FAA to fine Lodi $664,000

[Andy9o8 2]

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D-1?...really?

Do you think he actually knows what he's doing by putting that there?

Condemning humanity to an eternity of damnation?

[airtwardo 7]

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D-1?...really?

Do you think he actually knows what he's doing by putting that there?

Condemning humanity to an eternity of damnation?

Well yeah...there's that too!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[headoverheels 333]

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all I wanna know is
"Is Bill still doing 10 dollar sundays?"

Yes.

[Zlew 0]

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I'm a student yet and I myself would be terrified at having to jump low to the ground if the engine quit. Could I get stable in time? Would my chute inflate fully? Could I land in a clearing?

Gotta keep those planes serviced.....period.

S&S

Agreed on the service...but you still need to get comfortable getting out and getting open quickly in a situation like that.

[chuckakers 426]

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all I wanna know is
"Is Bill still doing 10 dollar sundays?"

Yes.

That'll probably end when he has to sign that check.

Chuck Akers
D-10855
Houston, TX

[billvon 3,069]

>>"Is Bill still doing 10 dollar sundays?"

>Yes.

And sadly, for some skydivers, that's really all that matters.

[rmsmith 1]

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Separately, the Federal Aviation Administration also proposed fining an owner of a California parachute jumping operation $664,000 for flying a plane more than 2,600 times with critical equipment overdue for replacement and without making required inspections.

FWIW, a $664k fine is way over the top for a family business.

Fines to scheduled airlines are offset by the subsidies that the federal government grants to many hard pressed locations, so in reality it's a only reduction of their subsidy. This action is your jumping dollars leaving the DZ for Washington DC.

[normiss 851]

Then hopefully is will serve it's intent as the lesson the FAA has in mind...as fair warning to other DZ's to not cut corners on safety with their pockets in mind.

[diablopilot 2]

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Separately, the Federal Aviation Administration also proposed fining an owner of a California parachute jumping operation $664,000 for flying a plane more than 2,600 times with critical equipment overdue for replacement and without making required inspections.

FWIW, a $664k fine is way over the top for a family business.

Fines to scheduled airlines are offset by the subsidies that the federal government grants to many hard pressed locations, so in reality it's a only reduction of their subsidy. This action is your jumping dollars leaving the DZ for Washington DC.

Is it really? It's about $13.61 for every life he regarded as less important than saving the money doing the inspections and replacing the parts.

2,121 flights times 23 pax (as if Bill really limits to 23) = 48,783 slots

$664,000/48,783=$13.61

Hell if he charged a $20 slot he might have made a profit.

It's nice of the FAA not to go after the pilots who flew those loads.......

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[mjosparky 4]

This action is your jumping dollars leaving the DZ for Washington DC.


For every hour a DZ flies a Twin Otter they have to ship $1800 to $2000 to Washington in fuel tax. So there is nothing new about sending your skydiving dollars to Washington D.C. The difference in the case of this fine, it is for cheating on the records and lying to the paying customers.

And let’s keep our eye on the ball. This is not about United, American or some other airline. This is about a Drop Zone operation that flies skydivers. If you want to talk about what is going on in other fields of aviation go to a board that is set up for that purpose.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[headoverheels 333]

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For every hour a DZ flies a Twin Otter they have to ship $1800 to $2000 to Washington in fuel tax.
Sparky

The fuel doesn't cost nearly that much total. Drop a decimal point?

[MakeItHappen 15]

This may be one of many inquiries that the FAA does a a result of the NTSB recommendations.

The attachment labeled A-08-63-68 is the one that directs the FAA to conduct more inspections of skydiving operations.

For more discussion about how the NTSB, FAA and USPA have changed their respective, perspectives on the industry see:
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3330031

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Make It Happen
Parachute History
DiveMaker

[JohnRich 4]

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For every hour a DZ flies a Twin Otter they have to ship $1800 to $2000 to Washington in fuel tax.

Huh? Somethings wrong with that equation. An Otter burns about 30 gallons per load, flying three loads per hour, for 90 gallons of gas per hour. Jet-A fuel runs about $4 a gallon, so that's about $360 for an hour of fuel.

What percentage of that is taxes?

[totter 2]

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Huh? Somethings wrong with that equation.

I think Sparky was just trying to make a valid point, even if his math might be a little off.

To put it into more perspective, the FAA can fine up to $10,000 per violation per every flight flown.
So the fine works out to be around $320.00 per flight or around $80.00 per violation per flight.
$664,000/2100/4
So actually, I don't know why people are so up in arms defending Lodi. In reallity his fine could have been $84 million.
HE GOT OFF EASY!

[rmsmith 1]

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This is not about United, American or some other airline. This is about a Drop Zone operation that flies skydivers.

I was drawing the comparison because a fine that high is typical of a scheduled airline with much higher revenues than your typical weekend DZO. A fine this high is closer to a death blow, not a penalty.

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If you want to talk about what is going on in other fields of aviation go to a board that is set up for that purpose.

You really should consider decaf.

[mjosparky 4]

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You really should consider decaf.

Decaf my ass, that is Gray Goose doing the math. You want me to do your taxes?

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[skydives 0]

At this point it is just a proposed fine.
These things are typically negotiated downwards. Bill has good lawyers. It will probably cost him 50K in fines and 150K in attorneys fees

[wmw999 2,534]

People always complain that fines are "just a drop in the bucket" and aren't big enough to hurt and send a strong message.

This one actually does; that's probably a good thing, especially considering the skydiving record in aircraft safety. I know that over the years I've jumped out of some pretty scary airplanes (yeah, I'm as stupid as a whole lot of skydivers that way). And those are only the ones that looked scary. What's under the covers is what really matters.

It might suck dealing with the FAA, but it probably beats just trusting pilots and owners to maintain their aircraft appropriately.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[rmsmith 1]

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This may be one of many inquiries that the FAA does a a result of the NTSB recommendations.

BTW, thanks for the informative post!

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

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People always complain that fines are "just a drop in the bucket" and aren't big enough to hurt and send a strong message.

This one actually does; that's probably a good thing, especially considering the skydiving record in aircraft safety. I know that over the years I've jumped out of some pretty scary airplanes (yeah, I'm as stupid as a whole lot of skydivers that way). And those are only the ones that looked scary. What's under the covers is what really matters.

It might suck dealing with the FAA, but it probably beats just trusting pilots and owners to maintain their aircraft appropriately.

Wendy P.

Maybe if the FAA came down hard on more operators who are this negligent in maintaining their planes, we could trust the pilots and owners a bit more.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[airtwardo 7]

It's nice of the FAA not to go after the pilots who flew those loads.......

[normiss 851]

"A fine this high is closer to a death blow, not a penalty. "

More precisely, the lack of proper maintenance could have been a death blow to MANY people.

That is the root of the issue.

[stayhigh 2]

CAN NOT WAIT for my ass to jump 10 times for 100 bucks..

Bernie Sanders for President 2016

[pirana 0]

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D-1?...really?

Never noticed that on his posts. Pretty disrespectful.

skydives - you really ought to change that.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[pirana 0]

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You want me to do your taxes?

Sparky

Depends on the direction in which you will be shifting the decimals.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley