AirSafe.com Web Site

Podcast on Intial Details of Air France A330 Crash near Brazil

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:40:00 EST

Podcast and other details about the crash of an Air France A330 in the Atlantic Ocean near Brazil.

Air France Flight 447 Accident Information

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:39:00 EST

Details of the 1 June 2009 crash of an Air France A330 in the Atlantic Ocean near Brazil.

Crash of Turkish Airlines 737 in Amsterdam

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:29:00 EST

Updates on the 25 February 2009 crash of a Turkish Airlines 737-800 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The aircraft, on a scheduled international flight from Istanbul, Turkey, to Amsterdam, Netherlands crashed in a field about a mile (1.6 km) short of the runway. Three crew members, including both pilots, were killed, as were at least six others among the 134 passengers and crew members.

Continental Connection Crash in Buffalo 12 February 2009

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:28:00 EST

Updated information about the 12 February 2009 crash of a Continental Connection (Colgan Air) Dash 8 Q-400 near Buffalo, NY. The aircraft, a scheduled flight from Newark, NJ and operated by Colgan Air, crashed in a residential area about seven miles from the airport. At least one house on the ground was destroyed. All 45 passengers and four crew members were killed, along with one person on the ground.

A320 Crashes in the Hudson River

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:12:00 EST

Details of the 15 January 2009 ditching of a US Airways A320 in the Hudson River in New York. Visit hudson.airsafe.org for the latest updates, podcasts, videos, and related issues related to this accident.

Year in Review 2008

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:04:00 EST

AirSafe.com's Airline Safety Review for 2008 includes all fatal events, specifically events involving passenger fatalities in aircraft which have the capacity to seat at least 10 passengers where those models are used in regular airline service in North America, western Europe, Australia, or Japan. Also included are other significant events that did not qualify as a fatal event, but that either had high media interest or that had noteworthy aviation safety or security implications. Only the seven numbered plane crashes listed below qualified as a fatal event. For details, visit 2008.airsafe.org.

Risks from Incapacitated Pilots and Pilots Who May Deliberately Crash Airplanes

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:08:00 EST

AirSafe.com reviews the investigation into a January 2008 incident where an Air Canada pilot became mentally incapacitated and had to be removed from the cockpit. While a review of the available incident and accident record by AirSafe.com revealed no proven cases of a mentally incapacitated pilot deliberately causing death or serious injury to passengers, there have been several cases where such behavior was suspected, and one case where a pilot crashed an airliner on purpose. Visit the AirSafe.com News at http://airsafenews.com for timely airline safety and security information.

Interview on 'The Gregg Knapp Experience' - 18 November 2008

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:09:00 EST

This interview from the Radio America show The Gregg Knapp Experience focused on a TSA behavior detection program that singles out passengers for extra screening based on what the TSA describes as suspicious behavior. Both Gregg Knapp and Dr. Curtis questioned the effectiveness of the program, and the difficultiy in evaluating such programs. For more information on dealing with TSA, visit http://tsa.airsafe.org.

Complacency and the Qantas A330 Accident of 7 October 2008

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:10:00 EST

A Discussion of the current 26-month period since the last fatal US event involving an airline passenger. This is the longest such period since airlines in the US first began using jet aircraft in 1958. Dr Curtis suggests that there is always room for improvement, and one way to improve the system is to study the results of accident investigations, including the ongoing Qantas investigation. More details of the investigation at http://qantas.airsafe.org

Interview with Passenger on Qantas Accident Flight of 7 October 2008

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:10:00 EST

This show features an interview with Keesin Ng, a passengers on a Qantas A330 aircraft that experienced a violent in-flight upset during a flight from Singapore to Perth on 7 October 2008. About 75 passengers and crew members were injured during this event, with 14 hospitalized with serious injuries such as fractures and lacerations. The interview occurred three days after the event with passenger Keesin Ng, who provides additional details about the in-flight drama. More details at http://qantas.airsafe.org

Serious Injuries on a Qantas A330 Flight on 7 October 2008

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:49:00 EST

A Qantas Airbus A330-300, with 303 passengers and 10 crew members on board, was on a scheduled international flight from Singapore to Perth. While in cruise, the aircraft reportedly experienced some type of sudden and unexpected altitude change. The crew issued a mayday call before diverting the aircraft to the airport at Learmonth, near the town of Exmouth, about 1100 kilometers or 680 miles north of its intended destination of Perth. About 36 passengers and crew members were injured, with over a dozen severe injuries. Reportedly, several occupants were slammed into the ceiling during the event. Most of the injuries were to passengers and crew in the rear of the aircraft, and at least one person was carried off the plane in a stretcher. About 13 of the most seriously injured were flown to Perth by four aircraft from the Royal Flying Doctor Service. One flight attendant was hospitalized with suspected head and spinal injuries. Other serious injuries included fractures, lacerations, and a concussion.

