Accidents, Safety, Security and Training

Although the NTSB has not yet determined a probable cause for the February 2 Challenger 600 accident at New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport, it has released a number of factual reports. Apparently, the Platinum Jet Management crew failed to perform weight-and-balance calculations properly and delayed its use of the thrust reversers when the jet failed to take off.

Rudy’s Inflight Catering is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its White Plains, N.Y. kitchen with an expansion of the facilities. According to Joe Celentano, who with his brother John owns and manages Rudy’s, “We are about to add a 900-sq-ft refrigerator to supplement the operation.” The facility, on the grounds of Westchester County Airport, has also extended its hours and is now serving clients 24/7/365.

As I prepared to pen yet another article dealing with winter operations, the realization hit me that we will likely have ice-related accidents. It seems that every winter we are peppered with articles dealing with many of the issues that need to be addressed to maintain safe flight under some challenging conditions.

Ed Stimpson retired from yet another job last December. That lasted just a few weeks, and then he joined Flight Safety Foundation’s board of directors. In February he was elected chairman. This time, however, he is working pro bono.