NTSB wants 757 wings checked

The National Transportation Safety Board released a recommendation to the FAA today that would require operators of Boeing 757 aircraft to make "a one- time visual inspection of the upper wing fixed trailing edge panel support beam clips for cracks, proper orientation, and spacers." This is of course following two high profile incidents recently in which 757s have shed wing panels in flight. The first occurred in March with a US Airways 757, and the second took place earlier this month when a Northwest Airlines 757 did the same. We brought you both of those stories here at PointNiner as they unfolded and I was starting to wonder when the NTSB would get on this one. I'm glad to see that today they finally have released something on it.

The NTSB also takes a hit on Boeing by asking the FAA to require "Boeing to issue more explicit instructions and figures that clearly illustrate the correct orientation of the clips and spacers that attach the Boeing 757 panel". Maybe they should just request airlines to stock more 100 mph tape.

The photo above was actually taken by a passenger on the US Airways 757 after it lost a section of its wing panel.

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Shoot a Gun in the Cockpit, You're Fired

Remember Capt. James Langenhahn, the pilot who accidentally discharged his firearm in the cockpit of a US Airways aircraft prior to landing at Charlotte, NC? If you don't, read this first.

Well it turns out he will be fired, but not without a fight. Langenhahn maintains it was a mere accident, nothing intentional, and further it did not damage the anything crucial on board the aircraft (other than that small puncture wound of the hull, you know, nothing important).

Langenhahn is 55 years old and did not disclose how long he has been a pilot for US Airways, but he described himself as a veteran pilot. Maybe the better alternative for US Air to take would be to require that Langenhahn drop out of the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, ergo, no gun, and still let him do his original job. After all, he is only 5 years away from mandatory retirement anyhow.

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Airline Pilots Blame TSA for US Air Cockpit Shot

Ah, the moment I was waiting for. The usual fingerpointing has ensued, approximately one week after the captain of the US Airways flight accidentally discharged his firearm in the cockpit while attempting to stow it away for landing.

The Airline Pilot Security Alliance (APSA) Thursday released a statement blaming the TSA for the accidental weapon discharge because of its weapons handling rules. The APSA pointed specifically to the TSA's requirement that pilots remove guns from their person, lock them, and carry them "off body" when off the flight deck.

The APSA further claims that another pilot involved in the federal flight deck officer (FFDO) program said the US Airways captain was preparing for landing and was trying to remove his gun and secure it when "the padlock depressed the trigger." Shoving away any personal responsibility, the ASPA feels that the rules may force some pilots to handle their guns ten times per day, which is a recipe for disaster.

So, once again, expect a federal investigation and rule changes to follow. If the ASPA gets its way, they would have the pilots involved in the FFDO program follow the same procedures as the federal air marshals, which I'm assuming allows them to carry the gun on their person all the time. Nice, so this means the FFDO pilots would look like undercover police officers dressed up as a pilots.

Maybe we should just give tasers to all pilots, spend less money on firearms training, and allow the FFDO program to go on without guns in the cockpits. Then we can have great Youtube videos of unruly passengers saying "don't tase me bro..."

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The Aftermath of a Gun Discharging in a Cockpit

Below are the photos from inside and outside the US Airways aircraft. The damage is clear, the bullet passed through the exterior skin of the aircraft. Lucky the pilots did not get sucked out of the cockpit by decompression...oh wait, that's only in the movies.


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Wing panel falls off 757 at 27,000 feet

A 5 x 7 foot section of a left wing panel peeled off a US Airways 757 at 27,000 on Sunday, struck and shattered the outer pane of a cabin window, then fell to the Earth below. The flight, enroute from Orlando to Philadelphia, landed safely in the City of Brotherly Love, after the incident occurred 45 miles outside of Baltimore. The aircraft was taken out of service for inspections and an investigation, while the panel remains M.I.A. The Baltimore Sun has indicated that local fire officials are asking that if you live in Prince George's or Anne Arundel counties or near Kent Island in Maryland, check your backyard for airplane wings.

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UPDATED: Pilot's Gun Goes Off In Cockpit

It has become known that the Captain of US Airways Flight 1536 from Denver to Charlotte is now on leave while the airline, TSA, and most likely the FBI and all the other one-hundred federal agencies investigate how/why his gun went off in the cockpit of an aircraft full of 124 passengers. What is even more interesting is that no one else on the aircraft, aside from the first officer, was aware that the gun went off. No news yet on whether the bullet breached the through the aircraft's hull. This pilot is not making things easier for his fellow gun carrying pilots.

T-minus 48 hours until one of the federal agencies involved overreacts, as usual, and bans all guns in cockpits until further notice.

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Pilot's gun goes off in cockpit

US Airways released a statement today regarding an interesting flight they had from Denver to Charlotte on Saturday when a pilot's firearm apparently discharged...in the cockpit. The pilot is a member of the Transportation Security Administrations Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program that allows certain pilots to carry firearms on board the aircraft for "security" reasons. None of the 124 passengers were injured according to WCNC, and the aircraft was never in any real danger. The TSA and the Federal Air Marshals Service are investigating. Itchy trigger finger, maybe?

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