Will Continue With Attempt To Win Military Contract
by ANN Contributor Rob Stapleton, Alaska Journal of
Commerce
The ongoing saga of
Security Aviation and its bout with the federal authorities took a
turn for the better on Friday, April 14, when they received six of
their Czech built L-39 aircraft back from the US Marshall's
custody. The Czech built L-39 aircraft, parked in a row, sat on the
tarmac in front of Security Aviation gleaming in the spring sun,
reflecting the peaks of the Chugach Mountains from their polished
nose cones.
"We don't know why they kept the other two, I guess they think
they are set up for arms or something," said Dave Bean, senior vice
president of Security Aviation.
The aircraft were towed back to Security Aviations hangar at
South Airpark by tugs, from the Federal Aviation Administration
hangar next to the Alaska Airlines hangar near the South Terminal
the morning of April 14. The US Marshall's office took possession
of the L-39 jet aircraft after the FBI seized them in February,
claiming that a comrade of Security's owner, Rob Kane illegally
transported and possessed a rocket pod launchers intended for one
of the jets.
While the FBI was inspecting the aircraft, Kane spent nearly a
month in jail.
The L-39 aircraft were to be used for a niche market described
as extreme attitude and engagement training, by Joe Griffith -- a
Security consultant, former Air Force test pilot, and Chairman of
Chugach Electric.
"Its good to have the birds home," said Griffith, dressed in Air
Force-like dark blue clothing and a baseball cap.
Security's Bean says that now that the aircraft have been
returned that it will continue with the High Security Aviation
business plan.
"We are going to work to get these aircraft airworthy," said
Bean. "Then by May 5 or 6 we are going to make a run at the
military training contracts. We want to make it perfectly clear
that there is nothing covert going on over here."
According to Security maintenance officials several of the six
aircraft returned were missing inspection plates, one was missing a
nose cone, and others may have been damaged in the move.
Now that six of the original 10 aircraft have returned Security
may have a chance to re-group and win a military contract.
But, what about the other four L-39 MS aircraft, and the one that earlier crashed in
Ketchikan?
According to Bean, Avery says that there will be civil action
against the company, Air USA, who stole their aircraft.
On Jan. 25 Stephen Freeman a former US Marine, and a US Customs
pilot, and another unidentified pilot took two of the L-39 aircraft
from Palmer and flew to Sitka. The unidentified pilot left his L-39
in Sitka, but Freeman continued south and later diverted to
Ketchikan.
Freeman was cleared for an instrument approach into Ketchikan
International Airport but lost control of the jet, ejected into the
woods south of Ketchikan. The jet crashed into a trailer
park. Freeman was found dead about 150 yards from the
aircraft still strapped to his ejection seat.
Two of the aircraft are still in Palmer, one is sitting in Sitka
and Security is out nearly $2 million, and can't use the
aircraft.
Griffith earlier said that both the Palmer Police Department,
and the FAA had been warned that the aircraft were not airworthy
were owned by Security, and that they were being taken without
their permission. No one dared to lift a finger, according to
Security officials.
According to Griffith and Bean, Security Aviation paid $1
million for the L-39 MS aircraft, and had agreed to pay an
additional $1.3 million once the aircraft were complete and
airworthy.
"I can tell you this," said Bean. "That if Griff said they were
not airworthy then they weren't." The rub between Air USA and
Security came when the aircraft could not be made airworthy because
they did not have manuals in English, but in Czech.
Avery refused to pay the outstanding amount until Air USA
coughed up the manuals. Griffith refused to fly the jets, and
ordered them parked and sealed up.
The FAA requires a bill of sale and full manuals on aircraft to
re-register them, according to the local FAA Flight Safety District
Office. Until Security had the manuals, and the bill of sale, the
experimental exhibition aircraft could not be re-registered and
flown.
According to Bean, Security had offered an additional $1.3
million to Air USA to speed up the sale, so they could ramp up for
the military contracts.
Security Aviation employs nearly 100 employees, has 18 aircraft
and continues to operate as the lift for Aeromed International.