What the Puck?

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My invitation to yesterday's groundbreaking for Allentown's transformational hockey arena, must have been lost in the mail. After all the nice things I said about it, I thought for sure I'd be given a stick, but it's the sin bin for me.

Most of Allentown's downtown businesses are in that sin bin, too. They've been disrupted for yet another day so that the bigwigs could pat themselves on the back.

Although I was not there, I had a drone flying through the crowd, sanpping pics here and there.

Below is King Edwin with Sara Hailstone, the Ice Queen. Their hockey sticks are fortunately blocking Michael Schlossberg's face. Remember him? He's the guy who had to quit Allentown City Council early so he could spend all his time in Harrisburg, getting ready to be a State Rep.

Speaking of State Reps, below you will see a less-than-enthusiastic Jenn Mann, who I'm sure is already calculating all the dough she's gonna' make as a "consultant" for the wheeler dealers who want a piece of the NIZ pie. Standing beside her, bowing his head in what should be shame, is State Senator Pat Browne. Hus wife already has a piece of the pie as a lobbyist with the very firm representing NIZ developer J.B. Reilly.

Then we've got these two peas in a pod. Tony Iannelli is the Dude in sunglasses. His Chamber of Commerce just lost the $50,000 that LVEDC was supposed to give to him this year. Standing next to Tony, with the "What Me?" look on his face, is LVEDC bossman Don Cunningham. They'll always have hockey.

Unfortunately, this Otter came up from the Lehigh and ate Schlossberg. It was very sad. Allentown being Allentown, none of the bigshots thought it might be nice to bring a few kids to see the Hairy Otter mascot being used by this minor league hockey team. If that had happened, Schlossberg might still be alive.

Music video: 'Ooo I wanna get you out of Teterboro...'

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by B. N. Sullivan

A pilot in my family turned me on to this terrific music video -- written, performed and produced by his friend,  Mike Wagner.  The catchy lyrics are set to an old Beach Boys song, and the video is very entertaining.

Out in New Jersey(s)
There’s a place called Teterboro
That’s where everybody goes
To be a part of it all

Lots of jets on the ramp
Loaded up waiting to start engines
They’ll be there for an hour
Before they even have the chance
Down in Teterboro

You can find the rest of the Teterboro lyrics on Mike's blog, and you can find a link to download an audio-only version there, too.



If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.

Kudos to Mike Wagner for doing such a great job with the video, and thanks to Pat Sullivan for sending it to me.

Flight crew's unprofessional behavior caused PSA Airlines CRJ-200 runway overrun at Charleston, WV

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by B. N. Sullivan

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued its final report on the PSA Airlines CRJ-200 runway overrun at Charleston, WV, in January of this year.  The aircraft (registration N246PS) overran a runway at Yeager Airport (CRW), Charleston, WV, following a rejected takeoff.  The NTSB report attributes the incident to the flight crew's "unprofessional behavior."

The incident flight, operating as US Airways Express Flight 2495, was departing Charleston for Charlotte Douglas International Airport, NC.  After noticing that the flaps were incorrectly configured for takeoff, the crew rejected takeoff at high speed -- well above V1.  The aircraft overran the end of the runway and came to a stop in the engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) in the runway end safety area.

There were no injuries among the three crew members and 31 passengers on board.  The aircraft's flaps, landing gear, and landing gear doors "received minor damage," according to the NTSB.

The NTSB's statement of probable cause is as follows:

(1) The flight crewmembers’ unprofessional behavior, including their nonadherence to sterile cockpit procedures by engaging in nonpertinent conversation, which distracted them from their primary flight-related duties and led to their failure to correctly set and verify the flaps;

(2) the captain’s decision to reconfigure the flaps during the takeoff roll instead of rejecting the takeoff when he first identified the misconfiguration, which resulted in the rejected takeoff beginning when the airplane was about 13 knots above the takeoff decision speed and the subsequent runway overrun; and

(3) the flight crewmembers’ lack of checklist discipline, which contributed to their failure to detect the incorrect flap setting before initiating the takeoff roll.

Contributing to the survivability of this incident was the presence of an engineered materials arresting system beyond the runway end.

Here are the links to the NTSB's final report:

• NTSB ID DCA10IA022: Summary
• NTSB ID DCA10IA022: Full Narrative

RELATED: PSA Airlines CRJ-200 runway overrun at Charleston, WV - AircrewBuzz.com, Jan 19, 2010

[Photo Source]

Video: Two years after ditching in the Hudson River, 'Sully' reflects

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by B. N. Sullivan

Tomorrow is the second anniversary of the historic, successful ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River.  Now retired, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who was in command of that Airbus A320 on January 15, 2009, reflects on what he calls the "experience of a lifetime."



If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube

Thanks to the Associated Press for posting the video on YouTube.

Click here to view all the posts about US Airways Flight 1549 on Aircrew Buzz.

Explosion rocks Moscow's Domodedovo Airport

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by B. N. Sullivan

A large explosion rocked the international  arrivals hall at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport (DME) earlier today, January 24, 2011.  Local officials say that the blast, which was caused by a suicide bomber, killed at least 35 people and left more than 100 injured.

Amateur video and photos shot on site showed a grisly scene, with bodies and body parts strewn about, and heavy smoke hanging in the air.  ProducerMatthew.com has posted links to several photos from inside the Domodedovo Terminal.

Air traffic at DME was disrupted immediately after the bombing.  Some flights were diverted to Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, or to St. Petersburg.  Other en route flights returned to their departure cities.

Here is a news video about the incident, posted on YouTube by Russia Today:



If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.

Pawlowski's Freakout

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Although President Obama won handily in Allentown, there are a few polling places where Republican and conservative candidates are in play. One of those bastions is the 17th Ward, 3th District, conducted at Sons Of Israel Synagogue. Although one of highest turnout polling places in Allentown, Obama won by less than 30 votes. Voters arriving there witnessed an unusual sight, the mayor of Allentown trying to disenfranchise their right to petition. Pawlowski told the press that he was concerned that the water lease opponents were being deceptive about his proposal.

"We have gotten reports that circulators are telling people that the city will be selling the plants," Pawlowski said in a statement. "We have spent nearly four months educating people about a proposed lease/concession. We can't allow a distortion of the facts. We are seeking to make sure that individuals are getting the correct information."

I have no doubt that the petition circulators were following the letter of the law. They are well aware of the administration's scrutiny and actions against their effort. In regard to distortion, Pawlowski should tell the voters that the lease will not expire until their grandchildren need a nursing home.

Israel's Dilemma Fighting Martyrdom

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Rockets fired from inside Gaza City

During the second world War, the United States had trouble wrapping it's head around the kamikaze attacks. There is a similar situation occurring in Gaza. Israel is not targeting civilians; Hamas has placed their rocket launchers in civilian sites, with public approval. The rockets are fired from playgrounds and rooftops. As of Sunday, Israel aborted twenty five air strikes because their pilots reported seeing civilians near the targets. The leadership of Hamas has spoken in the past of jihad and martyrdom. They stated that they form human shields of women and children. Although urban rocket launchers and civilian causalities serve the purpose of Israel's enemies and distracters, Israel must protect it's citizens.