Latest news with #RichardOwen
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘Aviation does not tolerate mistakes' Southwest Pilot attempts to take off from taxiway from OIA
At first glance, a runway and a taxiway might seem interchangeable, but for a pilot to confuse the two could have catastrophic consequences. According to retired airline and fighter pilot Richard Owen, both are long stretches of pavement at an airport. Owen has flown in and out of Orlando International Airport for years as a commercial airline pilot. 'When you're taxing onto the runway, it actually has the runway number painted on it, and the runway is a lot wider than a taxiway,' said Owen. A runway is for aircrafts to take off and land and is built to withstand extreme speeds, marked with directional numbers, and has a powerful lighting system. Meanwhile, a taxiway is simply a path that guides aircraft to and from the runway. It's narrower, not built for high-speed acceleration, and often cluttered with other planes waiting to depart. 'If there were other aircrafts that were on the taxiway approaching the approach end of the runway, there could have been a serious conflict,' said Owen. History has seen close calls and tragic accidents from this very error. A single moment of confusion can turn a routine flight into a catastrophe, proving that knowing the difference between a runway and a taxiway isn't just about terminology—it's a matter of life and death. Thursday, crews and passengers aboard Southwest Airlines flight 3278 were escorted off the plane after aborting takeoff from Orlando International Airport. The airline stated that the crews mistook the taxiway's surface for the nearby runway. The plane stopped, and passengers were put on another plane for their destination in Albany, N.Y. When a pilot mistakenly tries to take off from a taxiway, the aircraft could collide with parked planes, ground vehicles, or even buildings. According to the FAA, an air traffic controller at the airport canceled the takeoff clearance for the flight after the aircraft began its takeoff roll on the taxiway, which runs parallel to the runway. On a taxiway, the shorter distance may prevent a safe lift-off, leading to an overrun or a crash. Southwest has stated there were no injuries reported. Southwest Airlines Statement: Southwest Airlines Flight 3278 stopped safely on a taxiway at Orlando International Airport this morning after the Crew mistook the surface for the nearby runway. No injuries were reported. Southwest is engaged with the NTSB and FAA to understand the circumstances of the event. The airline accommodated customers on another aircraft to their intended destination of Albany. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees. The FAA is investigating the incident. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Piece of UK's largest Stegosaur fossil returning ‘home'
A piece of a dinosaur discovered in Swindon has found a new home in the local museum and art gallery. Back in 1874, archaeologists uncovered original fossil remains in the clay pits of Swindon Brick and Tile Company which were sent to Natural History Museum director Richard Owen and became the first example of a stegosaurus to be named and described by scientists. While a large part of the herbivorous 'Dacentrurus' dinosaur is currently on display in that London museum, , other smaller parts were taken away by private fossils hunters and dispersed into other collections. The team at Swindon's council-run museum, which is now based at the Civic Offices on Euclid Street, has recently acquired a vertebra bone which is believed to be from that prehistoric skeleton and was found for sale online by local fossil hunters Dr Neville and Sally Hollingworth. Your Community, Your News Subscribe to Swindon Advertiser now for either 50% off for a year or 3 months for £3. Stay connected with all local happenings. #CommunityNews #SpecialOffer — Swindon Advertiser (@swindonadver) January 20, 2025 Sally and Neville have been working alongside volunteers and staff at Museum & Art Swindon on identifying parts of the museum's fossil collection through the Arts Council England-funded 'Unlocking Collections' project, and alerted staff to the fossil. The pair said: 'We saw this specimen for sale and realised its importance straight away. 'When the Swindon Stegosaur was collected in the 19th Century some of the original material ended up in private collections and we instantly recognised that the vertebra offered for sale had come from the original site where the skeleton was found. 'We're delighted that Museum & Art Swindon has put this truly unique find from the town on display and, hopefully, this will help raise awareness about the town's Jurassic past.' The Brick and Tile Company site is now occupied by Halford's and The Range in Fleming Way and the green space at Spring Gardens. Cllr Marina Strinkovsky, Cabinet member for Placemaking and Planning, said: 'Swindon was really important in the history of palaeontology and loads of important fossil hunters lived here or visited Swindon in the late 19th Century to look for specimens. 'The stegosaur ignites the imagination of Swindonians of all ages, and it's fantastic that a piece of it is coming home. 'I recently saw the stegosaur fossil in the Natural History Museum in London - it's great to see Swindon represented in one of the capital's most popular tourist destinations.' The stegosaur vertebra can be seen now at the museum's Swindon Rocks gallery. Later in the year, the vertebra will form part of the Arts Council England supported Fossil Hunters exhibition.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
