Sat, May 31, 2008
Safety Problems Cited In Air Trek Closure
The FAA suspended operations by a
Florida air ambulance service Friday, saying the company failed to
adhere to numerous safety practices.
According to the Charlotte County Herald-Tribune, the agency
issued the emergency order to shut down Air Trek over a variety of
issues, including failure to abide to weight guidelines on its
aircraft; failure to give pilots proper training, and rest;
allowing improperly qualified personnel to perform international
flights; and failure to properly inspect and maintain its
planes.
Air Trek co-founder Dana Carr admitted his company did not keep
up on its paperwork... but maintained the air ambulance service,
based in Punta Gorda, followed safety guidelines and flew a
properly-maintained fleet.
He also stressed the FAA had not questioned the safety of Air
Trek's planes. That runs counter to the FAA suspension notice,
however... the first line of which says agency officials
"determined that an emergency exists related to safety in air
commerce." Carr has filed an appeal to lift the suspension.
Over the past three years, three Air Trek-operated flights have
crashed, including a fatal that killed six people. The company has
attracted a number of critics in online forums, claiming the
company's practices are unsafe.
Carr said one such site, hosted by Angelfire.com, is run by his
competitor. "That's made up of a combination of some disgruntled
ex-employees and this competitor, and you notice that none of them
are willing to put their name to anything," Carr said.
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