In Portugal It Was Raining Metal On Dec. 6 2010

Multiple Vehicles And A Bulding Skylight Were Hit

The Dept.of Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation (GPIAA) Collects The Aircraft Engine Parts

From The Cargo Letter - Dec. 6 2010

A Boeing 777 plane belonging to Angola's national airline TAAG, was forced to return to Lisbon airport after pieces of metal fell from it across several parts of Almada near the Portuguese capital, after take off on 6 December 2010.

Almada Volunteer Fire Brigade Commader, Vítor Espírito Santo said "small metal fragments, around five by 15 centimeters in size belonging to an airplane" fell "in at least four places in Almada."

According to him, no one was injured by the falling pieces of metal but at least one car was hit.

ANA Aeroportos spokesman Rui Oliveira confirmed to Lusa News Agency the plane in question belonged to Angolan flag carrier TAAG, which had set off for Luanda but immediately turned back and carried out an emergency landing at Lisbon's Portela airport due to technical problems.

He added: "we cannot make a connection between this plane and the fallen pieces in Almada," because "an investigation is being carried out to uncover the fault" of the Boeing 777.

TAAG only resumed its flights to Portugal around a year and a half ago after having been blacklisted by the EU for safety reasons.

Meanwhile, Almada's PSP police and the regional emergency response services (CDOS) did not register any injuries, although a PSP spokesman said that three or four vehicles and a skylight of a building had been damaged.

Following the incident, a team from the Department of Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation (GPIAA) was sent to collect evidence.

Hussein Juma, a passenger who had been aboard the plane told TV Net that "after take off we felt a very strong vibration" and the plane returned to Lisbon. On Dec. 6 afternoon, the Angolan airline released a statement guaranteeing that it will assume the "eventual consequences" caused by the fault on the Boeing 777.

The TAAG Boeing 777 Safely Returns To Lisbon

TAAG Boeing 777 Returns To Lisbon - You Tube

Metal Fragments Struck Almada After Departure From Lisbon's Portela Airport

From The Cargo Letter - Dec. 13 2010 - the 777s are grounded

Angolan airline TAAG is facing physical limitations that prevent maintenance of its fleet of aircraft in the country, the company's chief executive said Dec. 13. in Luanda.

During a press meeting to discuss the difficulties TAAG is facing due to malfunctions that grounded its long-haul fleet, the CEO said that the Boeing 777s were very sophisticated aircraft and added that, "we still do not have our workshops equipped with the appropriate material."

Another important aspect required to carry out maintenance, he said, was a hangar and 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, where TAAG is based does not have an area with capacity to house a Boeing 777.

Also according to the CEO, TAAG has maintenance contracts with companies in countries to which it regularly flies to such as China, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Brazil, and only small maintenance jobs are carried out in Angola.

An Angolan Airlines (TAAG) Flight That crashed In M'banza Congo, Angola, June 2007

"The reality is that the decades of corruption, mismanagement, poverty and war have coalesced into one of the most dangerous skies in the world. IATA estimates that there was one accident for every 244,000 flights in Africa in 2008. That was six times the global average of one accident for every 1.2 million flights and over eight times the IATA members' average of one accident for every 1.9 million flights. A whopping 111 African airlines are on the European Union blacklist; fleet modernization is still slow; most civil aviation authorities lack capacity to carry out competent oversight functions, infrastructure is still poor."

Flight Africa Blog

CONTRIBUTOR For This Feature

Our "Doc" -- our great source, who must remain anonymous

The Airbus A380 Is The Largest Jet Airliner Ever Built And Is The World's First Full Double-Deck Passenger Aircraft.

After Engine Problems Which Grounded The Entire Fleet In Nov. 2010, What Could Happen Next?

Toronto's Lester B. Pearson's International Airport (YYZ)

CLS Catering Services Had Just Finished Servicing The Upper Deck Galley.

In The Process of Lowering, The Scissor-Lift Collapsed At 1944 Hrs, Dec. 7.

A380 Registered A6-EDE Was Preparing For Return To Dubai At Gate 173 of Terminal 1 When The Caterer Dropped In

From The Cargo Letter - Dec. 9 2010

Emirates has removed one of its Airbus A380 aircraft from service after an incident in which a scissor-lift catering truck collapsed at Toronto, damaging the right wing.

The aircraft, registered A6-EDE, had been parked at gate 173 of Terminal 1 when the incident happened at 19:44 on 7 December.

Transport Canada investigators state, in an incident filing, that the aircraft was being prepared for a return service to Dubai and that the catering truck was servicing the upper deck at the time.

It was accessing the second door on the upper right-hand side when, says the filing, the scissor jack of the vehicle "reportedly failed and the truck body fell".

The filing says it came down on the leading edge of the inboard starboard wing and wing root, damaging it.

Joint venture CLS Catering Services - an arrangement between Cathay Pacific and LSG Sky Chefs - was operating the truck.

No passengers were on board the aircraft at the time which was to have operated as flight EK242. Emirates has withdrawn the jet pending an examination to assess the extent of the damage.

The Catering Truck Is Finally Removed By A Crane

The Scissor Jack Reportedly Failed & The Truck Body Fell On the Leading Edge of The inboard Starboard Wing & Wing Root,

The Wing & Wing Root Are Damaged, Extent Unknown

CONTRIBUTOR For This Feature

Our "Doc" -- our great source, who must remain anonymous

This Is The LAX Webcam #2 - "Over The Pacific" Our Readers Enjoy This View Every Day

Here Evening Falls As Aircraft Move Along Runway 25-Right Just After A Pacific Storm

Here The LAX Webcam #2 - "Over The Pacific" Captures A Container Ship On The Horizon, Moving North Out of The Port of Los Angeles At Sunset

But The Evening of Nov. 8 2010 Was Not To Be A Normal Evening At LAX

At 5:15 PM The LAX Webcam #2 - "Over The Pacific" Captures This Amazing Photo of What Appears To Be A Missle Streaking Generally South -- Off LAX

The Staff of Countryman & McDaniel Witnessed The Amazing Sight Overlooking Runway 25-Right.

Moving At High Speed, We Did Not Take This To Be An Airplane

NOTE: Due To The Time Change Our Camera Clock Was Off By One Hour

From The Cargo Letter - Nov. 9 2010

U.S. officials said Nov. 9, they couldn't say what might have created a mysterious plume that set off an Internet frenzy after it streaked across the Southern California sky Nov. 8 night. But they said they were confident there was no threat to the United States.

Speculation immediately arose that some sort of rocket or missile must have been fired after Los Angeles television station KCBS videotaped the spectacular trail from one of its traffic helicopters.

But a Federal Aviation Administration official told NBC News that there were "no reports of unusual sightings" and that a review of radar replays "did not reveal a fast-moving object in that area."

That's in line with the observations of scientists interviewed by NBC News, who said that for all the sensation the video created on the Internet, the contrail was consistent what you'd see behind a normal jetliner or other large aircraft if you happened to spot it at sunset from the unusual aerial angle of the TV helicopter &emdash; in other words, it was probably an optical illusion.

The Boeing Co. occasionally launches aircraft from San Nicolas Island, off the California coast, as part of its anti-missile laser testing programs, but two company officials told msnbc.com that it launched nothingon Nov. 8.

Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at Harvard University who tracks suborbital launches, said the last known such test was Oct. 21. He endorsed the conclusion of other scientists and satellite observers who said the contrail appeared to be moving too slowly to be the result of any sort of missile launch.

Whatever it was, "there is no indication of any threat to our nation," the North American Aerospace Defense Command said in a statement.

NASA and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency didn't immediately respond to requests for information.

The Original - story & video

CNNl - story & video

The Raw Video

Within Seconds The Object Had Zoomed Out of Our View. We Had Never Seen Anything Like This Before

Mystery Solved? - the video which explains this was an "optical illusion"

You be the judge, but the speed of this is unlike any other so-called "optical illusion" of an aircraft approaching LAX we have ever seen in 20 years at LAX.

More, none of these new explanations have offered up the radar track of the aircraft they contend was the object we observed.

To properly judge for yourself, please click some of the video links we have displayed above -- then note the object speed.

The Cargo Letter has no idea what thiis event represents, only that we don;t like the current explanations.

McD

Make Your Own New Discoveries -- Visit The LAX Webcams!

LAX Webcam #1 - Cargo City"

LAX Webcam #2 - "Over The Pacific"

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 17 2010

Dramatic video footage has emerged showing the moment a landslide ripped through the Amazonian Port of Chibatão, Manaus, Brazil.

The security camera footage shows the torrential flows of mud that swept through the riverside container terminal in the late morning of Sunday 17 October as maintenance work was being carried out.

Two port workers &endash; 31-year-old Pedro Paulo, and 63-year-old Sílvio Barbosa Silva &endash; were confirmed as missing. However, Carlos Gonzaga, president of Sindicargas, the local stevedores union, said he believed at least 10 people could had been swept to their deaths.

