Clark Aviation - Seems their planes have disappeared from Omni

Seems like all Clark Aviations planes have disappeared form Omni, at least those that can fly. On C-172 with No Engine was remaining ..

Hope they are gone forever so we will have a chance to taxi out and take off without having to wait. Guess PAL and Omni will be a lot happier too, they can get back to normal training .. a lot less planes in the circuit ..

I hope they paid all their Bills before they left ..

A picture says a thousand words ..

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Clark Aviation - Another chapter in the ongoing saga ..

Rumor has it that a certain management person in Clark Aviation recently chopped a lot of jobs (ie: read fired people) for what ever reason they have in their minds. (Sometimes incredibly hard to fathom ..)

Interesting thing is that they also fired a lot of the instructors, including all of the Alpha Instructors assigned to the LAST airworthy Alpha, in fact the only one now at Omni. They hid the remaining ones somewhere for some reason

So now that have one training aircraft sitting on the ground with no instructional capability at all ..

Word is they tried to get some of the instructors back who "politely" (read: "not very ..") told them no ..

Just another sign of what happens when you have non aviation people running an aviation business, and I am, being kind ..

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Philippines - Engine trouble blamed for DC-3 Las Piñas plane crash

MANILA, Philippines -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said engine trouble was the reason for the crash of a small cargo plane in Las Piñas City, on Saturday, which killed four passengers.
CAAP director-general Ruben Ciron cited the last communication between the Manila air control tower and two pilots, which reported engine failure and advised the control tower of their intention to go back to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
All radio contact with the plane was lost at around 11:56 a.m. It was believed to have crashed between noon and 12:15 p.m. on an abandoned warehouse in Villa Fidela subdivision, Barangay (village) Aldana, Las Piñas.
Ciron said the pilot did not request ground assistance although the Runway 6 was opened for the expected emergency landing.
“The plane was observed by the tower approaching the airport already and it was continuously descending at very low level until they (air traffic controllers) saw billows of smoke at the vicinity of the crash site,” Ciron told reporters.
He added that the two-propeller plane, a DC-3 aircraft owned by Victoria Asia Air Services Inc. with tail number RPC 550, had a valid “certificate of air-worthiness,” having passed routine inspections by the CAAP.
“It would not be allowed to fly if it was not air-worthy,” he said, adding that it would be up to the CAAP’s Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AIIB) to come out with a report on the nature and cause of the crash.
MIAA assistant general general manager Angel Atutubo identified the fatalities as the pilot, Capt. Benjamin Rivera; his co-pilot Benjamin Baculpo; flight mechanic Richard Gidaya; and crew member Jaguar Juane, a relative of Victoria owner Jerson Juane.
According to CAAP deputy director Ed Kapunan, the plane hires out it services in transporting goods throughout the country. He said the flight manifest did not contain any detail on whether the plane was carrying any cargo.
Kapunan said the plane, manufactured by Douglas Co., was used by the United States air forces during World War II.
“It’s really a World War II vintage aircraft but it’s one of the best designed aircraft by the Americans. So it’s really an old plane,” he said.
The Manila International Airport Authority, which runs NAIA, said the plane was on a flight bound to Palawan when it crashed.
The MIAA’s emergency and rescue services sped to the crash site to put out the fire and rescue casualties.
The airport police are investigating claims by the plane owner, Juane, that the flight was unauthorized.
AIIB board member Amado Soliman, chair of the Air Safety Foundation of the Philippines, recalled that the same plane developed problems in its hydraulic system when it landed at NAIA from Bacolod City about a month ago.
“The aircraft lost its brakes and had to be towed from the runway,” he recalled, adding that it has not wrapped up its investigation of the incident.
He also said his initial take on the cause of the crash, based on his observations of the debris at the crash site rite, was engine trouble.
“The mere fact that he was trying to come back and cannot gain altitude and ended up crashing is indicative of that (engine failure]. We have to find out and establish why,” he explained.
Soliman also said the inquiry would focus on why there appeared to be six empty drums of aviation fuel on board the plane.
“Carrying fuel inside the plane for your return flight is against regulations,” he said, adding that the fire that burned more than a dozen houses in Villa Fidela could have originated from the fuel.

Bear Attack - Duct Tape wins again

Bear attack 2009

 

Apparently a bear attacked his plane while parked in a remote field up in AK.  He had not cleaned out the inside after a long fishing trip and the bear smelled it.

 

 He had 2 new tires,  3 cases of Duct Tape  and several rolls of cellophane delivered. Then went about repairing the plane so he could fly it home.

 

Gutsy, to say the least. 

