

  • General
  • Times of Oman

Kathmandu plane crash: Probe blames Saurya Airlines tragedy on cargo shift, speed errors and oversight lapses

Kathmandu: An investigation into the July 24, 2024, Saurya Airlines crash in Nepal's Kathmandu has revealed multiple technical and manual lapses as the primary causes of the tragic incident that claimed 18 lives, leaving only the pilot alive. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission (AAIC) released its final report on Friday, citing several critical lapses in weight and balance management, incorrect takeoff speeds, and regulatory oversight failures as key contributing factors to the crash of the Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft (registration 9N-AME). One of the major findings was that the aircraft's cargo was likely not secured according to guidelines, which may have shifted during takeoff. The AAIC also pointed out that the takeoff speeds (V-speeds) entered and used by the crew did not match official reference speeds from the aircraft's Quick Reference Handbook (QRH), raising the risk of aerodynamic instability as one of the reasons for the fatal crash. The Commission also attributed the pitch rate during takeoff, which reached an abnormal 8.6° per second, nearly triple the aircraft's safe limit of 3°/s, as the third reason contributing to the accident. In addition, the commission also flagged the lack of regulatory oversight in approving the ferry flight without verifying compliance with safety protocols. The Pokhara-bound aircraft, which had been grounded for 34 days prior to the crash and was scheduled for base maintenance in Pokhara, had undergone short-term storage procedures multiple times and had its return-to-service check completed on the morning of the accident. "While the aircraft had a valid airworthiness certificate, its maintenance records showed time extensions and short-term preparations rather than a long-term, thorough maintenance regime," the report states. The pilot-in-command had over 6,000 hours of total flight time and nearly 5,000 on the CRJ-200, with valid licenses and recent rest. The first officer was less experienced, with around 1,800 total flight hours. There was also a supernumerary (S/N) engineer on board. Despite the apparent fitness of the crew and aircraft, crucial oversights in weight documentation, speed settings, and preflight planning may have compromised the safety of the flight. The ill-fated aircraft, bound for Pokhara, was carrying 19 individuals and 600 kg of baggage. The total takeoff weight was 18,132 kg, and the centre of gravity (CG) was at 20 per cent of the MAC (Mean Aerodynamic Chord) with a stabiliser trim set to 6. The report also has highlighted that the cargo loading protocols are insufficient. Investigators found that cargo and baggage may not have been properly secured with straps or nets, as required by the airline's own Ground Handling Manual. Shifting loads during takeoff can significantly impact balance and control, especially in a rear-heavy configuration. "The incorrect stabiliser setting or unbalanced CG may have contributed to the rapid pitch-up, causing a stall or loss of control," the report states. The AAIC also identified non-compliance with standard loading procedures as a key safety violation, emphasising that such oversights are unacceptable even in ferry or non-revenue flights. Along with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the oversight body of the aviation regulatory body of the Himalayan nation lacks oversight. Saurya Airlines obtained ferry flight approval for this non-revenue flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. However, investigators found that the flight permission process was inadequately followed. "The required documentation, including full compliance with CAAN's 2015 Flight Permission Manual, was incomplete or missing. This regulatory lapse enabled a flight to proceed without proper checks on critical safety elements like load distribution and updated speed charts," it states. In its report, the AAIC has recommended that CAAN (Civil Aviation Authority) urgently review and revise procedures for ferry and non-scheduled flights to ensure such incidents do not recur. The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) were successfully recovered and analysed in Singapore, with oversight from Nepal's AAIC and international observers from Canada, the USA, and the FAA. "The data showed that the aircraft's engines functioned normally during the event. However, a dangerously high pitch rate, peaking at 8.6° per second, was recorded during rotation, far exceeding safe limits," the AAIC report states. "The CVR recorded multiple stick shaker activations, indicating stall warnings. The aircraft also exhibited erratic roll movements: right, then left, and again right. Despite the pilot-in-command's attempts to correct the aircraft's attitude using control wheel inputs, the instability continued until impact," it adds further. Three interim safety recommendations have been issued further by the AAIC, where it has mentioned, "all airline operators in Nepal must immediately review their speed cards and Reduced Takeoff Weight (RTOW) charts to ensure accuracy and conformity with the aircraft manuals." Also, the strict compliance with cargo and baggage handling procedures is mandated for all the operating airlines, where "every piece of baggage or cargo must be weighed, correctly distributed, and securely fastened using nets or straps." Along with the regulatory body, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal must revise and improve its procedures for granting flight permissions, especially for non-scheduled and ferry flights. On July 24, 2024, the Saurya Airlines Bombardier CRJ 200 aircraft (registration 9N-AME) crashed shortly after takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu. The aircraft was on a ferry flight to Pokhara for scheduled maintenance, carrying 19 airline personnel, including pilots and engineers. Within seconds of liftoff from runway 02 at around 11:11 AM local time, the plane veered sharply right and crashed near runway 20, erupting in flames. Rescue teams, including firefighters, police, and army personnel, responded swiftly, extinguishing the fire and recovering the bodies, later sent for autopsy. The crash prompted a temporary shutdown of TIA, disrupting domestic and international flights. The government-formed investigation committee submitted its report following the Saurya Airlines Bombardier CRJ-200 crash that occurred on July 24, 2024. The five-member commission was established immediately after the accident during an emergency Cabinet meeting to determine the causes of the crash. It was led by Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, the former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). The other members were Captain Dipu Jwarchan, Professors Kuldip Bhattarai and Sanjay Adhikari from Pulchowk Engineering Campus, and Mukesh Dangol, an Air Traffic Control Officer at CAAN. The committee completed its investigation and submitted the report, providing detailed findings on the circumstances and factors that led to the tragic accident, which claimed 18 lives.

