Latest news with #AviationDivision
The Star
28-05-2025
- The Star
Two police pilots told friend of possible helicopter crash night before tragedy
BANGKOK: Two police pilots warned a friend of possible crash risk with ageing Bell 212 helicopter night before fatal Royal Thai Police crash. A friend of the two Royal Thai Police pilots killed in a Bell 212 helicopter crash revealed that the pilots had discussed the high risk of a crash the night before the fatal incident. Police Captain Sithit Amthanom, 37, posted on Facebook that the two pilots had told him on Friday (May 23) night the Bell 212 helicopter was not fit for flying. The aircraft, part of the Royal Thai Police's Aviation Division since 1973, has served for nearly five decades but is now considered aged and unsafe. The tragic crash in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Saturday claimed the lives of three officers: Police Major Pratheung Chulert (pilot), Police Captain Songphol Boonchai (pilot), and Police Lieutenant Thinnakrit Suwannoi (mechanic). Sithit said he met the two pilots the night before the crash, and they admitted to risking their lives every time they flew the Bell 212 helicopter due to its poor condition—not due to pilot error. 'Less than 24 hours after they confided in me, both friends were gone because of the danger they always feared,' Sithit wrote. He expressed anger over the situation and praised their courage for flying despite the risks. Sithit criticised the RTP's policy of having new pilots train on old helicopters while experienced pilots flew newer aircraft. 'There is a joke among us that old pilots use new aircraft and new pilots use old ones,' he said. He also shared a message from Pratheung confirming the helicopter was old and not ready to fly, adding that police pilots allowed to use new helicopters did not have to endure the same risks. - The Nation/ANN
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GA Dept. of Public Safety opens new aviation hangar at its Atlanta headquarters
The Georgia Department of Public Safety opened a new aviation hangar at its headquarters in Atlanta on Tuesday. The modern facility will serve as a base of operations for the DPS Aviation Division, which uses a fleet of helicopters to support law enforcement, emergency responses, and search and rescue operations across the state. The new, larger hangar will store aircraft, maintenance, flight operations, and training. 'This hangar is a significant step forward in supporting the multi-faceted work of our Aviation Division. By centralizing our resources, we are better equipped to serve communities across Georgia with greater speed, efficiency, and coordination,' Colonel William Hitchens III said. Gov. Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones were among those who attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Veteran Atlanta Country music radio personality 'Cadillac Jack' has died at age 51 Paramedic accused of assaulting patient in ambulance in Cobb County Mother describes horrifying moments as she watched her SUV burst into flames along GA 400 [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
NC Forest Service reminds public it's illegal to fly drones over wildfires
DUPLIN COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) — Officials with the North Carolina Forest Service are reminding people it's illegal to fly drones in the same airspace as wildfires. If a drone is reported to be near one of the fire-fighting aircrafts, that plane is forced to turn around, putting the pilot and crews on the ground fighting fires, and the public's safety, at risk. 'The most dramatic drone incident is the one in California where a drone impacted a Super Scooper and actually penetrated the wing,' Aviation Division Director Robert Delleo said. 'If that had happened to one of our tankers, as an example, we have what's called a wet wing. If it had penetrated the wing, it would be going into the fuel tank. The drone has a battery in it. The battery is hot. So, it would have been catastrophic.' Earlier this month, a drone was seen in the same airspace as two wildfires in Eastern North Carolina. These pilots fly tree top level in what's already a high-pressure situation, and worrying about drones does not help. 'We'll never see it (a drone). The tankers are operating at a between 125 and 150 miles an hour. I'm flying that lead plane. I'm doing between 150 and 200 miles an hour. So, we're never going to see it,' Delleo said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Express Tribune
07-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Proposal to set up transport division abandoned
Listen to article ISLAMABAD: The government has dropped the idea of setting up a transport division by merging different entities under its rightsizing programme. According to sources, the proposal was discussed in a recent high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting was informed that the committee on rightsizing had discussed in detail the idea of creating a transport division by merging the Aviation, Railways and Communications Divisions. However, it was felt that such an arrangement could create complexity and disperse focus. It was also observed that the merger of the Aviation Division with the Defence Division offered a neater and more strategically synergistic option, especially since aviation was a subject of the Defence Division until 2013. Institutional arrangements evolve with the emerging requirements