‘Truly unique find': part of Swindon Stegosaur returns to Wiltshire town
The spectacular remains of the first stegosaur to be described by scientists – discovered in a clay pit in Swindon in 1874 – are on display in the grand surroundings of the Natural History Museum in London. But 150 years on, a little piece of the Swindon Stegosaur has been returned to the Wiltshire town, after two fossil hunters spotted one of its vertebrae for sale on an online marketplace site. They alerted the council and it has gone on display at the local authority-run museum in Swindon, a reminder of the role the town played in one of the UK's most remarkable dinosaur discoveries. The fossil remains were found in the clay pits of Swindon Brick and Tile Company in 1874, a site in Fleming Way now occupied by shops and a gardens. They were sent off to Sir Richard Owen, then director of the Natural History Museum, for identification, and became the first stegosaur ever named and described by scientists. The remains – the hip, a back leg and parts of the backbone of the creature – are considered a 'roadmap' for understanding what stegosaur looked like, and can still be seen in London. Sally and Neville Hollingworth spotted the vertebra being offered for sale. The pair said: 'We realised its importance straight away. When the Swindon Stegosaur was collected in the 19th century some of the original material ended up in private collections and we recognised that the vertebra offered for sale had come from the original site. 'We're delighted Museum & Art Swindon has put this truly unique find from the town on display and, hopefully, this will help raise awareness about the town's Jurassic past.' Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon borough council's cabinet member for placemaking and planning, said: 'Swindon was really important in the history of palaeontology and loads of important fossil hunters lived here or visited Swindon in the late 19th century to look for specimens. 'The stegosaur ignites the imagination of Swindonians of all ages, and it's fantastic that a piece of it is home.' The vertebra can be seen now at the museum's Swindon Rocks gallery.
The Guardian
28-01-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
‘Truly unique find': part of Swindon Stegosaur returns to Wiltshire town
The spectacular remains of the first stegosaur to be described by scientists – discovered in a clay pit in Swindon in 1874 – are on display in the grand surroundings of the Natural History Museum in London. But 150 years on, a little piece of the Swindon Stegosaur has been returned to the Wiltshire town, after two fossil hunters spotted one of its vertebrae for sale on an online marketplace site. They alerted the council and it has gone on display at the local authority-run museum in Swindon, a reminder of the role the town played in one of the UK's most remarkable dinosaur discoveries. The fossil remains were found in the clay pits of Swindon Brick and Tile Company in 1874, a site in Fleming Way now occupied by shops and a gardens. They were sent off to Sir Richard Owen, then director of the Natural History Museum, for identification, and became the first stegosaur ever named and described by scientists. The remains – the hip, a back leg and parts of the backbone of the creature – are considered a 'roadmap' for understanding what stegosaur looked like, and can still be seen in London. Sally and Neville Hollingworth spotted the vertebra being offered for sale. The pair said: 'We realised its importance straight away. When the Swindon Stegosaur was collected in the 19th century some of the original material ended up in private collections and we recognised that the vertebra offered for sale had come from the original site. 'We're delighted Museum & Art Swindon has put this truly unique find from the town on display and, hopefully, this will help raise awareness about the town's Jurassic past.' Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon borough council's cabinet member for placemaking and planning, said: 'Swindon was really important in the history of palaeontology and loads of important fossil hunters lived here or visited Swindon in the late 19th century to look for specimens. 'The stegosaur ignites the imagination of Swindonians of all ages, and it's fantastic that a piece of it is home.' The vertebra can be seen now at the museum's 'Swindon Rocks' gallery.
