In the 1931 novel “Night Flight” by Saint-Exupéry, we learn that even intrepid pioneering aviation heroes in the end are not match for thunderstorms in Patagonia. We find out that thunderstorms can and will kill. We loose the wonderful hero of this timeless novel, a story of some of the earliest commercial night mail pilots.Continue reading “Air Asia 8501 Crash: Cause is No Mystery-Thunderstorms Can Kill”
Author Archives: Capt. Paul Miller
Qantas Weight and Balance: Don’t Scrape Your Tail, Instead Hold Your Nose Steady
The below cited flight safety story contains a reference to an ATSB report, about which I have a comment. The story alleges that the report cites an incorrect weight and balance calculation as the problem. They say, “This meant that the captain had to apply a significant amount of back pressure [to the yoke] atContinue reading “Qantas Weight and Balance: Don’t Scrape Your Tail, Instead Hold Your Nose Steady”
MH 17 : Is War Downing Of Commercial Airliners a Security or Safety Issue ?
When a purposeful human pulls the trigger on a sophisticated surface to air missile launcher, but does so without any of the intelligence available to the casual browser on the internet, is this a human error or a military mistake? If the distinction between a commercial airliner and a military target is not discernible byContinue reading “MH 17 : Is War Downing Of Commercial Airliners a Security or Safety Issue ?”
MH370-Were there Hazardous Materials Loaded into the Cargo Hold?
The question of hazardous materials being carried on passenger aircraft has arisen in the quest to determine what happened to MH370. But very little information has surfaced concerning the cargo that was loaded by Malaysian Airlines into MH370. So the question remains unanswered: “Were hazardous materials loaded into the cargo hold of MH370?”
Problem Solving Skills Training a Factor in Fort Hood Shootings?
Solving the mystery of shootings at military activities may involve how the force is trained. First, my sincere condolences to all who have suffered a loss in this and other similar tragedies. Second, my hat is off to the Army Training Command for doing a great job of training soldiers for today’s force. Now inContinue reading “Problem Solving Skills Training a Factor in Fort Hood Shootings?”
MH370 Solved?: Did Antenna Bracket Failure Rip Open Fuselage Hole?
Did an unfinished FAA/Boeing Air Safety Directive or AD doom MH370? Reinforcement to the fuselage mounting bracket for certain radio antennae on B777 aircraft may have been required by a recent FAA AD. However completion was allowed for an extended period. Metal fatigue and other cracking failure modes common on aluminum cyclically pressurized fuselages couldContinue reading “MH370 Solved?: Did Antenna Bracket Failure Rip Open Fuselage Hole?”
Battery Cargo Lobbyists Victorious over Commercial Aviation Safety? What Happened to MH370?
Though ticketed passengers did not suspect, battery lobbyists had been victorious over the very best commercial aviation safety advocates. Through private meetings, where financial benefits of shipping dangerous lithium batteries to the battery industry by air freight are fostered, did lobbyists convince passenger airline executives to allow carriage onboard passenger commercial flights? Many commercial aviationContinue reading “Battery Cargo Lobbyists Victorious over Commercial Aviation Safety? What Happened to MH370?”
MH 370 and UPS 6 near Dubai, 2010: Same Mishap Repeated?
When UPS 6 crashed near Dubai in the evening of September 3, 2010, (http://www.gcaa.gov.ae/…/2010-Interim%20R.) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPS_Airlines_Flight_6) the crew had been in a battle for their lives for about 20 minutes. Upon first realizing cargo area temperatures were rising and that smoke and fumes were entering the cockpit, the crew made a turn towards a divert field,Continue reading “MH 370 and UPS 6 near Dubai, 2010: Same Mishap Repeated?”
MH 370: Probable Location for Search Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, Missing B777 Was Hazardous Cargo Aboard?
MH 370: Probable Location for Search Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, Missing B777 Was Hazardous Cargo Aboard? Are Cargo Safety Regulations Important for PASSENGER Aircraft Flights? Two Levels of Safety May Mean No Level of Safety MH 370 flight crew members witnessing an overheat in the large cargo compartments of their Boeing 777, would mostContinue reading “MH 370: Probable Location for Search Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, Missing B777 Was Hazardous Cargo Aboard?”
UPS 1354, Birmingham Runway 18, August 14, 2013: Is FAA Policy vs Procedures Inconsistency Causing A Severe Safety Risk in Commercial Aviation? “Is the Tail Wagging the Dog ?”
In the last 40 years the US FAA has spent hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars engineering safety into the nation’s commercial aviation infrastructure. This policy at the FAA has led to great success in achieving an astonishing low commercial aviation mishap rate in the US. Moreover it has provided an example for Western Europe,Continue reading “UPS 1354, Birmingham Runway 18, August 14, 2013: Is FAA Policy vs Procedures Inconsistency Causing A Severe Safety Risk in Commercial Aviation? “Is the Tail Wagging the Dog ?””
Safety Forecast 