Crash of Spanair MD82: Comments from Capt. Patrick Smith

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:07:00 EST

Two days after the crash of a Spanair MD82 on 20 August 2008, Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com interviewed Patrick Smith, an airline captain with a major US carrier and the author of the book "Ask the Pilot." They discussed several crash-related issues, including the quality of media coverage of the event, and provided some insights into what areas may be important in the ongoing investigation. The podcast can be downloaded directly from http://www.airsafe.com/podcasts/show64-spanair2.mp3.

Two Veteran Airline Captains Discuss the Crash of a Spanair MD82

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:08:00 EST

The previous podcast reviewed the initial findings from the Spanish accident investigation. The video version of the podcast also included portions of a security camera video that captured the final moments of the flight. This podcast features a discussion that was originally recorded on August 23rd, 2008, three days after the crash of the Spanair MD82, and featured Capt. Tom Bunn of the SOAR fear of flying organization, and Capt. Steve Fisher, a veteran airline pilot who has flown for a major US airline for over two decades. Capt. Bunn has been a guest previously on the show, and in this episode he'll talk about some of the anxieties and concerns that have been expressed to him by some passengers. In the days following the Spanair crash, I brought Capt. Bunn and Capt. Fisher together to provide insights into the mechanics of flying a large jet transport, especially the MD82, and to give the audience an idea of the kind of training and preparation pilots go through to prepare for emergencies during takeoff. Early on in our conversation, the two captains discussed some of the issues that came up during the the first few days of the investigation, including a problem with a temperature sensor that caused the crew of the accident aircraft to return to the terminal after its first takeoff attempt. You can use the following link for the podcast: http://www.airsafe.com/podcasts/show68-spanair3.mp3 Additional information about the Spanair accident, including links to a video showing the crash, and links to further updates from the investigation, will be available at http://spanair.airsafe.org. For other AirSafe.com podcasts, visit http://podcast.airsafe.org

Preliminary Findings: Crash of Spanair MD82

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:10:00 EST

According to a number of media reports, Spanish Authorities have completed a preliminary report about the August 20, 2008 crash of a Spanair MD82 in Madrid. Among their findings were that the flaps were not properly configured for takeoff and that there was no flap warnings or alarms presented to the crew. The accident occurred during the second takeoff attempt. The crew had returned to the gate after the first takeoff attempt due to problems that so far appear to be unrelated to the subsequent accident. During the second takeoff attempt, the crew reported reaching V1, or takeoff decision speed. The aircraft was airborne for about 15 seconds, reaching a maximum altitude of about 40 feet. A video taken by the Spanish airport authority showed that after touching down, the aircraft slid for a considerable distance and appeared to be relatively intact before breaking up and exploding. Contrary to early reports on the day of the accident, the video did not show any sign of a fire or explosion while the aircraft was airborne. Among the key early findings of the investigation was that the aircraft�s flaps were not properly deployed at takeoff. Also, there was no indication that the flap configuration alarm was activated. This sequence of events was similar to that of a 1987 MD82 crash in Detroit, Michigan. After that accident, the manufacturer recommended that the flaps and associated warning systems be checked prior to each flight. Spanair procedures called for a check of the flaps and warning systems prior to the first flight of the day and after each change of flight crews during the day. There was no pre-takeoff check of the flap warning system prior to the accident flight. For additional information on this crash, including links to related audio and video podcasts and updates on the investigation, visit http://spanair.airsafe.org

Crash of Aeroflot-Nord 737-500 on 14 September 2008

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:11:00 EST

The aircraft was on a scheduled domestic flight from Moscow to Perm, Russia. Contact with the aircraft was lost shortly before landing when the aircraft was about 3,600 feet, or about 1100 meters, above the ground. The aircraft was completely destroyed in the crash, coming down outside of the city of Perm and near the tracks of the Trans-Siberian Railway. All 82 passengers and six crew members were killed in the crash. There were seven children, including one infant, among the passengers. For additional information on this crash, including links to related audio and video podcasts and details about other fatal events involving airlines of the former Soviet Union, visit http://russia.airsafe.org

Crash of Itek Air 737-200 on 24 August 2008

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:12:00 EST

For the latest information on the crash, including audio and video podcasts about this event, visit the AirSafe.com page on this crash. The Itek Air 737 attempted to return to the departure airport shortly after takeoff, but crashed short of the runway, killing about 68 of the 90 passengers and crew on board.

