Latest news with #safetyregulations
UAE Moments
19 hours ago
- General
- UAE Moments
7 Deadliest Plane Crashes in the Philippines
While plane crashes are rare, when they happen they leave unforgettable marks. In the Philippines, each event reshaped safety rules, highlighted technical issues, and forever changed the families involved. Here's an insider's look at the 7 deadliest airline disasters from the 1970s onwards. 1. Air Philippines Flight 541 (April 19, 2000): 131 Lives Lost Air Philippines Flight 541 crashed on approach to Davao, killing all 131 people on board — 124 passengers and 7 crew. Attempting to land in poor visibility, the Boeing 737 descended into a coconut grove on Samal Island. This remains the deadliest air disaster in Philippine aviation history. 2. Cebu Pacific Flight 387 (Feb 2, 1998): 104 Fatalities This McDonnell Douglas DC-9 hit Mount Sumagaya, killing all 104 aboard. Pilots were flying visually in fog and outdated maps listed the mountain peak lower than its actual height. The crash spurred improved aircraft training and stricter flight rules. 3. Philippine Air Force C‑130 (July 4, 2021): 53 Dead A military C‑130 overshot the runway at Jolo Airport, crashing into nearby buildings. Fifty soldiers and three civilians died, while 54 survived. Investigations pointed to environmental and mechanical factors affecting the landing. 4. Philippine Airlines Flight 206 (June 26, 1987): 50 Fatalities Flight 206 collided with fog-draped Mount Ugu outside Baguio. All 50 passengers and crew perished. The crash highlighted the dangers of flying in poor weather. 5. Philippine Airlines Flight 215 (April 21, 1970): 36 Lives Taken A bomb exploded mid-air on this Hawker Siddeley HS‑748. The attack claimed all 36 aboard —32 passengers and 4 crew—prompting a major overhaul in airport security. 6. Aerolift Flight 075 (May 11, 1990): 25 Fatalities This Beechcraft 1900C lost an engine during takeoff and crashed into a house in Parañaque. All 21 onboard plus four from the ground died. Authorities later diagnosed pilot error worsened by engine failure. 7. Laoag International Flight 585 (2002): 19 Dead The aircraft took off from Manila to Batanes, then returned after both engines failed. The crew tried a water landing in Manila Bay, but the plane sank and 19 people died. Investigators blamed incorrectly closed fuel valves and airline mismanagement. What These Tragedies Taught Us Limited Visibility & VFR Errors: Many crashes involved pilots flying visually in poor weather. Outdated Charts & Safety Gaps: Erroneous maps and insufficient training were alarming trends. Need for Stronger Security: The 1970 bombing marked a turning point for airport safety. Aircraft Maintenance & Airline Oversight: Laoag's crash showed how administrative shortcuts can kill. Quick Stats Snapshot Flight Year Fatalities Main Cause Flight 541 2000 131 Poor visibility, VFR in low clouds Flight 387 1998 104 Fog, bad maps, downdraft C‑130 2021 53 Landing overshoot, terrain factors Flight 206 1987 50 Foggy mountain approach Flight 215 1970 36 Bombing, security failure Flight 075 1990 25 Engine failure Flight 585 2002 19 Fuel valve error, maintenance faults Why It Still Matters Today These disasters forced major reforms in Philippine aviation:
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Memorial statue to lost North Sea divers unveiled in Aberdeen
A statue commemorating divers who have lost their lives in the North Sea energy industry has been unveiled in Aberdeen. A dedication service was held at the weekend to mark the installation of the memorial. It is estimated more than 100 divers have lost their lives since the inception of the oil and gas industry in the 1970s. The statue, by sculptor Alan Herriot, overlooks the harbour at Pocra Quay. It was commissioned in 2023 by the North Sea Divers Memorial charity. Depicting a man in a diving suit and helmet, it sits atop a granite plinth which reads: "Dedicated to all divers who lost their lives in the North Sea Offshore Energy Industry". Mr Herriot, one of Scotland's best-known figurative sculptors, has other work in made the statue of Scottish football legend Denis Law outside Provost Skene's House, and one portraying King Robert the Bruce outside Marischal College. The weekend's dedication service was attended by some of those who have worked in the industry, including people from across the UK and diver James McLean, a North Sea Divers Memorial trustee, said that none of the deaths over the years had been in vain, as they led to tighter safety said "We know the impact of those losses, and it's very personal for us. "It's been an emotional journey the last couple of years, and sitting looking at the diver we agreed we've almost lived with all those souls over the last two years."Mr McLean added: "It's doffing our cap, remembering friends and colleagues and others who died over the decades, not just in oil and gas but also in the renewable energy industry."