A 300-meter crack occurred along the length of the privately owned river terminal as large areas of the terminal patio gave way and crumbled into the river during the disaster, with containers, chassis and port equipment also swept away.

José Ferreira de Oliveira, owner of the port, told local journalists that maintenance work was being carried out to create an embankment when the landslide occurred. It is understood that the work was intended to facilitate access to a floating pontoon, that served as a berth at the facility, after river levels dropped.

The river is at its lowest level since records began in 1902, following the Amazon's worst drought in decades. According to the government's geological service, the Rio Negro was measured at a depth of 13.63 meters, down from a high of nearly 30 meters last year.

Derricks and rafts have been used to recover containers and cargo handling equipment as the cleanup operation progresses and the search for bodies continues.

The area of the port affected measures 400 by 200 meters, totaling around 80,000 sq meters. Further large cracks are understood to have occurred in an area of pavement adjacent to the first landslide.

The Port of the Chibatão is responsible for about 40% of cargo movements to and from the industrial center around the city of Manaus, the Amazonian state capital.

The Amazing Video -- you must see this video

The Aftermath - You don't need to speak Portuguese to undterstand this cargo carnage

Video #1

Video #2

Video #3

Video #4

Video #5

Manaus - Port At The Mouth of The Amazon - shows disaster site in depth before the event

From Our Reader

This clip is very short but I thought it was right up your alley.

They call it a landslide but looks more like a river undercutting the land out from under a freight terminal area to me.

William

CONTRIBUTOR For This Feature:

William "Frank" Zappa

M/V Lisco Gloria In Better Days On Her Three Times Weekly Route Over 21 Hours Betweein Klaipeda in Lithuania and Kiel In Germany

Passengers Enjoy Three Cocktail Lounges & Two Restaurants --- Here Is "Gloria Bar"

From The Cargo Letter - Sept. 18 2010

On the night of October 9, near the German city of Kiel a fire broke out onboard the Lithuanian ferry M/V Lisco Gloria, owned by Danish company DFDS Seaways. This ferry runs three times a week on the route Klaipeda &endash; Kiel &endash; Klaipeda. The vessel was launched in 2002.

According to initial statement by the company DFDS Seaways, all crew members and passengers have been evacuated and taken to the German city of Kiel. Several dozen people have been hospitalized, and three are in serious condition. There were 204 passengers and 32 crew members onboard.

Firefighting Vessels Work To Extinguish A fire on The Car Ferry M/V Lisco Gloria In The Baltic Sea, on Sat., Oct. 9, 2010.

The Maritime Emergencies Center in Cuxhaven Said That An Explosion Apparently Occurred On The Lisco Gloria At About Midnight.

The Lithuanian-Flagged Ferry Had More Than 200 Passengers And was travelng from the German port of Kiel to Klaipeda, Lithuania.

M/V Lisco Gloria Remains Afloat For Tow To Port of Kiel

More than 200 passengers and crew were evacuated after the Lithuanian-flagged ferry caught fire near the German island of Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea,

Some 28 people were injured and 23 were still in hospital, a police spokesman said. All the injuries were light and most were from smoke inhalation, he said.

The passenger and car ferry M/V Lisco Gloria was en route from the northern city of Kiel to the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda when an explosion occurred on the upper deck around midnight, said the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies based in Cuxhaven.

A technical defect in one of the trucks on the ferry may have started the fire, the police spokesman said.

"There are currently no indications at all that this could have been a terror attack," the maritime command spokesman said. "Of course the police will investigate this further, but it seems to have been an accident."

The ferry M/V Deutschland and a police vessel had been nearby at the time of the incident and came to the rescue of passengers either swimming in the water or clinging to life rafts.

There were 204 passengers and 32 crew on board the ship, according to the passenger list, said DFDS Seaways, the Danish company that owns the Lisco Gloria.

They came from Germany, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark and Argentina, the police spokesman said.

The ferry M/V Deutschland transported the remaining passengers and crew back to Kiel, where they would be questioned by police as part of an investigation into the incident, according to the DFDS website.

Firefighters and rescue vessels remained with the stricken Lisco Gloria, a 200-meter vessel.

Specialists entered the vessel and set anchor in Danish waters, stopping the ferry from drifting, the maritime emergencies command said.

"The vessel is ablaze ... and it is realistic to expect that it will burn the whole day," the spokesman said. "There is currently no danger for other ships."

Rescue efforts now focused on cooling the vessel to prevent the fire from spreading further and the ship from sinking.

The Lisco Gloria, built in 2002, operated on the route between Klaipeda and Kiel three times a week, according to the DFDS Seaways website. It had space for more than 300 passengers in 73 cabins and managed a speed of 22 knots.

M/V Lisco Gloria

Register class: A1(E)+AMS

Year of construction: 2002

Length overall: 199.4 m

Breadth moulded: 23.4 m

Main engine power: 2x9450 kw

Gross tonnage: 20140 t

Service speed: 22 knots

Cargo capacities: 2493 l/m

Passenger capacities: 302 persons

The Moment of Collision

From The Cargo Letter - Sept. 18 2010

One pilot was killed and another was able to land safely after a midair collision between two aircraft at an airshow in Warngau, in the German province of Bavaria on Sept. 18.

Photos of the collision indicate the aircraft, which appear to be high-performance aerobatic types, came together while traveling in the same direction. The wing of one folded under and it crashed vertically, killing the pilot. It was the third fatal airshow crash in as many weeks in Germany.

"One of the pilots managed to make an emergency landing in the aircraft, while the second aircraft crashed and the pilot was killed," said a representative of the local police.

Organizers cancelled the second day of the show, which was due to feature more than 80 aircraft.

Tragic Dead Drop

Transportation In Any Mode Has Inherent Danger - Perhaps, Some More Than others

From The Cargo Letter - Sept. 18 2010

Two weeks before, an accident occurred on the airfield at the Bavarian city of Nuremberg, when a small plane crashed on takeoff into a crowd of spectators.  As a result of that accident a woman was killed and another 33 people were hospitalized with injuries

For Months Now We Have Heard of This Dreaded "Lightnining Strike" To A Delta Airlines Comuter Plane

This Is Huge -- Planes Falling From The Sky As A Result of Lightning Strikes!

Indeed, The Damage To This Flight For Delta Contractor ASA Airlines Was Dramatic

The Physical Damage Has Been Circulated On The Internet As "Proof" of Your Exposure To This Frightening Risk of Lightning

No Way -- This Is Another Internet Hoax

Editors Note:

It's All A Lie

The Feb. 28 ASA Airlines Flight 5533, a Bombardier CRJ-200, experienced a cockpit fire on the ground shortly after external power was applied to the airplane in preparation for flight. The Captain and one flight attendant evacuated the airplane via an airstair without injuries. They were the only individuals on the airplane at the time. The fire department extinguished the fire after it had burned an approximate 18 inch hole through the left upper cockpit crown skin. The flight, intended to be conducted as Code of Federal Regulations (CFR Part 121) scheduled service, was to be flown from Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH), Tallahassee, Florida, to Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia.

There was no lightning stike. There was no danger to either passengers or cargo.

All this "Lighning" risk talk to cargo shippers & passengers over recent months has just been "bunk".

It is very sad that responsible shippers would become so agitated over a misguided & incorrect Internet rumor.

Don't be foolish. Contact your marine insurance broker or attorney on these matters to get the actual data.

McD

CONTRIBUTOR For This Feature:

David Posey

A Famous "Brown Tail" Takes Flight To One of Over 200 UPS Airlines Destinations Worldwide

Since 1982, UPS Airlines Had Never Suffered A Fatal Accident

Friday, September 3, 2010

From The Cargo Letter - Sept. 3 2010

UPS Airlines Flight 6 departed from Dubai International at 14:53 UTC, bound for the UPS Hub at Cologne Bonn Airport, Germany.

At 15:15 the crew reported a fire in the cockpit when the aircraft was around 120 nautical miles (220 km) west-northwest of Dubai, and declared an emergency. They returned to Dubai, and were instructed to land on the airport's runway 12L. The aircraft was too high on the approach and passed over the airport before making a tight turn. Radar contact was lost shortly thereafter at 15:42 UTC. The aircraft crashed in an unpopulated area in a UAE military bas between the Emirates Road and Al Ain Highway.

Capt. Doug Lampe, age 48, of Louisville, Kentucky, and First Officer Matthew Bell, age 38, from Sanford, Florida, died.

The accident was the first fatal accident involving UPS Airlines.

A UPS team has arrived in Dubai at this time and will cooperate with authorities in the investigation. A UPS spokesman said some relatives of the crew members were en route Sept. 4 to Dubai to accompany their loved ones' remains home.

