Safety officials call for urgent review of Alaskan air travel
The National Transportation Safety Board has called for a wide ranging safety audit of Alaskan air travel, following two fatal crashes and a number of near misses in the last two years.
In a letter it asked the Federal Aviation Administration for an "urgent safety recommendation" of HoTH Inc, the parent company of Hageland Aviation, Frontier Flying Service and Era Aviation air commuter services in the state.
The NTSB also called for the FAA in Alaska itself to be audited regarding its inspector qualifications, and working relationships with the airlines.
"Without immediate assessment and evaluation, additional accidents and loss of life may occur," the NTSB said.
The FAA will respond to NTSB recommendations within 90 days, said agency spokesman Allen Kenitzer.
He also said the FAA began increased auditing of Hageland Aviation in 2011, which now operates under the Ravn Connect brand name.
On April 8, a Ravn Connect Cessna aircraft crashed near Kwethluk, killing two crew members.
Ravn Connect is the state’s largest charter service operating 1,200 flights a week.
The NTSB noted six accidents by the airlines since September 2012, including four in the last six months.
After an earlier accident, HoTH management took some steps to reduce risks but NTSB officials said a comprehensive review is required to address what it describes as "system deficiencies and long-standing issues of non-compliance with FAA regulations and policies."
by Ray Montgomery, Editor TravelMole US
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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