[Peetwo]

First anniversary of YMEN DFO accident -  

Via the ABC's Radio Australia:

Pilot's widow thanks aviation community on anniversary of fiery Essendon DFO plane crash
Updated 21 February 2018, 8:10 AEDT
By Karen Percy

The wife of a pilot killed in last year's Essendon plane crash thanks the aviation community for its support on the anniversary of her husband's death, as an expert calls for a review of commercial development at airports following the tragedy that claimed five lives.

Pilot Max Quartermain's widow says her thoughts are with the families of everyone who died. (Credit: ABC) 

The wife of a pilot killed in last year's Essendon plane crash has thanked the aviation community for its support on the anniversary of her husband's death, as an expert calls for a review of commercial development at airports.

Four American tourists and pilot Max Quartermain died when the Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft clipped a building at the end of the runway in Melbourne's north, bursting into flames.

Workers at Essendon Fields will pause for a minute's silence at 9:00am today.

"At this time of immense sadness, my thoughts are with the families of everyone who died on the Beechcraft King Air flight 12 months ago," Mr Quartermain's widow Cilla Quartermain said in a statement.

"My only consolation during this period of grieving has been a strong belief that Max died doing what he loved the most and I know his greatest priority on the day as a pilot would have been the welfare of his passengers.

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"I would like to deeply thank all those who have provided support during the past year, from many people in the aviation industry, to many more I didn't know when they made contact."

Since the fatal crash, questions have been asked about the appropriateness of built-up commercial spaces and residential developments near airports.

Essendon Fields is home to the light aircraft airport as well as retail operations, including a 140-store factory outlet complex.
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"At this stage it's still quite a mystery as to why the aircraft was not able to maintain height and to continue to climb," aviation specialist Ron Bartsch of AvLaw Consulting said.

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"You can ask any pilot if they would prefer to attempt a forced landing on a grassed area or on a commercial development, I think the answer is pretty obvious.

"If you haven't got clear land around airports during the approach and departure phase then that obviously adds a hazard to the safety of air navigation.

"I think what's required is more detail and more comprehensive safety risk analysis ... of whether it's appropriate to have increased commercial developments on and near airports."

The approval process for this building was initially part of the Australian Transport and Safety Board's (ATSB) investigation, but has since been separated out.

"Due to the specialist nature of the approval process and airspace issues attached to the retail centre development — and to not delay the final report into the accident — the ATSB has decided to investigate this matter separately," an ATSB spokesman told the ABC.

A preliminary finding into the cause of the crash in March last year determined there was no evidence engine failure was responsible.

The investigation is now complete and the final report is expected by the end of March.
The ATSB has not specified when the land development investigation will be completed.

Safety versus profit

Linfox and Beck Corporation signed a joint venture privatisation agreement with the Federal Government in 2001 to lease and operate the Essendon Airport and surrounding land.

The building of the retail centre on Bulla Rd, Essendon, was approved by the Federal Government in 2004.

Since then it has passed two certifications by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

"Every development which occurs on the airport involves CASA, Air Services (Australia) and the department (of Infrastructure and Regional Development) and goes through a very rigorous and extensive process," Essendon Fields CEO Chris Cowan said.

"Safety is at the forefront of everything we do at the airport and those processes are rigorous. They're applied across the world and we apply those here."

But aviation consultant Ron Bartsch said there was a potential conflict between the competing interests of the owners and operators.

"They're responsible for safety on the one hand as operators or the airports, [and] they're responsible for maximising on behalf of their shareholders.

"We can never ever compromise safety over commercial interests — detailed risk assessments of land use around airports will make sure that won't happen in the future."

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[size=undefined]& from Nine news:

Essendon plane crash widow pens emotional letter of thanks to people of Melbourne
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By Natalie Cornish 11 hours ago





The widow of an American tourist killed when the small plane he was travelling on crashed in to a Melbourne shopping centre moments after take off has broken her silence to thank the city one year on.


John Washburn from Austin, Texas was one of four American friends flying from Essendon Airport to King Island to play golf on February 21st 2017 when their plane fell from the sky, hitting DFO Essendon and bursting in to flames.


Pilot Max Quartermain was killed alongside 67-year-old Mr Washburn, Glenn Garland, Russell Munsch and Greg DeHaven. 



John Washburn, Glenn Garland, Russell Munsch and Greg DeHaven in New Zealand. Picture: Facebook


Mr Washburn's wife Denni was also in Melbourne that day.


She had joined her husband and three other couples from Texas on a "trip of a lifetime", heading to the Great Ocean Road with the women while the men played golf.

Yesterday, she shared a heartfelt letter to the Victorians who "took care of me during the most difficult few days of my life".


In the note — shared in full on the Herald Sun's website — Mrs Washburn said she was unsure about making a public statement on the anniversary of her husband's death but changed her mind "because I would like to say something to the people of Melbourne".

"Thank you", she wrote.




Emergency services personnel at the scene of the plane crash in Essendon, Victoria, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017. Photo: AAP


"While to be sure many of the emotions I’ve felt over the last year have not always been pleasant, the only emotion I have ever felt toward the people of Melbourne is gratitude."

She went on to share her thanks to those who laid flowers at the site of the accident.

She also expressed her gratitude to the staff of the Park Hyatt Melbourne ("particularly the bellman who asked if he could give me a hug") and those who held her hand at St Patrick's Cathedral in the days after the crash.

Her biggest acknowledgement went to Detective Inspector Stephen Cooper of the Victoria Police who, she said, spent "countless hours helping guide a grieving family through a horrible time — often at the expense of time with his own. Thank you, Coop.

You are a gentleman of the highest order, and I can never repay the debt".

[size=undefined]The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's preliminary report has ruled out engine failure. The final report is yet to be released. The crash remains Victoria's worst civil aviation incident in 30 years.[/size]

 
Not sure what IronBar's involvement is in all this but you can bet his ultimate motive will be something to do with money and some sort of dodgy deal or cover-up -

MTF...P2