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla's Next Big Catalyst Faces Delay--Robotaxi Launch Under Scrutiny
June 19 A group of Democratic lawmakers from the Austin area is urging Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) to postpone its planned rollout of robotaxis until a new autonomous vehicle law takes effect in Texas, according to a Wednesday letter shared with media. The lawmakers said the delay would allow the company to better align with forthcoming safety regulations and build public confidence. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently indicated that a soft launch could begin as early as this Sunday. The incoming legislation, currently awaiting the governor's signature, would introduce a permitting framework for self-driving vehicles and give the state authority to revoke those permits if safety concerns arise. It also includes requirements for emergency protocols during autonomous operations. Lawmakers have asked Tesla to provide detailed information on how it intends to meet these conditions if it moves forward ahead of the law's expected September implementation. In January, Musk said the company would offer paid autonomous rides in Austin starting in June. Early reports suggest the pilot program may use a fleet of 10 to 20 Model Y vehicles in select neighborhoods deemed safest by the company. The robotaxi program remains a focal point for Tesla investors and analysts, given the potential revenue implications tied to autonomous driving and robotics. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla's Next Big Catalyst Faces Delay--Robotaxi Launch Under Scrutiny
June 19 A group of Democratic lawmakers from the Austin area is urging Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) to postpone its planned rollout of robotaxis until a new autonomous vehicle law takes effect in Texas, according to a Wednesday letter shared with media. The lawmakers said the delay would allow the company to better align with forthcoming safety regulations and build public confidence. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently indicated that a soft launch could begin as early as this Sunday. The incoming legislation, currently awaiting the governor's signature, would introduce a permitting framework for self-driving vehicles and give the state authority to revoke those permits if safety concerns arise. It also includes requirements for emergency protocols during autonomous operations. Lawmakers have asked Tesla to provide detailed information on how it intends to meet these conditions if it moves forward ahead of the law's expected September implementation. In January, Musk said the company would offer paid autonomous rides in Austin starting in June. Early reports suggest the pilot program may use a fleet of 10 to 20 Model Y vehicles in select neighborhoods deemed safest by the company. The robotaxi program remains a focal point for Tesla investors and analysts, given the potential revenue implications tied to autonomous driving and robotics. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
National Post
19-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Ottawa in 'serious breach' in allowing used choppers to patrol border, industry says
OTTAWA — Canada's helicopter industry is charging the federal government with a 'serious breach' in allowing the RCMP to patrol the Canada-U.S. border with antiquated military helicopters that don't meet the government's own safety regulations, National Post has learned. Article content The second-hand helicopters, purchased on the open market by private Canadian operators who were then hired by the RCMP, were granted highly unusual special exemptions by Transport Canada. But documents show that the industry is accusing the federal government of breaking its own rules by allowing used choppers that don't meet Canadian safety standards and aren't supposed to carry passengers or even fly over developed areas. Article content Article content Article content 'It's not even something that should be considered,' said Trevor Mitchell, chief executive of the Helicopter Association of Canada (HAC), about the government's decision to provide the special exemptions. 'Why do some have to follow the rules and some don't?' Article content Article content For at least the last three years, the RCMP has been relying on a small number of private contractors to help patrol the border in search of illegal migrants, drug smugglers and other illicit activities. Those contractors, including two based in Ontario, have been using up to four Black Hawk helicopters that were purchased on the second-hand market after the U.S. military decided to update much of its own fleet. Article content According to the government's Canadian Civil Aircraft Register, the second-hand Sikorsky Black Hawk UH 60As are each at least 40 years old and were imported between 2022 and last year. Article content The special exemptions from Transport Canada, the industry says in a series of letters to senior government officials, allowed them to do non-military jobs in Canadian air space. Article content Article content HAC also says that the twin-engine Black Hawks didn't come with 'type certificates,' which act like recipe books for new owners in that they provide details about the aircraft's parts and how it should be maintained. Article content Article content But in a March 20 letter to Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, Mitchell said even the conditions attached to the exemptions — such as not being allowed to carry passengers or fly over developed areas — have not been followed. 'We urge you to direct your department to ensure the safety restrictions attached to these aircraft are strictly enforced for the balance of the RCMP's contract and that the Force be urged to select a certified aircraft before the contract expires.' Article content The Canadian helicopter industry, which relies heavily on conforming to streams of rules and regulations as its safety pillars, is angry and confused over Transport's decision, Mitchell said. 'It's the hottest topic in the industry.'