"We established an internal command center within minutes of learning of this tragedy. It will be staffed around the clock with experts from every part of our operation," said UPS Airlines President Bob Lekites. "Safe, secure operations are our top priorities for our employees, our customers, and our public stakeholders."

The UPS Memorial

Video Tribute To UPS Capt. Doug Lampe

Video of Incident Area

Video of Incident Site

Brown-Tail N571UP

The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing 747-400F/SCD, registered N571UP and was delivered to UPS Airlines in 2007.

It had flown for at total of 9,977 hours, and had had a major inspection performed in June 2010.

Before the crash, Brown Tail N571UP was among the newest.

Brown-Tail N571UP was No. 1,393 of 1,418 planes manufactured. It was the 25th from the last Boeing 747-400s built.

Boeing 747-400F -- Similar To Brown Tail N571UP

The UPS Fleet

Airbus A300-600RF - 53

Boeing 747-400F - 10

Boeing 757-200PF - 75

Boeing 767-300F - 38

McDonnell Douglas MD-11F - 38

As of Sept., 2010 UPS Airlines Has An Active Fleet Size of 216 Aircraft, With 23 Aircraft On Order

UPS - The World Synchronized

The Boeing 747

The Boeing 747 is a backbone of the world's freight industry, transporting about half the cargo carried in dedicated freight planes (as opposed to being loaded in the belly of passenger jets), according to manufacturer Boeing.

The 747-400 is a longer-range version of the classic 747 jumbo jet and has been in use since 1989. A freight version, the 747-400F, was first delivered in 1993.

Whether in passenger or freight versions, the 747-400 can most easily be distinguished from earlier models by the addition of upward-slanting wingtips, or winglets, to reduce drag.

The extended-range version of the 747-400 can carry 63,500 gallons (240,370 liters) of fuel. The aircraft caries 3,300 gallons (12,490 liters) of fuel in the horizontal stabilizer on the tail, allowing it to fly further than earlier models. Its wings -- with a span of 211 feet 5 inches -- are large enough to hold 45 medium-sized cars. The aircraft is 231 feet 10 inches long.

The 747-400 is no longer being produced, with all existing orders fulfilled, but it is still available for purchase. The 747-400F freighter has an average list price of US$253M.

Boeing is testing an extensively modernized version known as the 747-8, initially in freighter and later in passenger models, with the first delivery planned for fourth-quarter this year.

UPS Airlines took delivery of eight 747-400 freighters from Boeing with its distinctive "Brown-Tail" livery between 2007 and 2009.

The UPS aircraft ran on four General Electric engines, each providing 62,000 pounds of thrust. Buyers of the 747-400 have a choice of engines from GE, Rolls-Royce or United Technologies unit Pratt & Whitney.

The 747-400 cruises at Mach 0.85 (85% of the speed of sound), which is 560 mph at typical cruising height of 35,000 feet. The plane can carry some 113 tons or 248,300 pounds of freight. It is operated by two flight crew.

In total, Boeing has delivered 126 747-400F freighters to airlines and freight operators. It has also delivered 40 extended-range 747-400. freighters.

 

The UPS Memorial

Our Tribute To The Pilots & Unfortunate Site Photos

INDEX

Boeing 747-400

UPS Worldport

How Suff Works - UPS Airlines --video

UPS Fleet In Service

UPS Fleet

The Plane Ditched 23 Miles Off Freeport, Bahamas

From The Cargo Letter - August 23 2010

Crewmembers from the U.S. Coast Guard, Bahamian Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) and Royal Bahamian Defence Force (RBDF) respond to a downed Piper Aztec aircraft in the waters about 23 miles northeast of Freeport, Bahamas, Aug. 23, 2010. All six persons aboard the aircraft were located with no injuries. U.S. Coast Guard video.

Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) personnel received the report of a downed aircraft at about 11 a.m. from air traffic control tower personnel at Grand Bahamas International Airport. Reports to the U.S. Coast Guard indicated the aircraft was going down due to engine trouble and the passengers were requesting assistance. The pilot had passed their tail call numbers before losing communication with the tower.

A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., C-130 aircrew launched and assisted in the search for the down aircraft. At approximately 12:30 p.m. RBDF smallboat crews located the downed aircraft with six persons aboard. All six survivors were transferred and it was later confirmed that all persons were accounted for with no reported injuries. 

All Six On The Wings Walked Swam Away

But Who Forgot The Pontoons?

The twin-engine Piper Aztec went down about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Grand Bahama Island after one of its engines failed, said the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association.

The passengers were holding on to the floating tail section of the plane when help arrived in response to their distress call.

"They were still pretty shell shocked," Jamie Rose of the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association said. "Once we got them on the boat, and we started running toward shore, they were saying, 'We just survived a plane crash.'"

He said the six, including two children and a woman who is six months pregnant, were all Bahamian and none appeared to have injuries worse than cuts and bruises.

The plane was flying a short distance from Walker's Cay at the northern tip of the island chain to Grand Bahama when it went down, said Melvin Lundy, a Bahamas police superintendent.

Editor Note - August 16 2010

Driving along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California -- on the way home -- suddenly there was a major sighting -- an aberration -- a shocking surprise!

What was this vessel off Malibu Pier? There was a traffic jam as residents tried to decide if this was a visit or an attack!

I did a U-turn in my car -- and came around to take this picture. What the Hell was this vessel off Malibu?

From shore it looked as if the fabled Capt. Nemo had surfaced in his submarine.!

From The Cargo Letter - August 16 2010

The 390-foot super yacht, known as "A" is the aquatic toy of Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. She is currently moored off Malibu Pier.

According to reports, the vessel was docked in San Diego earlier this month and is now making its way up the coast to San Francisco, essentially spreading yacht envy to Californians everywhere.

With a US$300M price tag, the vessel isn't short on perks. According to a profile in the Wall Street Journal, the vessel has 23,600 square feet of living space, bomb-proofed glass, a fingerprint security system and is filled with floor-ceiling mirrors.

To accommodate other pastimes, Mega yacht "A" has three swimming pools, a helipad, and three 30' speedboats. In addition, she has all the latest entertainment systems, blinking lights, bells and whistles one would expect on a billionaire's mega yacht. Unlike most yachts, however, which usually sport several spacious decks for lounging in the sun and taking in the sea air (or allowing throngs of nude "models" to do same), A's streamlined design is almost entirely enclosed, which suits her reportedly paranoid (but maybe only A-goraphobic?) owner quite well.

Editor Note - August 16 2010

I'll stick with my assessment of this vessel coming from the mind of Capt. Nemo & Jules Verne.

We see the strangest things along Pacific Coast Highway!

McD

Video Tours Of "A"

M/Y A

M/Y A

M/Y A

Helicopter Landing On M/V A

The Airline, Aerovias de Integracion Regional SA -- Fears The Worst

The Boeing 737-700 jetliner Crashed At 1:49 a.m. August 16 2010, On San Andre Island

There Are 78,00 residents On San Andres, About 120 Miles (190 Kilometers) West of The Nicaraguan Coast.

From The Cargo Letter - August 16 2010

Survivors say everything seemed normal as a jetliner with 131 people on board prepared to land in a storm on a Caribbean resort. Suddenly it plunged to earth, killing one person - a death toll so low the island's governor called it a miracle.

"The pilot informed us that we were going to land in San Andres, we buckled our seat belts, we settled in - and a second later, boom! A big bang," said 25-year-old survivor Alvaro Granados, who was flying with his wife and two children. "When my wife and I stood and looked behind us we saw that the back of the plane was missing."

Authorities say it happened so quickly the pilot didn't report an emergency to the control tower at Colombia's San Andres Island.

Experts are trying to figure out why the Aires Airline Boeing 737-700 jetliner hit the ground short of the runway on August 16 2010 - and how 130 of the people on board survived as the aircraft skidded on its belly with its fuselage fracturing and its landing gear and at least one engine ripping off.

After the jet ground to a stop, passengers scrambled from their seats or were helped to safety. Authorities said firefighters quickly doused flames that broke out on a wing.

The one fatality was Amar Fernandez de Barreto, 68, and doctors said she may have succumbed to a heart attack. Officials said 119 people in all were taken to hospitals or clinics, most of them for minor injuries.

Manuel Villamizar, director of the emergency operations center in Bogota, told reporters late August 16.\, that he had arranged for six of the badly injured to be flown in from San Andres island, where the crash occurred. The health ministry said a total of 13 injured were being moved to Bogota.

Col. Donald Tascon, deputy director of Colombia's civil aeronautics agency, speculated the plane's low altitude as it approached for a landing - perhaps 100 feet (30 meters) just before the crash - may have avoided more severe damage and saved lives.

"It was a miracle and we have to give thanks to God," said San Andres Gov. Pedro Gallardo.

Granado, the passenger, said there was little turbulence when the plane went down.

