• A problem with an attitude indicator in a Cessna 402C “caused” the death of a young cargo pilot. “The problems could have grounded a passenger jet filled with people. But not so for air cargo–where delivering goods on time is industry lifeblood.”
• The rules allow cargo pilots to fly 40 percent more hours per year than passenger airline pilots, and cargo operation rules are generally less stringent.
• A cargo pilot was so tired that he “begged for someone to join him on a flight in June 2005.” He ended up making the flight by himself and crashed into a mountain. The FAA repeatedly fined the company he flew for but didn’t revoke its Part 135 certificate until after the crash.
• An Ohio cargo company “with a history of deaths praised its pilots for finishing their flights with scarce fuel.” Presumably, the article is claiming that the pilots were encouraged to land with minimum fuel.
• Mechanical problems often were not repaired before takeoff, something that Greene apparently believes isn’t permitted in passenger-carrying aircraft. Minimum equipment lists apply whether cargo or passengers are carried.