Severe Turbulence on United Airlines Flight Sends 5 to Hospital
Severe Turbulence on United Airlines Flight Sends 5 to Hospital

Yahoo

time03-03-2025

  • General
  • Yahoo

Severe Turbulence on United Airlines Flight Sends 5 to Hospital

Five people were injured after heavy turbulence battered a United Airlines plane that was then diverted to a regional airport in Texas. The SkyWest flight, operating as United Express, left Springfield, Missouri, and was due to land in Houston, Texas, when it was forced to touch down in Waco, 160 miles north of its intended destination. A storm over the Dallas-Fort Worth area forced the plane, a Bombardier CRJ200, to touch down at Waco Regional Airport around 6:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. Eastern) on Sunday. Emergency services whisked five of the 28 passengers to a hospital with unspecified injuries. FlightAware states that the flight departed again early Monday morning and landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston at about 1:45 a.m. local time (2:45 a.m. Eastern). The Waco Fire Department and the Office of Emergency Management were at the scene, and SkyWest Airlines said in a statement that medical personnel were waiting on the tarmac in Waco. 'SkyWest flight 5690, operating as United Express from Springfield, MO to Houston, landed safely at Waco Regional Airport after experiencing turbulence. Medical personnel met and evaluated passengers, and five passengers were transported to the hospital. SkyWest and United are making sure the injured customers get the care they need and are working to line up new transportation options for everyone on this flight,' the statement said. Flight 5690 was one of three that diverted to the airport in central Texas. Two American Airlines flights that were heading to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport were re-routed because of the storms. No injuries were reported on either of those flights. 'Due to storms at DFW, two flights briefly diverted to Waco and later re-departed,' the airline told CNN in a brief statement. The news comes after a string of deadly incidents in American aviation, including the January collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet near Ronald Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people across both aircrafts. Days later, a small medical jet crashed near a shopping mall in northeast Philadelphia. Seven people were killed and dozens were injured. In early February a small passenger plane went missing and was later found to have crashed in Alaska. All on board—nine passengers and the pilot—died. In mid-February, a Delta flight flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport after leaving Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Miraculously, all 80 people on board survived.

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