Ricardo Ramirez, a civil engineer who was flying with his wife, told Caracol Radio everything seemed fine despite the rain and lightning.

"The plane was coming in perfectly. We were just about to land, everything was under control," he said. The crash "appeared out of nowhere."

Ramirez said he struggled to free himself and his wife from their seat belts.

"We tried to get out of the plane because the plane was starting to shoot flames," he said. "In a few minutes, a police patrol arrived and helped us."

Ramirez said his wife suffered a dislocated knee. "Thanks to God we are alive," he said.

Officials were investigating a range of possible causes and looking into reports that Aires Flight 8520 was hit by lightning before the crash, Colombian Air Force Col. David Barrero said.

"You can't speculate. Lightning? A gust of wind? The investigation will say," Barrero said by telephone from San Andres.

Aviation experts agreed it was too early to speculate.

"You don't exclude any possibility, but investigators will be looking closely at the weather," said William Voss, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, based in Alexandria, Virginia.

Voss said a "sudden shift in wind direction can cause the aircraft to suddenly lose a lot of lift and end up landing short of the runway."

Tascon, the civil aviation official, said San Andres Airport is not equipped with sophisticated equipment such as Doppler radar, which is used in many U.S. airports to help detect wind shear.

Larry Cornman, a physicist who studies wind shear and turbulence at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, said he doubted lightning alone would be enough to bring down an aircraft.

The airline said at least five U.S. citizens were on the plane, while the U.S. Embassy in Colombia said four Americans and one U.S. permanent resident suffered injuries. The Embassy said one critically injured American needed to be flown to Bogota for further care, while the others were treated &released.

The airline, Aerovias de Integracion Regional SA, said it has about 20 planes, including 10 Boeing 737-700 jets. It said in a Twitter posting that it was "working and investigating with the aeronautical authorities to determine the causes."

Boeing said the wrecked 737-700 jet left the factory in 2003. It was not clear whether Aires was the first operator.

Aires Flight 8520 To San Anres Island

Dropped From The Sky -- In A Storm - Just Before Landing - Crashing To The Ground

Who of The 131 Passengers Could Have Survived?

The Boeing 737-700 Is A Modern Aircraft, Not Likely A Victim of Simple Lighting

Nothing Is Left of The Aires Flight 8520 - Boeing Model 737-700 - The Flight Deck Is Separated From The Aircraft

Here Is The Miracle At San Andres Island

Destroyed Aircraft

131 Souls Aboard Saved

All Walked Away Save One

There Was One Fatality - Who Likely Had A Heart Attack

The Evidence Suggests Wind Shear To Be The Cause of Loss

This Wreckage Displays The Truly Remarkable Ability of Engineers To Design Machines From Which Victims Walk Away .....

...... Except For The Cargo Which Was A Total Loss

INDEX

Ares Airlines

CONTRIBUTOR For This Feature

Our "Doc" -- our great source, who must remain anonymous

M/V MSC Chitra In Better Days

M/V MSC Chitra - Grounded, Listing & Leaking Oil Off Mumbai -- Speaerd By MV Khalijia-III

 From The Cargo Letter - August 7 2010

Two Panamanian cargo ships collided today -- August 7 2010 -- off the Mumbai coast causing an oil spill from one of the vessels but no casualties were reported, Indian Coast Guard (ICG)officials said. 33 crew members, including two Pakistanis, were rescued following the incident.

The Indian Costal Guard vessel ICG Kamala Devi was diverted for rescue and relief operations in response to an SOS message.

M/V MSC Chitra, the outbound merchant vessel from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), collided with MV Khalijia-III, 5 nautical miles from the shores at 9:50 am when the latter was sailing towards Mumbai Port Trust (MPT), off Mumbai harbor, for berthing. Both the ships, measuring at least 180 metres in length, developed cracks following the collision.

M/V MSC Chitra listed sharply under the impact, resulting in oil spill, they said. A senior Coast Guard official said on condition of that the spill was "significant" but claimed the situation was "under control".

M/V MSC Chitra, measuring at least 180 meters in length, developed cracks following the collision. M/V MSC Chitra listed sharply under the impact, resulting in oil spill, they said. A senior Coast Guard official said on condition of that the spill was "significant" but claimed the situation was "under control". The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a call soon after the collision and the Regional Operational Centre promptly diverted Coast Guard ship ICG Kamala Devi for assistance, the officials said. The Indian captain and 32 crew members of M/V MSC Chitra were evacuated and the ship was grounded in the vicinity of the Prong Reef Lighthouse.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a call soon after the collision and the Regional Operational Centre promptly diverted Coast Guard ship ICG Kamala Devi for assistance, the officials said. The Indian captain and 32 crew members of M/V MSC Chitra were evacuated and the ship was grounded in the vicinity of the Prong Reef Lighthouse.

MV Khalijia-III Is Now A Bit Shorter -- But There Were No Injuries - Except To M/V MSC Chitra

The Injury Could Prove To Be Mortal

M/V MSC Chitra Is Sinking

 From The Cargo Letter - August 8 2010

The spillage from M/V MSC Chitra, after it collided with M/V MV Khalijia-III, is estimated to be three to four tons an hour. Aggravating the situation is the continual falling of containers from the cargo of M/V MSC Chitra, which is sinking after listing precariously.

The Indian Coast Guard on Aug. 8 sounded an alert over the oil spill off the Mumbai coast as the slick covered a large area, up to five nautical miles, from the spot where the vessels collided on Aug. 7 morning. Six vessels from Indian Coast Guard are working to contain the oil spill and to prevent any environmental disaster. The coast guard said the vessel is carrying 2,662 tons of fuel, 283 tons of diesel fuel and 88,040 liters of lube oil. The oil spill could be seen for miles, officials said.

M/V MSC Chitra is currently listing at about 45 degrees, causing about 200 containers to fall into the sea -- 32 of these containers with dangerous cargo. A total of 1,219 containers were aboard. "Our main concern is that the vessel position should not deteriorate further," Coast Guard Commandant S.S. Dasila said by phone.

Traffic remains suspended at Mumbai harbor.

This Proud Vessel Is Dying. M/V MSC Chitra Is Going Below With Her Containers

 From The Cargo Letter - August 9 2010 - The Death of M/V MSC Chitra

"M/V MSC Chitra has listed to 80 degrees and the total oil spill is nearly 50 tons", Arun Singh, Commandant (Operations), Indian Coast Guard said.

He said so far, 300 containers have gone overside into the water.

NOTICE TO READERS: The New Photos & Data From This Event Are Now An Amazing Photo Feature. Click Beow:

"Mumbai Departure"

Continue Your Reading og This Even With Our Full Feature Photos & News

McD - Aug. 10 2010

INDEX For This Feature

Troubled History For M/V MSC Chinra

M/V MSC Chinra Disaster Video

 

Editor Note:

The free transit of citizens & commerce is a hallmark of the American experience. For purposes both commercial & personal, we have always been able to travel anywhere on public land without question or hindrance of any kind.

Exceptions to this ultimate freedom granted by the U.S. Constitution have traditionally been been limited only by travel into military bases, hazardous material areas and temporary areas of natural disaster. Any other transit hindrances or obstacles were quickly addressed and cleared by the U.S. Government.

Americans are an independent bunch -- and our roads lead everywhere without restriction.

To learn that transportation within the southern quarter of an American state and within some of America's own national parks has become warning restricted is unacceptable.

Finding the cause of this restriction to be the presence of armed criminals, drug smugglers & human traffickers is sobering. Worse, recent announcements from Mexican Drug Cartels warn that "their trerritory" is now South of U.S. Interstate Hiway 8. No, but you would not know it from the level of crime & threat to this once pristine part of America's Southwest.

Ship Has Happened.

McD

Transit On The Sonoran Desert National Monument & Several Other Adjacent U.S. National Park Lands Has Now Been Restricted By Warning.

Cargo Operations, Hiking, Camping, Scientific Research & General Land Use Are Now Have Restricted Warnings From The U.S. Government

U.S. Interstate Highway 8:

In the U.S. state of Arizona, Interstate 8 (I-8) is a 178.36-mile (287.04 km) Interstate Highway that extends from the Arizona-California border to Interstate 10 near Casa Grande, Arizona. It serves the cities of Yuma and indirectly Phoenix and Tucson; it is the major route westwards to San Diego, California. Essentially, it is a bifurcation of the Interstate 10 route which goes to Phoenix and then Riverside -- Los Angeles being the northern section, and Interstate 8 the southern.

U.S. Federal Government Warning Signs Restrict American Transit Onto Lands South of U.S. Interstate 8 Across The State of Arizona

The State of Arizona Does Not Erect These Signs. These Are From The U.S. Bureau of Land Management

Murders, Robberies & Shoot-outs With Police Are On The Rise As Mexican Drug Cartels Spill Across The International Border

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has now placed these warnings in America's park lands such as The Sonoran Desert National Monument which read:

"DANGER - PUBLIC WARNING

TRAVEL NOT RECOMMENDED

*Active Drug & Human Smuggling Area.

