PLANE EMERGENCY

WGME CBS 13 ^ | 11 Feb 05 | Unknown

[cardinal4]

PLANE EMERGENCY A cracked window in a plane causes chaos at the Portland Jetport, and Senator Snowe was on board. A tense situation at the Portland Jetport Thursday night, because of a plane approaching the runway with a crack in the windshield. There were 37 passengers on board the United Express flight coming in from Washington, DC, including Maine Senator Olympia Snowe. Rescue crews were called in and waited on the runway as the plane tried to approach, not once, but twice. Snow plow drivers also worked quickly to clear the runway of snow. Jetport Manager Jeff Schultes says the outside of the double-paned window in front of the pilot cracked somehow..but glass on the inside was okay. The plane managed to land safely with everyone on board okay, including Senator Snowe.

[cardinal4]

This was one of my company's birds. My buddy was the Captain. It was the captains outer window that cracked, there was still the inner window. While it was neccesary to land ASAP, its not like there was no protection at all from the elements. As we speak, 1430 CST, there are two very cold mechanics replacing the windshield I ferried up this morning. There was no hangar space, those poor guys will be working outside in 25 deg wx, with 30 knot wind gusts. Its about a 3 hour job.

[cardinal4]

Aviation ping..

[cardinal4]

STL ping..

[Aeronaut]

[Preech1]

What kind of plane was it?

[brewcrew]

See, Sen. Snowe? There's hell to pay for being a RINO. Please stop jeopardizing those around you.

[JesseHousman]

...and Senator Snowe was on board.

Who the hell cares?

This is one of my least favorite RINOs!

[cardinal4]

I didnt even know she was on board until I talked to the crew, that was my first thought too!

[datura]

I hope they've got some portable heat to help the gaskets on that window! (Butyl doesn't like sealing up initially in those temps.)

Certainly one of those days where it would suck to be an A&P.

[BurbankKarl]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

[cardinal4]

Embraer 145. This is one of our AA planes, I dont have any pics of our UAL operation yet..

[dighton]

.
Now this is an emergency.

;-)

[cardinal4]

Certainly one of those days where it would suck to be an A&P.

I remember once in BWI, I had to escort two mechanics while they changed a fuel control unit on a turbo prop. Its about a 5 hour job. It was 5 degs and a wind that wind would cut you in half. I watched from the FO's seat while the two busted knuckles and swore at eachother. It was then I was glad I was going to Dispatch school and not A&P school, which was on the table..

[datura]

That article was the first thing that came to mind when I read this one. Thanks. That would've been pure hell.

Hey cardinal44 - what altitude were they when they saw the crack, do you know?

[datura]

Sorry about the double 4 above.

[Izzy Dunne]

Jeff Schultes says the outside of the double-paned window in front of the pilot cracked

The plane in front hit a rock?

[smiley]

oooooooooo nice picture....

[BluH2o]

A cracked window in a plane causes chaos at the Portland Jetport, and Senator Snowe was on board.

Causes chaos? C'mon you guys in Portland, ME obviously have a lot of time on your hands. A cracked window on a aircraft, although it doesn't happen every day is hardly an occasion that should cause chaos. Now smoke in the cockpit would be a legitimate cause for concern, considering what happened to the Swiss Air flight that went down while attempting an emergency landing at Halifax ... but a cracked window? Get real ...

[cardinal4]

Turning base for a long final, they had been holding as PWM requires 3/4 to get in on the 29, and they only had a 1/2. When the RVR came up they exited the hold and took vectors to the field. I think they were at 5000 ft, Im not sure. Somehwere between there and the base leg, the damn thing cracked..

[cynicom]

Sure am glad the senator was ok. I gather there was a senator aboard? Senators are important, dont you know. Shame the senator had to suffer the unwashed that insisted on going along.