Spanair Crash in Madrid on 20 August 2008

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:12:00 EST

For the latest information on the crash, including audio and video podcasts about this event, visit the AirSafe.com page on this crash. The Spanair MD82 crashed on takeoff, killing 154 of the 172 passengers and crew on board.

Secrets of AirSafe.com: Dealing with Legal and Social Realities

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:13:00 EST

Dr. Todd Curtis discusses how the laws of the U.S., particularly those dealing with free speech and copyright protection, have allowed AirSafe.com and other sites to flourish, and also how the availability of a variety of free services have allowed all who are online to be much more creative when it comes to producing and consuming online content.

Dr. Todd Curtis on the Discovery Channel

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:19:00 EST

This show features a segment from the the Discovery Channel series "Survive This!" That segment featured the 21 September 2005 landing gear event involving a jetBlue A320 near Los Angeles. During the clip, Dr. Todd Curtis explains some of the factors that led to a dramatic, but safe end of the flight. The series "Survive This!" ran for one year during the 2007 season.

(Transcript) In-Flight Emergency Involving a Qantas 747-400 Near Manila on 25 July 2008

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:22:00 EST

AirSafe.com creator Dr. Todd Curtis reviews the initial information about a Qantas rapid decompression event over the Pacific Ocean which led to a diversion to Manila. Dr. Curtis also discusses possible causes of the event, as well as selected previous episodes where an airliner had a decompression event coupled with a loss of part of the fuselage.

(Video) In-Flight Emergency Involving a Qantas 747-400 Near Manila on 25 July 2008

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:21:00 EST

Audio: In-Flight Emergency Involving a Qantas 747-400 Near Manila on 25 July 2008

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:20:00 EST

Secrets of AirSafe.com: A How-to Guide on Becoming an Internationally Recognized Expert

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:23:00 EST

In this fourth episode of the special series Secrets of AirSafe.com, AirSafe.com creator Dr. Todd Curtis talks about how he has been able to get interviewed by major national and international news media organizations, and he describes how he used his experiences, credentials, and published works to attract the attention of producers and editors at newspapers, magazines, and television.

Secrets of AirSafe.com: How Visitors Use the Site

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:24:00 EST

AirSafe.com creator Dr. Todd Curtis shares his observations of how visitors use the site, and how these traffic pattern continues to influence the content of the site. The transcript of the show is available at http://www.airsafe.com/podcasts/show54.htm.

Secrets of AirSafe.com: Online Resources and Content Guidelines

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:15:00 EST

AirSafe.com creator Dr. Todd Curtis discussed some of the key Internet resources that have made it possible to build and maintain an audience, and how those resources have changed over the years. In addition, he'll also talk about the criteria and guidelines that determine what kind of information shows up in the site. The transcript of the show is available at http://www.airsafe.com/podcasts/show53.htm.

Introducing the Secrets of AirSafe.com

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:56:00 EST

This first podcast provides an introduction to the special series as well as an overview of upcoming shows.

New Podcast Series - The Secrets of AirSafe.com

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:10:00 EST

AirSafe.com creator Dr. Todd Curits reflects on the 12 years that AirSafe.com has been in operation, and introduces the "secrets" of AirSafe.com, which are the tools, insights, and lessons learned that have been key to the development of the site and its audience. Each podcast in this series will explore a different aspect of the site, and how that aspect expanded and enhanced the site, as well as how it helped with growing the audience.

AAIB Investigation of British Airways 777 Crash 17 Jan 2008

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:48:00 EST

Background information plus podcasts associated with the investigation of a non-fatal crash of a British Airways 777 in London on 17 January 2008

The Roots of Fear of Flying with Capt. Tom Bunn and Lisa Hauptner

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:09:00 EST

This show features two pioneers in the treatment of fear of flying, Captain Tom Bunn and Lisa Hauptner of SOAR fear of flying organization. These two experts, who are both trained therapists, reveal a number of surprising facts about fear of flying, including the roots of fear of flying and the fact that the fear is often only indirectly related to flying.

Crash of a TACA Airbus A320 at Tegucigalpa, Honduras on May 30th, 2008

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:52:00 EST

The aircraft was on a scheduled international flight from San Salvador, El Salvador, to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The aircraft landed, overran the runway, went down an embankment, and struck several vehicles. One of the six crew members and two of the 118 passengers were killed. Two people outside the aircraft were also killed.

Crash of a Patagonia Cessna Caravan in Chile on 7 June 2008

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:29:00 EST

New audio and video podcasts are available for the crash of a Patagonia Cessna Caravan in Chile on 7 June 2008. Includes footage of the rescue of all nine passengers after being stranded four days. Audio available as an MP3 and video as WMV, M4v, Google Video and YouTube.