 

 

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Air Asia Expansion Rumors

Rumor has it that Air Asia Philippines is being mooted. Another Domestic Player? Hopefully they will hub out of Clark ..

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Air Asia to commence services to Kochi, Trivandrum, Kolkata

Malaysian low-cost carrier Air Asia has confirmed dates to launch scheduled passengers services from Kuala Lumpur to three more cities in India.

One November 12th, Asia Asia will begin services to Kochi (Cochin) the commercial capital of Kerala, four days later on November 16th to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) the political capital of Kerala and three days after that to the West Bengal capital of Kolkata on November 19th.

These daily services will use Airbus A320s and Air Asia will be the sole carrier on these three routes.

Air Asia already operates on the Kuala Lumpur-Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) route.

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Story About Two P-51 Pilots, a part of history that will be lost soon ..

This is a great story and a part of history that will be lost soon so I thought I would share it .. Story About Two P-51 Pilots   Two P-51 pilots reunite with their warbirds.......................... Most times when you look forward to a big event that is years in the making and is the culmination of a tremendous amount of time work, it can be a big letdown. This was not the case at  Oshkosh this year. The airshow and our time with these two WWII legends far exceeded even my wildest dreams. They were AWESOME. Funny, lively, and absolute gentleman. When people speak of the Greatest Generation, I now know what they mean. It is Bill and Buck Pattillo they are referring to. These men are warriors and patriots, and it was a special honor to meet them and spend so much time in their company.  I could write a novel about the stories they told (Bill being shot down in Sweet and Lovely, the POW marches he was led on, Buck bailing out of airplanes on fire, his engine flaming out on takeoff in a plane loaded with napalm, the formation of the Thunderbirds demonstration team, and on and on...) but I'll just get right to a few pictures.  This is the moment Buck Pattillo saw his Little Rebel for the first time in 64 years. The last time he stood next to his P-51 was in England in 1945.  When he arrived at the airplane, a silence came over the crowd and everyone backed away to give him time and space. He was very quiet, and at first would touch just the wing and the drop tank. I have my back to the camera in that red shirt. I encouraged Buck to stand up next to the nose of his airplane and touch it. He did that, and when he turned back to face the crowd, the cameras and flash bulbs came alive. It was a special moment.  We gave Buck his space, and he slowly made his way around the Mustang. "This is my airplane," he said softly. "This is just how she looked."  Buck is in the middle, I am at the left. The airplane's owner/builder/pilot is at the right. The emotion on Buck's face is apparent.  As we worked around the airplane to the other side, I opened up the gun bay for Buck to peer inside. He placed his hands inside and touched one of the Browning .50 caliber machine guns. Once again, it was a very poignant moment.  "Now these aren't live are they?" he asked. "No, they won't fire," I said. "We didn't want any funny business between you two brothers when we took you flying." "Good," he responded with a hearty laugh. "Sweet and Lovely is a beautiful airplane. I'd hate to shoot it down." The next few pictures need some set up. What we did was re-create a 65-year old photograph. This picture, featuring the Pattillo brothers was taken in  Bodney ,  England in 1944.  65 years later, we found the old, original pilot gear and re-staged the scene. The crowd around the airplane as we set this up was incredible.  These guys were 20 years old flying around in  England during WWII. They had wild fun then, and they continue to have fun today: Here is a shot of Bill Pattillo in front of his WWII mount, Sweet and Lovely: The two Generals together: Bill on the left with his Sweet and Lovely hat, Buck on the right with his Little Rebel hat: After the initial rush died down, we asked Buck to sign his name to the rudder: Two years ago, when Bill saw Sweet and Lovely for the very first time, he also signed his rudder: 587,000 people attended  Oshkosh this year, but these guys seemed to be the center of attention. It was like hanging out with rock stars.  On Saturday, the two airplanes and the brothers were featured in the "Warbirds in Review" program. We pushed the planes up on the stage and a standing room only crowd flooded in to hear the pilots speak: The best part of the week was Friday night. We put each brother in the back seat of his own airplane and took them flying.  I think this flight turned the clock back 20 years in their lives. Their excitement and ear-to-ear grins were second in size only to mine. In the full-resolution version of these pictures, you can easily read the thrill on their faces.  It only rained once at  Oshkosh . It rained as our airplane was being judged. Whether that hurt us or not, I don't know. Regardless, we didn't win the big prize, but we did receive the "Best P-51" award.  To be honest, the airplane is about 98% completed. It came to  Oshkosh only because we were committed to being there with the Pattillo brothers. They are 85 and there is no guarantee they will be 86. We will work on the plane throughout the next year and perhaps win Grand Champion in 2010! Some more on the Pattillo brother: Maj. Gen. Cuthbert A. "Bill" Pattillo - Pilot 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group United States Air Force Thunderbird #3 A Distinguished Veteran Cuthbert "Bill" Pattillo and his twin brother, Charles, were born seven minutes apart on June 3, 1924, in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Atlanta Technical High School in 1942, and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in November, 1942 as an aviation cadet. After receiving training in the P-40 Warhawk (specifications <http://www.highironillustrations.com/aviation_specification/spec_p40.html> ), he received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant at Marianna, Florida, in March, 1944. He went to the European Theater and was assigned to the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, the famous "Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney". He flew 35 combat missions in the P-51D Mustang (specifications <http://www.highironillustrations.com/aviation_specification/spec_p51.html> ), (HO-Y), number 44-11556, which he called "Sweet and Lovely". He shot down an ME-262 on April 10, 1945. On April 16, 1945, he destroyed six and damaged one enemy aircraft on the ground while strafing an airdrome near Straubing, Germany, and was later shot down by ground flak. He crashed landed in a farmer's plowed field, and became a POW until the end of the war. He was released from active duty in December, 1945, and he and his brother enrolled as engineering students at the Georgia Institute of        Technology. While attending school, he participated in the Reserve Military Program as a flight commander of the 54th Fighter Wing of the Georgia National Guard, flying the P-47 Thunderbolt (specifications <http://www.highironillustrations.com/aviation_specification/spec_p47.html> ). 'Bill' Pattillo with brother 'Buck' Pattillo      Air Demonstration Teams In February, 1948, he was recalled to active duty as a P-51 pilot, and was assigned to the 31st Fighter Group in Albany, Georgia. He was assigned with his brother as P-80 pilots to the 36th Fighter Group, Furstenfeldbruck, Germany, and while there, he and his brother assisted in organizing and flying with the USAF Europe Aerial Demonstration Team, the "Skyblazers", flying the P-80 and F-84. In October, 1952, he was assigned to Pinecastle Air Force Base, Florida, as a fighter gunnery instructor with the 3542nd Flying Training Squadron. In March, 1953, he was assigned to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, as a fighter gunnery instructor along with his brother Charles.  They helped organize the original United States Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team, the "Thunderbirds" (Thunderbirds are featured in "Teamwork at its Finest <http://www.highironillustrations.com/commission_military/teamwork...html> "). He flew right wing while his brother flew left wing. Click here for the rest of the article:  http://www.highironillustrations.com/rogues/bill_patillo.html F.V. "Cort" de Peyster "Carpe Cappuccino" Reno,NV USA