*Visitors May Encounter Armed Criminals and Smuggling Vehicles Traveling At High Rates of Speed.

*If You See Suspicious Activity Do Not Confront.

*BLM Encourages Visitors To Use Public Lands North of Interstate 8."

In Arizona, The Interstate 8 Highway Is Some 40 To 80 Miles North of The international Border Between The United States & The Republic of Mexico.

Has The Untied States, In Effect, Ceded Control South of Interstate 8?

The Cattle Ranchers In This Area Live In Fear And The Situations Worsems Every Day.

If This Were 1870, The U.S. 4th Cavalry Would Surely Be Coming To Rescue The Homesteaders Against The Desperadoes. So What Now?

We Are Invaed, So Hey, Let's Just Design A Cool New Sign!

There Has Been An Incident Off The Tourist Area of Hermanus, 80 Miles East of Cape Town On July 21 2010

The S/Y Intrepid Appears Somewhat Disheveled. No, She's Just Been Smashed!

What Could Have Caused This Destruction?

Permission To Come Aboard !

A 30ft Southern Right Whale Towered Above Before Slamming Into S/Y Intrepid Training Yacht.

This Amazing Shot Was Captured From A Nearby Sightseeing Vessel At Hermanus, East of Cape Town, South Africa

Editor Note:

It is remarkable, but no one was injured when the visitor came aboard. Capt. Ahab would not have been so lucky.

If This Does Not Prove "Ship Happens" -- Nothing Ever Will.

McD

News From South African Mail Online: For July 21 2010

A couple out on a quiet boating trip off the coast of South Africa got the shock of their lives when they were suddenly joined on deck by a 40-ton Southern Right Whale.

Yacht skipper Ralph Mothes, 59, is seen in this amazing photograph dwarfed by the whale as it breaches right next to his yacht S/Y Intrepid.

A split-second after the picture was taken the 30ft-long whale slammed into the deck, snapping the steel mast like a twig and crushing the coach roof and side rigging.

Southern Rights, an endangered species, can grow up to 50ft long and weigh 60 tons, so this one was probably a youngster.

A tourist from Botswana who was aboard a nearby sightseeing boat captured the before & after shot.

Mr Mothes and his girlfriend and business partner Paloma Werner, 50, took cover as the whale thrashed about on deck before slipping back into the water.

The pair were thankful that they were aboard a steel-hulled training yacht, which didn't suffer any structural damage. A fibreglass vessel would have been destroyed.

The incident happened at Hermanus, a popular destination around 80 miles east of Cape Town.

Recalling their close call with the forces of nature, Miss Werner said: 'It really was quite incredible but very scary. The whale was about the same size as the boat.

'We'd spotted it about 100 meters away and thought that was the end of it. Then suddenly it was right up beside us.

'I assumed it would go underneath the boat but instead it sprang out of the sea. We were very lucky to get through it, as the sheer weight of the thing was huge.

'There were bits of skin and blubber left behind, and the mast was wrecked. It brought down the rigging too.

'Thank goodness the hull was made of steel and not fibreglass or we could have been ruined.'

The shaken couple, who are experienced seafarers with the Cape Town Sailing Academy, used their engine to get back to shore in Table Bay.

There were reports that the whale had been harassed by pleasure craft before it leapt onto the Intrepid. An inflatable craft had been seen driving close to the animal moments before the incident.

But experts say the young whale was more likely inexperienced with human contact and didn't know the yacht, which had its engine turned off, was there.

Meredith Thornton, scientist and manager of the Cape Town Mammal Research Institute at the University of Pretoria, said: 'Whales don't see much by way of their eyes but by sound in the water.'

Whales are a common sight in the Atlantic Ocean off the Western Cape coast at this time of year as they come near the shore to breed.

Thousands of tourists flock to the region's seaside resorts every year to spot the mammals during the South African winter from June to November.

Witnesses at the popular Hermanus seaside resort - about 80 miles east of Cape Town - said the whale appeared agitated and was slapping its tail on the water. But whale expert Meredith Thornton said this is a way the animals communicate with each other

Miss Werner said she first saw the whale when it was about 100m away. It breached once and, before they knew it, the whale was a mere 10m from their yacht.

'There was hardly any wind, so we couldn't get out of the way,' she said. 'We didn't have time to take any evasive action.'

Witnesses said the whale had been seen hitting it's tail on the water, and many thought it was being aggressive.

But Ms Thorton said the whale was probably 'lob-tailing' in order to communicate with other whales.

She added: 'If a whale wanted to be aggressive it would side-swipe the boat with its tail.'

After the incident, Mothes and Werner surveyed the damage to their yacht.

Miss Werner said: 'The first thing we did was make sure there was no water downstairs. We didn't know if the whale was coming back.'

They managed to turn the engine on and made it back to the marina without assistance.

Ms Thornton said the whale was probably not badly injured, adding: 'It's definitely very badly bruised, but probably did not break anything. It's definitely feeling it today.'

The Next Rental of S/Y Intrepid: May Be Delayed

Hit & Run: Like so many smash & grab artists, the Right Whale took the doggie treats & retreated. After thrashing about on deck, the whale then slipped back into the water and left the scene of the collision. Mr Mothes and his girlfriend Paloma Werner were left with a broken mast and trashed yacht. They managed to make it back to the marina.

Indeed, This Is A Whale of A Tail To Be Told

FOR RENT: Cape Town Sailing Academy S/Y Intrepid - slightly used (see the vessel for rent)

"S/Y Intrepid: A Barens Seatrader, a 32ft steel sloop - she is the ideal training vessel especially for our strong winds and Cape conditions, plus she is easy to handle."

CONTRIBUTOR For This Feature:

Andy Barnes, Esq. - San Diego

Photos Courtesy of Cape Town Sailing Academy

Bridge Loan:

A Bridge Loan is interim financing for an individual or business until permanent or the next stage of financing can be obtained. An example is a construction loan for construction of a new building -- followed by a Bridge Loan -- to fill the gap before permanent financing is in place. For Most People A Bridge Loan is A Life Saver.

Never before has this Bridge Loan concept been used to save lives. But filling a physical gap by a brief life support is truly a Bridge Loan.

McD

On June 15 2010, At About 3 PM, The Union Pacific Scheduled Freight Train -- 6 Miles Out of Caldwell, Kansas..........

............. Needed A Bridge Loan On Life!

The Bridge Collapsed -- Just Short of Taking Life Under Weight of The Engines & Train.

It Clearly Appears This Train Crew Had A Bridge Loan On Life Near The Kansas - Oklaholma Border.

This Well Could Have Been A Disaster.

CONTRIBUTOR For This Feature

Our "Doc" -- our great source, who must remain anonymous

Russian General Cargo M/V Ruby At Berth 6, Durres, Albania - June 14 2010.

Cargo Oerations Underway For M/V Ruby At 1640 Hrs., June 14 2010.

It is A Beautiful Monday Afternoon, But You Never Know Who Is Going To Stop By.

Well, Look Whose Stopping By For A Visit!

2,487 DWT M/V Storman Asia Has Entered The Harbor & Is Headed To Berth. Or Is She?

The Master of M/V Storman Asia Translates Pilot's Orders Into Indian For The Crew.

Screaming Pilot: "Stop Engine! Full Astern!"

Radio Transmissions Are Monitored:

Oleg Nikitin. aboard M/V San Gwann, was moored about 100 meters from M/V Ruby and captured these pictures.

Oleg also came onto VHF Channel 72 and by chance overheard bridge communications from M/V Storman Asia, which we use to caption these photos.

The Master of M/V Storman Asia: "We Can't Switch From Ahead To Astern!"

Best Practices Tip: There Are Many Maritime Experts These Days Who Consider Reverse Gearing To Be A Handy Benefit.

Pilot: "Brace!"

At About 6 Knots M/V Storman Asia Struck M/V Ruby At 45 Degrees In The Fore Area & Along The Starbord Side

Fortunately, There Were No Injuries.

Damages Were Limited To Twisted Metal & Lost Pride.

Once Again -- Ship Happened! -- Indeed M/V Storman Asia Was "STORM'N".

M/V Ruby

Flag Russia

IMO 8897198

Build 1985

DWT 2,759

M/V Storman Asia

Flag Madeira

IMO 7533721

Build 1976

DWT 2,487

CONTRIBUTORS For This Feature:

Voytenko Mikhail - Our Cargo Law Moscow Correspondent & Editor of the popular Maritime Bulletin

Oleg Nikitin - aboard M/V San Gwann

Editor Note: We reordered the time sequence of these photo to demonstrate a natural progression toward collision. The later time stamped photos are after the vessels were separated.

