NTSB ANNOUNCES PUBLIC AIRCRAFT FORUM

Friday, September 30, 2011

NTSB ANNOUNCES PUBLIC AIRCRAFT FORUM

National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2011

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The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a two-day

forum on safety issues related to the oversight of public

aircraft operations on November 30 and December 1, 2011, in

Washington, D.C.

The event, entitled "Public Aircraft Oversight Forum:

Ensuring Safety for Critical Missions," will be chaired by

NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman and all five Board

members will participate.

Public aircraft are operated by a federal, state, or local

government for the purpose of fulfilling governmental

functions such as national defense, intelligence missions,

firefighting, search and rescue, law enforcement,

aeronautical research, or biological or resource management.

Government organizations conducting public aircraft

operations supervise their own flight and maintenance

operations without oversight from the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA).

"Our accident investigations have demonstrated the risks of

inadequate safety oversight and identified persistent

confusion as to the role of the FAA when it comes to public

use aircraft," said Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "During

the forum, we will gather information on the roles and

responsibilities of the entities engaged in public aircraft

operations and hear about methods for ensuring effective

safety oversight."

Recent NTSB investigations of accidents involving public

aircraft include:

* the August 5, 2008, accident near Weaverville,

California, involving a helicopter operated by the

U.S. Forest Service on a firefighter transport mission

* the September 27, 2008, accident in District Heights,

Maryland, involving a helicopter operated by the

Maryland State Police as a medical evacuation flight

* the June 9, 2009, accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico,

involving a helicopter operated by the New Mexico

State Police on a search and rescue mission

Panelists participating in the forum will represent federal,

state, and local government entities, aviation industry

trade associations, and civil operators contracting with

government entities. A detailed agenda and list of

participants will be released closer to the date of the

event.

The forum will be held in the NTSB Board Room and Conference

Center, located at 429 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington,

D.C. The public can view the forum in person or by webcast

at www.ntsb.gov.

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NTSB Media Contact:

Bridget Serchak

202-314-6100

Bridget.serchak@ntsb.gov

California Fire News 2011

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How fires get their names

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Friday, September 30, 2011