‘Mayday’: Jet’s distress call after mid-air crash, two people missing
https://www.theage.com.au/national/vict ... 5el4e.html
Emergency services are searching for a pilot and passenger in Port Phillip Bay after a former military jet crashed into the water near Mount Martha, in Melbourne’s south-east, on Sunday afternoon.
Two light Viper S-211 Marchetti planes collided mid-air about 12 kilometres west of Mount Martha on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said.
Police search the water after a jet crashed into Port Phillip Bay on Sunday.
AMSA said one aircraft crashed into Port Phillip Bay, while the other plane, which also had two people on board, was able to land safely at Essendon Airport.
Police said emergency services were called to the Esplanade in Mount Martha about 1.45pm after reports of an aircraft incident.
Crash debris had been spotted floating on the water where the emergency service workers were searching.
AMSA has three rescue helicopters searching the scene and is coordinating the response with the Victorian Water Police and volunteer marine rescue units.
Members of the Air Wing, Water Police and uniformed police officers took part in the search.
Viper S-211 Marchettis are Italian-made fighter planes now primarily used for air force training, and are a regular sight in the local skies taking people on training, sorties, aerobatic flights and sightseeing tours.
Channel Nine reported that the plane that landed at Essendon showed signs of damage and had been taped off by police in its hangar.
The pilot, who sent the “mayday” message after the collision, had been drug and alcohol tested, which is standard protocol for investigating such a collision, Nine also reported.
Channel Nine also broadcast audio of the “mayday” call in which the pilot told authorities he had seen a “splash mark” where the other Viper had hit the water.
Parts of the plane were initially pulled from the water, but the search continues for any sign of the two people in the aircraft.
Police believe the jets would have been visible from Mount Martha between 1pm and 2pm on Sunday and have appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision or had vision of the planes to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the www.crimestoppers.com.au website.
Police said investigations were ongoing and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau had been notified of the incident.
Authorities planned to continue the search for the two people until last light on Sunday.
PP
Australia Midair Collision Involving 2 Marchetti S.211's
Re: Australia Midair Collision Involving 2 Marchetti S.211's
Wreckage found in Mount Martha plane crash search
https://www.theage.com.au/national/vict ... 5eljn.html
Wreckage has been found after a former military jet crashed into Port Phillip Bay near Mount Martha on Sunday afternoon with a pilot and cameraman on board.
A large part of the body of the plane was located off the shore of Mornington, Victoria Police said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
Wreckage found in Port Phillip Bay after fatal plane crash
Play video
1:20
Wreckage found in Port Phillip Bay after fatal plane crash
Police have found the wreckage of a plane that crashed into Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay, killing two men.
“Police are working to remove the fuselage of the plane from the water, at which time it will be searched,” the statement said.
Stephen Gale, a pilot, engineer, inventor and aspiring filmmaker, and James Rose, a talented cameraman and drone operator, are feared dead after two light S-211 Marchetti planes collided midair about 12 kilometres west of Mount Martha, in Melbourne’s south-east.
Gale, a 56-year-old from Brunswick, and Rose, a 30-year-old from Surrey Hills, were filming for a documentary series that planned to teach people with no experience how to fly.
The other plane involved in the midair collision landed safely at Essendon airport. Police said they had interviewed the pilot of that plane.
Cameraman James Rose and pilot Stephen Gale are feared dead after their plane crashed into Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will examine the aviation company’s regulation compliance and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will investigate the crash.
Ex-military planes are not required to meet typical civil aviation standards or fly with the same degree of safety as other aircraft.
Some crash debris had earlier been spotted floating on the water where emergency service workers have been conducting an extensive search since the weekend.
Victoria Police Inspector Terry Rowlands said on Monday the search was a recovery mission that was using sonar equipment to scan the seafloor near the crash site.
Search crews in Port Phillip Bay on Tuesday morning after police announced plane wreckage had been found.
“It’s unbelievably tragic for the families and all involved,” he said.
Gale, who had served in the RAAF and was the owner of the two jets, was the brains behind the proposed documentary series called Jet School.
Originally titled Any Fool Can Fly, the proposed five-part series had been in development for about five years, but did not yet have the backing of a broadcaster or major production company.
Novice pilots involved in the series included engineer Dr Jillian Kennedy, maxillofacial surgeon Dr Nu Dastaran and comedian and The Project panellist Tommy Little. English actor and adventurer Charley Boorman was a late addition to the project.
Gale established his company Jetworks Aviation, which offered 25-minute joyrides for $2750, specifically to create the show.
The S-211 Marchetti that Gale flew is an Italian-made fighter plane now primarily used for air force training. The jet is a regular sight in local skies – taking people on training, sorties, aerobatic flights and sightseeing tours.
CASA said it licensed pilots but the Australian Warbirds Association regulated adventure flight aircraft.
The CASA website states those flying on the “limited category aircraft” must sign a pre-flight form accepting risks such as that the airworthiness of a plane “does not need to meet any standard we recognise”.
The ex-military and historic aircraft must carry a placard which reads: “Persons fly in this aircraft at their own risk. This aircraft has been designed for special operations and is not operated to the same safety standards as a normal commercial passenger flight.”