Boeing Field (King County International Airport), Seattle, Washington --Thursday, April 8 2010

Grumman Gulfstream II Belonging To Charter Company JetStar Air, Beverly Hills, California

Meets

A Galvin Flying Service Tanker At 6:45 PM

Direct Hit On The Air BP Branded Tanker

The Gulfstream private jet was taxiing westbound then turning southbound onto the taxiway A1 in route to the runway. A fuel truck, owned by Galvin Flying Service, was northbound on the taxiway driving lane. The port side wing tip of the airplane hit the front windshield of the truck and entered the cabin area, trapping the driver inside for over an hour.

Boeing Field Rescue crews were forced to cut off the roof of the tanker to free the driver.

The driver is 23 years old. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center.

The Gulfstream had a total of six occupants, including pilot and co-pilot, both of whom are from Van Nuys, California. It had flown in from Van Nuys, California via Vancouver, B.C. earlierin the day.

A significant amount of fuel spilled onto the runway/

After Being Pinned For Over An Hour, The 23 Year Old Driver Was Taken To Harborview Medical Center With Chest Injuries

The Issue of Fault Remains Under Investigation

That Night -- Hard To Believe The Tanker Operator Lived -- This Was A Miracle

Had The Plane Moved Forward -- Or -- Had The Tanker Not Stopped -- Disaster

The Press Reports Say He Was "Pinned" -- But Common Sense Shows A Man Whose Life Was Measured In Inches.

---

For Over 100 Years British Petroleum (BP) Has Pioneered Oil Discovery In Some Places Where Human Existence Was At The Limit

Throughout The 20th Century, BP Personnel Were Considered To Be Great Desert Explorers & Heroes

Mounted On Camels & Jeeps,The Men of BP Suffered Great Hardship In The Days Before WW I -- Searching For Oil -- Needed By The World

There Has Been A Terrible 2010 Loss In The Gulf of Mexico For Which BP Is Clearly Responsible. A Great Tragedy To Impact The BP Reputation Forever.

INDEX For This Feature

British Petroleum (BP)

Air BP

Wikipedia

Galvin Flying Service

Galvin Flying Maintenance

CONTRIBUTOR For This Feature

Our "Doc" -- our great source, who must remain anonymous

Pictures by Jeremy Lindgren

M/V Bright Century (IMO 9138977) In Better Days

Photo By Tropic Maritime Photos, Australia, Taken 29 Months Ago

M/V Sea Success In Better Days

Photo By Ian Baker Taken Twelve Months Ago

M/V Sea Success (IMO: 9174816) . The Day After -- Wounded Sole Survivor

From The Cargo Letter - April 3 2010 

178,739-dwt Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier M/V Bright Century (IMO 9138977) sank off Weihai City, east of China's Shandong Province, after a collision with 27,287-dwt Liberian-registered freighter M/V Sea Success (IMO 9174816) on May 2. The incident was attributed to the fog. The crew of 46 reported safe. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 4-5-10]

Incident involving MV Bright Century -- April 3 2010

The manager of the MV Bright Century, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement advised that at approximately 0630 LT 02nd May, the Hong Kong MRCC picked up a distress signal from the MV Bright Century, a capesize iron ore carrier sailing up the coast of China with a full load of iron ore. The incident, which occurred around 0523 LT, revolved around a collision occurring at 37deg 38.10 N; 123 deg 07.15 E, in the vicinity of Yantai, China.

The Master reported that the crew had been forced to abandon ship as a result of the collision, but are all safe and sound with no injuries, having been picked up by a nearby vessel, the MV Sinara. The MOL-owned MV Bright Century sank in approximately 60metres of water, at the above coordinates.

M/V Bright Century left Dampier, Australia, with about 170,000 tons of iron ore bound for the port of Bayuquan, Liaoning Province. At the time of its sinking, the vessel had around 400 tons of fuel oil and about 70 tons of diesel oil left in its tanks. An oil slick approximately 5,500 meters long and 1,000 meters wide has been observed, and Chinese authorities are taking the necessary countermeasures.

The other vessel involved in the collision is a Liberian flagged 27,000 dwt bulker, the MV Sea Success. The all Chinese crew of this vessel also abandoned their ship. The vessel was initially reported to be afloat and drifting and we have no report of whether the MV Sea Success is still drifting or has also sunk.

The MV Bright Century is a 178,739 dwt bulk carrier, built in 1997, with an all Indian crew and Hong Kong flagged.

Ship type: Bulker

Gross tons: 90,267 tons

Deadweight tons: 178,739 tons

Flag: Hong Kong

Built: 1997

Ship management company: Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (Hong Kong) Ltd.

Seafarers: 23 Indians

Editor Note: Thanks to Stuart Scott for correcting our original vessel identification error.

CONTRIBUTORS For This Feature

Gervase Pearce - BCS Consulting, Neutral Bay, NSW Australia

Stuart Scott - Principal Advisor - Marine, Rio Tinto, Melbourne, Australia

The April Fools Visit "Saint. Nick". Pirates Must Have Been Relying On The Element of Surprise!

From The Cargo Letter - April 1 2010 

The small gang of Somali pirates fired on an approaching ship, hoping their midnight attack would bring them millions in ransom. The ragtag bandits, though, had taken on far more than they could handle: a U.S. warship.

The USS Nicholas (FFG 47), a guided missile frigate, was tracking the pirates when they opened fire early April 1 in Indian Ocean waters, the U.S. military said. The Nicholas, which saw combat in the first Gulf War, returned fire and disabled the vessel.

U.S. Navy personnel later boarded and detained three suspects. The Americans found two more bandits on a nearby mothership and later sank the skiff. The five could be charged with piracy and tried in the United States.

The attack took place between the coast of Kenya and the island nation of Seychelles. The task of protecting merchant vessels becomes increasingly more difficult as piirates continue to expand the area of risk.

From Our Readers:

Well, I guess you can give the Pirates credit. They do earn the title "April Fool" for going after the USS Nicholas on April 1.

 "Saint Nick" had a "BIG SURPRISE" for them ...!

Richard Bause

The U.S. Navy guided missal frigate Nicholas [FFG 47] was fired upon in the dark shortly after midnight local time Thursday April 1 2010 by several boats of suspected Somali pirates. The attack took place off shore of the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean. Not to be outdone, the Nicholas returned fire sinking atleast one boat and capturing a "mother ship". Five suspects are currently being held aboard the Nicholas awaiting disposition. Maybe they can claim it was just an "April fools joke" at their trial.

Dan Fix

Somali Pirates In The Attack!

Somali Pirate Vessel Has Encountered A Difficulty of Some Kind

Clever Somali Pirates Attack USS Ashland -- With Predictable Consequences

USS Ashland [LSD 48] -- Powerful Pirate Pounder

 From The Cargo Letter - April 1 2010 

USS Ashland [LSD 48] captured six suspected pirates Saturday after a battle off the Horn of Africa &emdash; the Navy's third direct encounter with seafaring bandits in less than two weeks.

The Navy has taken at least 21 suspected pirates since March 31 in the violence-plagued waters off Somalia and nearby regions, where U.S. warships are part of an international anti-piracy flotilla.

A statement by the U.S. Navy said the suspected pirates began shooting at the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland just before dawn, at 5:00 am, about 380 miles (610 kms) off Djibouti, a small nation facing Yemen across the mouth of the Red Sea.

The Navy said USS Ashland returned fire from her MK-38 Mod 2, 25mm gun and the suspected pirate skiff was destroyed. All six people on board were rescued and taken aboard the Ashland.

The Ashland suffered no injuries or damage in the second recent attack on a U.S. warship by suspected pirates.

On April 1, the frigate USS Nicholas exchanged fire with a suspected pirate vessel west of the Seychelles, sinking their skiff and confiscating a mother ship. Five suspected pirates were captured.

On April 5, the guided missle destroyer USS McFaul [DDG 74]responded to the distress call from a merchant vessel and captured 10 other suspected pirates.

The Navy said it was reviewing "multiple options" on the suspects' fates. They could be charged with piracy and tried in the United States.

CONTRIBUTORS For This Feature

Richard Bause

Dan Fix

The Great Barrier Reef -- The World's Great Treasure -- And Largest Living Structure

Pristine Reefs & Shoals Lie Off The Shipping Lanes In A Protected World Sanctuary

There Has Been An Event On Douglas Shoal, 38 NM (70 km) East of Great Keppel Island -- Off Rockhampton

[At Lower Right]

M/V Shen Neng 1 Hit The Reef At Full Speed. Now Hard Aground And In Danger of Breaking Apart

M/V Shen Neng 1 Had Departed Rockhampton On The Australian Coast And Needed to Navigate The Reef Before Making Open Ocean

The 17-Year-Old Coal Carrier Ran Aground At Full Speed

M/V Shen Neng 1 Was Up To 15 Nautical Miles Off Course &endash; About 120km East of Rockhampton

Cost of Engaging A Marine Pilot Was A Mere A$8,000- A$10,000 According To The Australian Maritime Safety Authority

The Master of M/V Shen Neng 1 Felt It Was Safe For The 23 Crew To Remain On Board At This Stage.

