NTSB: USAF included?

Tim

On 15 Jul 2003 07:18:01 -0700, (Tim Witt)
wrote:

Big John wrote:
I've not seen any AF Contract School accidents investigated by NTSB.
If there was a GA aircraft involved with contract school aircraft,
NTBS would be part of the investigation.

Big John,
The T-3A aircraft were military aircraft, owned by the USAF and
modified from the British version to the "unique" USAF specifications,
so their accidents would have been investigated by Air Force Safety
personnel. The T-3As were not civil certified aircraft.

Right. I gave a short version just to outline the subject. Probably
should have gone more into the detail you covered?

Who owns the DA-20s?

Government, AFA or USAF, leased 35 of the DA20-C1 aircraft and renamed
them "Falcon" vs the civilian name 'Eclipse'.

Since they are leased to AF, they will be handled like any AF aircraft
in event of an accident even though flown by a civilian contract
pilot.

E-R pilots will give instruction IAW FAA rules for both air and ground
training with an AF overlay of classic military operations and
progress check flights by AF Pilots.

Couldn't find a photo of any of the birds at AFA in my brief search
but found that two birds were delivered to the USNA for the same type
of program (run by Navy Pilots) and they had the 'N' number on them vs
military number and text id. Was a arrival photo so may have been
repainted to Navy specs at school?


If Embry-Riddle owns them, they have to be civil certified
and so I would think that any accidents they have would be
investigated by the NTSB. If the USAF screening program results in
the award of a PPL, I would think the program has to follow FARs and
any resulting accidents would be investigated by the NTSB.

The whole T-3A fiasco has been a particularly sore subject with me as
I thought the entire premise for its procurement was bogus and it
turned out to be a huge waste of tax dollars (as well as a contributor
to a tragic loss of lives.)

Remember there was some political association with the T-3A. Can't
remember what it was now, but lots of hot air going around (and
aircraft mod to US standards, delay, delay, etc.)????

Who is getting the birds? I heard but can't remember. Think they will
be used for some proficiency flying some place? They are owned and
paid for and we need to get some value out of them vs dumping for a
song to some shyster who will turn and make a fortune reselling them.

Were you involved in procurement of the T-3A?

Looks like the storm missed us here in Houston ) No wind and just
moderate rain. Less than from one of our normal summer thunderstorms.
Wx will be OK for GA flying by tomorrow )

Fly safe

Big John

Were you involved in procurement of the T-3A?
Big John

No, but I am active duty Air Force and I have always had issues with
General McPeak's rationale for buying the T-3A. I used to see them
parked at Hondo for months/years while the USAF decided what to do
with them. It always seemed to me a colossal waste. Millions of
dollars spent for no good reason and no one ever held to account for
ramrodding this aquisition through. I never did hear what decision was
made but I would be very surprised if they got sold to the civilian
sector as anything but cut-up fuselages and engine parts for a return
of pennies on the dollar to the taxpayer.

Tim Witt