See and download the full gallery on posterous

See and download the full gallery on posterous

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Philippine Government urged to tap local aviation experts to get FAA rating upgrade

THE government should tap Filipino experts on aviation and similar local professionals in the international travel industry to be able to get a rating upgrade from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US, an association of travel agencies suggested.

Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies Inc., made the suggestion because of the scheduled FAA inspection of local airport facilities this month.

Nearly two years ago, the FAA placed the Philippines on a list of 21 countries in Category 2 from Category 1 “for failure to provide safety oversight of its air-carrier operators in accordance with the safety-oversight standards set by the International Civil Aviation Authority.”

Thus, the American agency said, “the Philippines is unsafe port of origin.”

“A Category 2 rating means a country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, or that its civil-aviation authority—equivalent to the FAA—is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping or inspection procedures,” according to a US Embassy statement.

After the FAA category downgrade, President Arroyo ordered the concerned government agencies to work for the upgrade within 90 days.

“But what has been done to get the upgrade after more than one year?” Joseph said, adding that the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) should get truly knowledgeable people to overcome the obstacles in getting the upgrade.

For example, he said, the CAAP should consult with seasoned international pilots of Philippine Airlines (PAL) who really understand international aviation safety and whose operation is directly affected by the FAA downgrade.

He explained that “PAL has good pilots because of training and discipline,” and who are strictly checked up every six months to make sure they are updated and do not slip up on international safety standards.

He added that PAL, the only local airline flying to the United States, has the motivation to help get the upgrade because Category 2 has placed it in a straightjacket that it cannot use bigger and better aircraft until after the Philippines is raised to Category 1.

He noted that PAL is scheduled to get delivery of six new Boeing 777-300ER planes starting from the end of the year until 2011 to be used for flights to San Diego, Chicago and New York, which might only be mothballed if the Philippines remains in Category 2.

Also, the private local travel business, which is adversely affected by the downgrade because airline sales are restricted to current aircraft, is very knowledgeable about the business of passenger safety and security and can provide a lot of technical help, he said.