SPECIAL NOTE: Our Coverage of This Breaking News Story Has Become A Complete Photo Feature. Please Follow This Important Story At: "Coaling On The Great Barrier Reef"

From The Cargo Letter - April 3 2010

A vessel aground on the Great Barrier Reef and leaking oil is in danger of breaking apart.

The Chinese-owned, 230 meter-long bulk coal carrier M/V Shen Neng 1, ran aground about 70 kilometers east of Great Keppel Island shortly after 5pm on April 3 2010, sparking a national oil spill response plan.

She is carrying 950 tons of heavy fuel oil and 65,000 tons of coal.

Modelling yesterday afternoon showed oil spilled from the M/V Shen Neng 1 could wash ashore at the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area within the next two days.

There isa call for compulsory pilots on ships along the Queensland coast, A spokeswoman for Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the use of pilots was one measure Maritime Safety Queensland was already considering at the time of this event.

M/V Shen Neng 1 was bound for China after loading at the Port of Gladstone on Queensland's central coast, just South of Rockhampton. While the volume of fuel spilt so far is small, there is a risk of further leaks, particularly during efforts to refloat the ship.

At the time of the grounding, M/V Shen Neng 1 was reported to have been travelling at full speed. She was severely damaged on her port side, and a 3 kilometers (1.6 nmi) long oil slick was later reported to have been seen. The position she ran aground is some 15 kilometers (8.1 nmi) off the shipping channel. It is in a restricted area which forms part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

As a result of the grounding, the fuel tanks of the vessel were punctured, allowing fuel oil to leak from the vessel. It is feared that the ship may break in two.[4]

The Great Barrier Reef stretches from Cape York in northern Queensland to Bundaberg in the south. It covers about 346,000 square kilometers, much of which is administered as a marine reserve.

It was reported that vessel owner COSCO could be fined US$1,000,000 and her captain US$220,000 -- but matters can become far worse.

M/V Shen Neng 1 Hard Aground -- Reef Visible Below -- 15 Kilometers Outside Shipping Lanes In A World Heritage National Park

Australia's Great Barrier Marine Park -- The World's Largest Living Structure

From Our Contributor:

Haven't emailed you since the M/V Pasha Bulker went aground at Newcastle a few years ago. Seems we're going on that ride again here in Oz - a bulk carrier (fully loaded this time) has run aground. She's leaking bunker oil and apparently showing signs of breaking in two already. To really top it all off, it's right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. I swear these ships have an attraction to World-Heritage listed national parks.

She's the M/V Shen Neng 1, gone aground reportedly well outside the shipping channel and at full cruising speed. I can understand Captain Cook hitting the reef in 1770 but there's really no excuse for these turkeys. That master will have some heavy explaining to do...

All the local news sources have coverage, this one has some raw helicopter footage:

Stuart Midgley - Sydney, Australia

Editor Note:

Words fail to describe the beauty & world importance of The Great Barrier Reef. While we live in a world conflicted over concepts of "warming" & "climate change" -- there is not one of us who does not embrace the wonder & value of The Great Barrier Reef -- the largest living structure on Earth.

My own days on The Great Barrier Reef were likely the summit of my nature experiences. Incidents such as M/V Shen Neng 1 pose a great danger. Modern navigation easily avoids this. Anything short of true mechanical failure is a crime. Pray M/V Shen Neng 1 can be lightened without breaking up.

McD

SPECIAL NOTE: Our Coverage of This Breaking News Story Has Become A Complete Photo Feature. Please Follow This Important Story At:

"Coaling On The Great Barrier Reef"

M/V Shen Neng 1

Length: 225 metres (738 ft 2 in)

Beam: 32 metres (105 ft 0 in)

Crew: 23

Owner: COSCO

Port of registry: China

Launched: 1993

Identification:

Call sign BXAN

IMO Number 9040871

MMSI Number 413461550

INDEX

"Carryiing Coal To Newcastle" - June 2007

CONTRIBUTORS For This Feature

Stuart Midgley - Sydney, Australia

Graham Tudman

With Dreams of More Ransom Money, Pirates Grab Their AK-47s .....

.....Jump Into This & 1 Other Skiffs, And Attack This Passing Vessel.

The Pirates Open Fire On The Believed-To-Be Freighter ......

..... But Then Break Off & Flee After Realizing The "Victim" Ship Has Turned To Pursue Them!

It's World's Most Stupid Pirates - Part Trois - March 17 2010

Parts Un & Deux

"World's Most Stupid Pirates" - May 2009

"World's Most Stupid Pirates - Part Deux" - Oct. 2009

Royal Netherlands Navy Frigate HNLMS Tromp (F803) At Pearl Harbor

Sure, It's Very Easy To See How This Peaceful Looking Craft Could Be Mistaken By Pirates For A Freighter!

Isn't That Ship In The Background (Above) Also A Freighter? Of Course it is.

The World Navies Are Being Held Hostage By Khat Chewing Chewing Teenagers. Doped Up Kids Are Holding Off 21st Naval Century Technology.

From The Cargo Letter - March 17 2010

Troops aboard the Dutch warship HNLMS Tromp fired warning shots March 17 off the coast of East Africa as Somali pirates in two small skiffs raced toward their warship.

After the pirates realized they had made what EU Naval Force spokesman Cmdr. John Harbour called a "rather silly mistake," they turned around and fled. EU Naval Force personnel tracked down the two skiffs and a third suspected mothership, finding ammunition and rocket-propelled grenades on board, said Cmdr. Harbour.

The two skiffs were destroyed, and the 20 pirates were set free on the mothership after it had been cleared of weapons.

"This morning's attack may show a lack of sophistication in the pirates' selection of targets, but it should be a warning to the merchant community that the pirates will try to attack any vessel on the high seas," Harbour said.

The EU Naval Force has disrupted 11 pirate attack groups off the coast of East Africa over the past two weeks as part of a more offensive mindset to stop pirate attacks, Harbour said.

Experts say piracy will continue to be a problem until an effective government is established on Somalia's lawless shores. It has not had a functioning government since a socialist dictatorship dissolved into civil war 19 years ago. The current administration is too busy fighting an Islamic insurgency to tackle the well-armed and well-funded pirate bases along its 1,900-mile (3,100-kilometer) coastline.

The London-based International Maritime Bureau says Somali pirates captured 47 vessels last year and launched 217 attacks. More than 100 crew are still being held.

Editor Note:

"Catch & Release" is acceptable for trout, but not for these terrorists whose crime has traditionally been punishable by death.

To do less than arrest these pirates and destroy all of their vessels -- is to encourage the conduct. This is the costliest strain of piracy in history and should not be treated like a naval raining exercise. -- especially as more than more than 100 merchant crew members are being held hostage as of today.

Smash these pirates with the means at our disposal. Free the 100 mariners being held hostage. Control the sea lanes. The political correctness currently governing all of this is not a valid.

McD

Parts Un & Deux

"World's Most Stupid Pirates" - May 2009

"World's Most Stupid Pirates - Part Deux" - Oct. 2009

---

The Five Worst Somali Pirate Blunders - We've Covered Them All

5. Attack on the Royal Netherlands Navy Frigate HNLMS Tromp (F803) detailed above

4. On May 4 2009, the French Navy captured 11 pirates off the coast of Somalia as part of a European Union operation to protect shipping. The pirates reportedly mistook a French frigate for a commercial ship. "World's Most Stupid Pirates" - May 2009

3. On March 30, pirates apparently mistook a German NATO supply ship, the FGS Spessart, for a merchant ship when they targeted it in the Gulf of Aden, between Somalia and Yemen. "Poor judgment by the pirates turned out to be a real opportunity for seven nations representing three task forces to work together and strike a momentous blow for maritime safety and security," said a NATO spokesman. "World's Most Stupid Pirates - Part Deux" - Oct. 2009

2. On Sept. 26, 2008, pirates seized the M/V Faina, a Ukrainian vessel loaded with US$30M worth of grenade launchers, piles of ammunition, and battle tanks.

Jackpot! Well, sort of. After four months of negotiations, the owners paid US$3.2M in cash dropped by parachute. But this particular pirate operation also resulted in global attention and a concerted military response. It's now much harder for the brigands to ply the region's waters with impunity.