and any future institutional configuration will be shaped by the imperatives of the time. Accordingly, the committee on rightsizing agreed with the proposal of merging the Aviation Division with the Defence Division. The committee had received a reference on January 10, 2025, which proposed the merger of Aviation and Defence Divisions. With emphasis that it was a strategic initiative aimed at reducing the financial burden and enhancing the efficiency of the federal government, it was argued that the proposed merger would eliminate redundancies in administrative costs such as salaries, office maintenance and operational expenses. It will integrate aviation-related budgets into a broader framework, avoiding duplication of resources while promoting efficient financial management. The merger will remove the overlapping functions in policy formulation and regulatory oversight, yielding significant cost savings aligned with the federal government's goal of fiscal prudence. Additionally, the merger will bridge the gap between civil and military aviation and enhance synergy in airspace management and operational coordination. It will also enhance civil-military cooperation in overseeing functions like air traffic control, airport security and aviation safety. The restructuring of the aviation wing will focus on catering to the needs arising after the creation of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and Pakistan Airports Authority. The meeting was further informed that bureaucratic delays would be reduced to enable faster implementation of the aviation policy and directives, and greater compliance with the international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) would be achieved to strengthen Pakistan's global standing in the aviation sector. It was highlighted that the merger was in line with the national security objectives and supporting disaster response, international negotiations and the development of comprehensive policy frameworks. A rationalised organogram was included with the reference along with details of expected savings of up to Rs145 million per annum as a result of the merger. It was proposed that the administrative, human resources and financial rearrangements entailed by the merger may be worked out by the Defence Division in consultation with the Establishment and Finance Divisions. Following approval of the proposal, the cabinet may also approve the issuance of a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO), subject to vetting by the Law and Justice Division. Accordingly, the approval of the cabinet was solicited for the proposals. During discussion, the cabinet observed that pursuant to the proposed merger, the Defence Division may be renamed appropriately. The cabinet considered the summary titled "Recommendations of the Committee on Rightsizing of the Federal Government – Merger of Aviation Division with Defence Division," submitted by the Cabinet Division, and approved the proposal with the observation that the Defence Division may be renamed appropriately.
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Express Tribune
26-01-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
JI announces nationwide protest on January 31
Listen to article Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced a nationwide protest on January 31 over the issue of Independent Power Producers (IPPs). During a press conference in Karachi, JI chef Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, stated that protests would be held simultaneously across the country on January 31. He questioned why the public had not received any relief if the IPPs were benefiting from the agreements. He added that the government claimed negotiations had been completed with 17 IPPs, but Jamaat-e-Islami has been the voice of the people in addressing their concerns. The party also rejected the increase in lawmakers' salaries. Reaffirming the party's stance, he pointed out that parliamentary salaries had been raised by 140%, while Jamaat-e-Islami continues to work for the Palestinian cause. He emphasised that Pakistan must take a proactive role in the restoration of Gaza. Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman also remarked that the government must act swiftly in the current geopolitical situation and exert pressure on Arab countries and others to refrain from recognizing Israel. Earlier on January 14, the federal cabinet gave go-ahead to revise the agreements with 14 Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and approved merger of the Aviation Division with the defence ministry and the narcotics control ministry with the interior ministry, as part of the government's austerity drive. The cabinet met here with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair. Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz hailed the process of renegotiations on the power purchase agreements with IPPs, saying that it would result in big saving to the national exchequer. The cabinet approved the Power Division's recommendation to revise the agreements negotiated settlementwith 14 IPPs aimed at reducing electricity costs and saving of Rs1.4 trillion for the national exchequer. After discussion with the 14 IPPs, under the negotiated settlement agreements, the cabinet approved the recommendation for reduction of Rs802 billion in terms of profit and cost of those IPPs. An amount of Rs35 billion in excess profits from previous years would also be deducted from these IPPs.