Joseph, who is also honorary consul general of Latvia to the Philippines, said it is understandable that the CAAP does not have enough experts yet because it was only created on March 5, 2008, as a result of the downgrade. Its predecessor is the Air Transportation Office.

Right now, the country’s prospect of getting an upgrade looks bleak because of the September 13 breakdown of the radar facilities in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which stopped domestic and international flights for more than a day. A new radar will be operational only at the end of the year.

Philippine Aviation training academy plans P123-million expansion

Filipino-American joint venture Aeronavigation Academy International Philippines Inc. is expanding its existing aviation training institution in Silay City, Negros Occidental with a project cost of P123 million.

The training institute is certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) of the Department of Transportation and Communications as a pilot school on May 28, 2009 with a validity of up to May 26, 2010. The certification is renewed annually.

The P123 million investments would be used to acquire 17 new airplanes five of which have already arrived to augment its existing two airplanes.

The company will also purchase new aircraft simulator, aircraft fuel trucks, transportation vehicles, and other related equipment.

At the same time, it would also construct additional aviation facilities such as hangars and training/administration complex.

The company’s curriculum follows the existing guidelines by CAAP. Its training courses are being administered by Qualified Flying Instructors (FIs) and Ground Instructors (GIs) to ensure quality standards and safety. In some of these course, students will receive a set of training materials as well as laptops.

The company is 30 percent owned by American firm Aviation Holdings International LL and 70 percent Filipino investors Uldarico Raul Galeste, Jaime Vergara, Rodolfo Vergara, Cesar Poe, and Amado Marking.

Clark Aviation Skulks away ... Another Blow to the MPL .. just have a look at how they moved their aeroplanes ..

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

Well, the saga of Clark Aviation continues. I have remained quiet about this embarrassment to the Philippine Aviation Community up until now.

Apart from having promised over 100 cadets an MPL License and rides in an A320 to complete their license, there are still many cadets who are a long way from seeing any kind of license. In fact, I know of a few cadets who are paying out of their own pockets to get their Commercial/IR at another Philippine Aviation School, just to show that they have something for their more than three year association with Clark Aviation.

Clark Aviation has a reputation for not paying their bills, not delivering on the courses they promise, they treat their staff abysmally and are incapable of showing any kind of professionalism towards their day to day operations, the aviation community and their own cadets.

The following photos speak for them selves, the alphas being loaded up onto a low bed to be hauled away to some hidden location. More than likely, the useful bits will be removed and sold and there will only be useless hulks remaining ..

A warning to all considering purchase of these aircraft, they were imported tax and duty free and have been subject to continuous parts removal by CA who refused to buy the correct spare parts.

Anyone who knows anything about aircraft will shudder at the way these aircraft were loaded ...

Let the photos speak for them selves .. (Taken before lunch today .. These are of the third aircraft, the first one nearly fell off whilst loading it on the low bed, unfortunately I did not get a photo of it)

(Oh, I forgot to mention, they took the wings off yesterday whilst it was raining, they were left sitting in the rain on the ground)

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Just found Posterous.com

Hey Folks, just found Posterous.com, a new blogging site. Not bad .. worth a look ..

Posted via web from aviationpros's posterous

Clark Aviation Skulks away .. Have a look at how they moved their airplanes ..

Well, the saga of Clark Aviation continues. I have remained quiet about this embarrassment to the Philippine Aviation Community up until now.

Apart from having promised over 100 cadets an MPL License and rides in an A320 to complete their license, there are still many cadets who are a long way from seeing any kind of license. In fact, I know of a few cadets who are paying out of their own pockets to get their Commercial/IR at another Philippine Aviation School, just to show that they have something for their more than three year association with Clark Aviation.

Clark Aviation has a reputation for not paying their bills, not delivering on the courses they promise, they treat their staff abysmally and are incapable of showing any kind of professionalism towards their day to day operations, the aviation community and their own cadets.

The following photos speak for them selves, the alphas being loaded up onto a low bed to be hauled away to some hidden location. More than likely, the useful bits will be removed and sold and there will only be useless hulks remaining ..

A warning to all considering purchase of these aircraft, they were imported tax and duty free and have been subject to continuous parts removal by CA who refused to buy the correct spare parts.

Anyone who knows anything about aircraft will shudder at the way these aircraft were loaded ...

Let the photos speak for them selves .. (Taken before lunch today .. These are of the third aircraft, the first one nearly fell off whilst loading it on the low bed, unfortunately I did not get a photo of it)

(Oh, I forgot to mention, they took the wings off yesterday whilst it was raining, they were left sitting in the rain on the ground)