"After the Faina was taken, two task forces from Nato and the EU have sailed for the Gulf of Aden along with an assortment of warships from other nations," reports the London-based Times newspaper. "It was the thought of heavy weaponry falling into the hands of the country's Islamists &emdash; some with links to Al Qaeda &emdash; at one of the country's arms bazaars that provoked an international military response." "Tank You, From The Somali Pirates" - Somalia - M/V Faina - Sept.- Jan. 2008

1. On April 8 2009, pirates seized the US-flagged 17,000-ton M/V Maersk Alabama, which was carrying food aid from USAID and other agencies to help malnourished people in Uganda and Somalia. The pirates didn't last long. In a rescue worthy of a Hollywood script, U.S. Navy SEAL snipers killed three pirates and freed the American sea captain who had offered himself as a hostage to save his crew. "The Retaking of M/V Maersk Alabama" - April 2009

It was a big mistake to take An American vessel. A mistake which has set a standard -- and a warning.

See Also --

"The Taking of MT Biscaglia" - Jan. 2009

"The Attack On M/V Zhen Hua 4" - Dec. 2008

CONTRIBUTOR For This Feature

Richard Bause -- our great scout

About 8 AM Feb. 6 2010 Dulles Int'l Airport -- The Roof of The Dulles Jet Center Collapses

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 7 2010

At about 8 AM, the Fairfax County Fire Rescue was called out to Dulles International Airport on a roof collapses at Dulles Jet Center. The hanger roof had fully collapsed, damaging several business jets.

Officials believe the collapse was due to a heavy precipitation of snow falling over several hours in Virginia and Maryland. The accumulation of snow on the roof was more weight than the roof could handle. No injuries to persons have been reported. 

Washington DC and surrounding areas have received a significant amount of snow in the current storm which could break previous record set during the Knickerbocker Storm of 1922.

The Knickerbocker Storm was a blizzard that occurred on January 27&endash;28, 1922 in the upper South and middle Atlantic United States. The storm took its name from the resulting collapse of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington, D.C. shortly after 9 p.m. on January 28 which killed 98 people and injured 133.

The Knickerbocker Theatre was the largest and newest movie house in Washington, D.C., built in 1917 and owned by Harry Crandall. The roof was flat, which allowed the snow which had recently fallen to remain on the roof. During the movie's ("Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford") intermission, the weight of the heavy, wet snow became too much for the roof to bear. The roof split down the middle, bringing down the balcony seating as well as a portion of the brick wall. Dozens were buried.  

For the current storm The National Weather Service is reporting storm accumulations of 20 to 30 inches are likely in the D.C. area, with some areas seeing more than 30 inches. Power outages have been reported throughout the Mid-Atlantic region affecting more than 200,000 customers, many roads undrivable and down trees.

Upended Aircraft Tail Number N620K Is Owned By Eastman Kodak

This Smashed Gulfstream V, Tail Number N585JC, Now Resembles A Praying Mantis

The Roof Collapse Destroys Or Damages:

Global Express XRS N89MX

Global Express N400GX

Global Express N620K (Eastman Kodak)

Gulfstream V N585JC (Hilton Hotels)

The Roof Collapse Creates A Praying Mantis Swarm

INDEX For This Feature

Dulles Jet Center

CONTRIBUTOR For This Feature

Our "Doc" -- our great source, who must remain anonymous

An Airline Livery With A Purpose For This Boeing 737

The "Big Cheese" Will Make Your Announcements

Finally, You See Location For The Auxiliary Power Unit -- APU -- The Other Engine You Did Not Know About

The APU -- Which Starts The Engines & Keeps You Cool

The Auxiliary Power Unit

The primary purpose of an aircraft APU is to provide power to start the main engines. Turbine engines have large, heavy rotors that must be accelerated to a high rotational speed in order to provide sufficient air compression for self-sustaining operation. This process takes significantly longer and requires much more energy than starting a reciprocating engine. Smaller turbine engines are usually started by an electric motor, while larger turbine engines are usually started by an air turbine motor. Whether the starter is electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically powered, however, the amount of energy required is far greater than what could be provided by a storage device (battery or air tank) of reasonable size and weight.

An APU solves this problem by powering up the aircraft in two stages. First, the APU is started by an electric or hydraulic motor, with power supplied by a battery, accumulator, or external power source (ground power unit). After the APU accelerates to full speed, it can provide a much larger amount of power to start the aircraft's main engines, either by turning an electrical generator or a hydraulic pump, or by providing compressed air to the air turbine of the starter motor.

APUs also have several auxiliary functions. Electrical and pneumatic power are used to run the heating, cooling, and ventilation systems prior to starting the main engines. This allows the cabin to be comfortable while the passengers are boarding without the expense, noise, and danger of running one of the aircraft's main engines. Electrical power is also used to power up systems for preflight checks. Some APUs are also connected to a hydraulic pump, allowing maintenance and flight crews to operate the flight controls and power equipment without running the main engines. This same function is also used as a backup in flight in case of an engine failure or hydraulic pump failure.

Kulula Airlines -- Serving South Africa

Did You Ever Sit Just Over The Black Box?

Front Door? Well, Maybe The Forward Hatch

Notice The Cargo Hatch. This Is Where The Majority of All World Air Cargo Is Stowed. The Lower Deck of The Aircraft Serves The Air Cargo World With Far More Than Your Luggage

INDEX For This Feature

Kulula Airlines

Wikipedia

CONTRIBUTOR For This Feature

Our "Doc" -- our greatest source, who must remain anonymous

In The Massive January Stoms At LAX -- The Roof of Uninted Airirlines Cargo Blows Off

Editor Note -

This was a wild wind driven ride on Jan. 21 2010.

This loss occurred just across from our Countryman & McDaniel offices.

In the past 15 years we have survived earthquakes, fires, mud slides, riots, 911 -- and now a little upset at UAL Cargo

But we still have a great view of all the ships leaving Port of Los Angeles!

McD

Learjet Model 35 Similar To Royal Air Frieght Flight 988 In Better Days

Small Freighter -- Big Consequences -- Commercial Cargo Moves By Many Means

The Cargo Letter - Jan. 5 2010

A Learjet Model 35 cargo jet crashed into the Des Plaines River in Wheeling, just a mile short of Chicago Executive Airport on Jan. 5 afternoon.

The accident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. CST as the Lear approached Runway 34/16, which is 5,000 feet long, and is the airport's main runway. The aircraft crashed approximately one mile south of the airport, formerly known as Palwaukee Municipal, and came to rest in the Des Plaines River where it courses through a forest preserve.

Flight 988 was a Royal Air Freight multi-engine and fixed-wing plane and was making an approach to Runway 34 to the Wheeling airport to pick up freight at the time when it crashed about 1:30 p.m., says one official of Federal Aviation Administration. There were only two people on board i.e. pilot and co-pilot and both are confirmed dead.

Weather at the time of the accident was clear, and temperatures were below freezing.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate for the presently unknown cause.

The aircraft originated from Pontiac, Mich.'s Pontiac-Oakland County Airport. An airport spokesperson said the airplane was to have uploaded cargo at Atlantic Aviation and then fly to DeKalb-Peachtree in Atlanta.

Recovery operations at the crash site were underway at nightfall.

Chicago Executive Airport, which covers more than 412 acres, is considered the 4th busiest airport in Illinois. It handles about 200,000 takeoffs and landings annually, from Cessna 172 single-engine aircraft to Citation and Gulfstream jets.

The plane crashed near the River Trails Nature Center in the Cook County Forest Preserve that is not a residential area.

Reports say that the plane was on normal approach to Runway 34 over the forest and the temperature was 21 degrees with northwest winds at 10 mph and 10 mile visibility besides this there was as much fuel as 200 gallons and they were not in short of it.

WHY?

There Is Nothing More To Show You

Only Small Pieces of Royal Air Freight Flight 988 Are Recovered By Divers -- Both Pilots Are Dead -- A Tragedy

Reading All The Facts Known To Date -- This Should Not Have Happened

Clear Air & Good Weather -- No Mayday Call -- On Final Landing Approach -- Ample Fuel -- Why?

None of The Shippers Knew Their Cargo Was To Board This Aircraft -- It Is The Nature of Our Industry

Editor Note -

Air, Ocean & Inland Cargo passes through the hands of many companies which are completely unknown to you. Are they competent? Who knows?

The only reasonable conclusion is to purchase quality Marine Cargo Insurance for your valuable cargo.

Royal Air Freight may be the best carrier around, but do you really want to be caught up in a lawsuit for several years when "SHIP HAPPENS"?

The Swiss Air Force Also Operates The Learjet Model 35 -- A Dependable Aircraft

Royal Air Freight, Inc. - aka Royal Air Charter

2141 AIRPORT RD., WATERFORD, MI United States 48327

Established: 1961 • Fleet: 23 Aircraft • Pilots: 30 full time

Certificate: BUHA637C (Licensed to fly US,CN,MX)

Company Aircraft