Jetworks Aviation’s website advises that their Marchetti jets were formerly owned by the Singapore Air Force and as such are ex-military and “are not required to meet any safety standard recognised by CASA”.
A spokesperson for CASA said: “The information on our website is accurate and the rules under which Jetworks Aviation was operating will form part of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s investigation.”
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (ASMA) is also investigating the incident over Port Phillip Bay, which sparked a mayday call about 1.45pm on Sunday.
Sunday’s crash was the fourth midair collision in Australia in just over a year.
Last November, two men were killed when a glider and light aircraft collided near Gympie in Queensland. In January, four people died when two Sea World helicopters crashed on the Gold Coast. In July, two died after two light planes collided over an airfield at Caboolture.
Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the Port Phillip Bay incident, or anyone with vision of the planes. They believe they would have been visible from Mount Martha between 1pm and 2pm on Sunday.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, with footage, or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppers.com.au.
Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.
PP
https://www.theage.com.au/national/vict ... 5eljn.html
Wreckage has been found after a former military jet crashed into Port Phillip Bay near Mount Martha on Sunday afternoon with a pilot and cameraman on board.
A large part of the body of the plane was located off the shore of Mornington, Victoria Police said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
Wreckage found in Port Phillip Bay after fatal plane crash
Play video
1:20
Wreckage found in Port Phillip Bay after fatal plane crash
Police have found the wreckage of a plane that crashed into Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay, killing two men.
“Police are working to remove the fuselage of the plane from the water, at which time it will be searched,” the statement said.
Stephen Gale, a pilot, engineer, inventor and aspiring filmmaker, and James Rose, a talented cameraman and drone operator, are feared dead after two light S-211 Marchetti planes collided midair about 12 kilometres west of Mount Martha, in Melbourne’s south-east.
Gale, a 56-year-old from Brunswick, and Rose, a 30-year-old from Surrey Hills, were filming for a documentary series that planned to teach people with no experience how to fly.
The other plane involved in the midair collision landed safely at Essendon airport. Police said they had interviewed the pilot of that plane.
Cameraman James Rose and pilot Stephen Gale are feared dead after their plane crashed into Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will examine the aviation company’s regulation compliance and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will investigate the crash.
Ex-military planes are not required to meet typical civil aviation standards or fly with the same degree of safety as other aircraft.
Some crash debris had earlier been spotted floating on the water where emergency service workers have been conducting an extensive search since the weekend.
Victoria Police Inspector Terry Rowlands said on Monday the search was a recovery mission that was using sonar equipment to scan the seafloor near the crash site.
Search crews in Port Phillip Bay on Tuesday morning after police announced plane wreckage had been found.
“It’s unbelievably tragic for the families and all involved,” he said.
Gale, who had served in the RAAF and was the owner of the two jets, was the brains behind the proposed documentary series called Jet School.
Originally titled Any Fool Can Fly, the proposed five-part series had been in development for about five years, but did not yet have the backing of a broadcaster or major production company.
Novice pilots involved in the series included engineer Dr Jillian Kennedy, maxillofacial surgeon Dr Nu Dastaran and comedian and The Project panellist Tommy Little. English actor and adventurer Charley Boorman was a late addition to the project.
Gale established his company Jetworks Aviation, which offered 25-minute joyrides for $2750, specifically to create the show.
The S-211 Marchetti that Gale flew is an Italian-made fighter plane now primarily used for air force training. The jet is a regular sight in local skies – taking people on training, sorties, aerobatic flights and sightseeing tours.
CASA said it licensed pilots but the Australian Warbirds Association regulated adventure flight aircraft.
The CASA website states those flying on the “limited category aircraft” must sign a pre-flight form accepting risks such as that the airworthiness of a plane “does not need to meet any standard we recognise”.
The ex-military and historic aircraft must carry a placard which reads: “Persons fly in this aircraft at their own risk. This aircraft has been designed for special operations and is not operated to the same safety standards as a normal commercial passenger flight.”
Jetworks Aviation’s website advises that their Marchetti jets were formerly owned by the Singapore Air Force and as such are ex-military and “are not required to meet any safety standard recognised by CASA”.
A spokesperson for CASA said: “The information on our website is accurate and the rules under which Jetworks Aviation was operating will form part of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s investigation.”
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (ASMA) is also investigating the incident over Port Phillip Bay, which sparked a mayday call about 1.45pm on Sunday.
Sunday’s crash was the fourth midair collision in Australia in just over a year.
Last November, two men were killed when a glider and light aircraft collided near Gympie in Queensland. In January, four people died when two Sea World helicopters crashed on the Gold Coast. In July, two died after two light planes collided over an airfield at Caboolture.
Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the Port Phillip Bay incident, or anyone with vision of the planes. They believe they would have been visible from Mount Martha between 1pm and 2pm on Sunday.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, with footage, or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppers.com.au.
Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.
PP
Re: Australia Midair Collision Involving 2 Marchetti S.211's
Australia Midair Collision Marchetti S.211
Juan's report
PP
Juan's report
PP