triple7
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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040317/ap_on_re_us/airport_tornado&cid=519&ncid=1112
Pilot in Tornado Appeals FAA Suspension
Wed Mar 17, 6:34 PM ET
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By CARSON WALKER, Associated Press Writer
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A Northwest Airlines pilot has been ordered suspended for 45 days for trying to land his jetliner amid high winds and an apparent tornado, federal officials said.
Michael Hughes of Collierville, Tenn., "was careless and endangered the lives and property of others" when he tried to land the DC-9 at Sioux Falls airport last June, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (news - web sites) suspension order, issued Tuesday. Hughes ultimately landed the plane in Omaha, Neb.
Hughes has appealed the suspension and can continue to fly until the appeal is heard.
Hughes was the pilot in command of a flight from Minneapolis to Sioux Falls on June 24 when he tried to land the plane, even as an apparent tornado dropped from the sky and created wind shear that tossed the craft about.
The apparent tornado was one of 67 twisters in South Dakota that day, tying a national record for the most in a state in a 24-hour period.
An investigation found that air traffic controllers told Hughes about thunderstorms near the airport, but he continued his approach to the runway without asking for more information.
Hughes' Minneapolis lawyer, Christopher Brown of the Air Line Pilots Association (news - web sites), filed a document Wednesday saying Hughes denies that he continued his approach without asking for a more detailed analysis of the weather.
The statement said the tower did tell Hughes about a wall cloud but said the radio transmission contained speculation and was not informative.
The report found that Hughes encountered severe wind shear and began losing control of the plane, requiring "immediate application of full power and aggressive flight control inputs to regain control of the aircraft," according to the suspension order.
Passengers on the flight likened the experience to someone pushing the plane sideways.
Hughes aborted the landing and flew on to Omaha.
Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said the airline had no comment
Pilot in Tornado Appeals FAA Suspension
Wed Mar 17, 6:34 PM ET
Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!
By CARSON WALKER, Associated Press Writer
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A Northwest Airlines pilot has been ordered suspended for 45 days for trying to land his jetliner amid high winds and an apparent tornado, federal officials said.
Michael Hughes of Collierville, Tenn., "was careless and endangered the lives and property of others" when he tried to land the DC-9 at Sioux Falls airport last June, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (news - web sites) suspension order, issued Tuesday. Hughes ultimately landed the plane in Omaha, Neb.
Hughes has appealed the suspension and can continue to fly until the appeal is heard.
Hughes was the pilot in command of a flight from Minneapolis to Sioux Falls on June 24 when he tried to land the plane, even as an apparent tornado dropped from the sky and created wind shear that tossed the craft about.
The apparent tornado was one of 67 twisters in South Dakota that day, tying a national record for the most in a state in a 24-hour period.
An investigation found that air traffic controllers told Hughes about thunderstorms near the airport, but he continued his approach to the runway without asking for more information.
Hughes' Minneapolis lawyer, Christopher Brown of the Air Line Pilots Association (news - web sites), filed a document Wednesday saying Hughes denies that he continued his approach without asking for a more detailed analysis of the weather.
The statement said the tower did tell Hughes about a wall cloud but said the radio transmission contained speculation and was not informative.
The report found that Hughes encountered severe wind shear and began losing control of the plane, requiring "immediate application of full power and aggressive flight control inputs to regain control of the aircraft," according to the suspension order.
Passengers on the flight likened the experience to someone pushing the plane sideways.
Hughes aborted the landing and flew on to Omaha.
Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said the airline had no comment
