European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 11, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 4 the stars and stripes thursday december 11,1988 military making changes after Newfoundland crash by Norman writer Washington when american Soldier rotate in and out or the Sinai desert every six months for peacekeeping duties they Fly Only on military aircraft. But that is a special and expensive arrangement born of a desire to provide reassurance following the deaths or 248 soldiers on a common chartered night one year ago. Ninety five percent or the military men and women flying around the world still travel on either chartered or regular commercial airline flights. Charters alone carry 1.2 million servicemen and women a year. And the defense department has tip intention of changing thai Basic Reliance on civilian air planes. There Are changes afoot however. Before dec. 12, 1985, the Pentagon trusted another Arm of government the Federal aviation administration almost exclusively to ensure the safely of its personnel. The loss of an Arrow air dc-8 and 248 soldiers on that wintry Day in Gander Newfoundland has changed that. The Pentagon both of its own volition and by congressional Fiat is taking a More Active role in ensuring aircraft safety. The Faa still is the first line of defense but the Pentagon has erected a second. Defense officials acknowledge that All the changes Are an outgrowth of the Newfoundland crash the worst peacetime military aviation Accident in history and that the Pentagon s oversight of charter safety had been too Ian. We be come a far cry from where we were a year ago at this time said it. Col. David w. Morley. Assistant for air transportation in the Pentagon office that oversees logistics. The officials say the Pentagon has stepped Forward to shoulder a responsibility As a sort of surrogate Par ent to men and women in the military. American serv ice personnel have no Choice As to How they Fly while on duty so we be got to be. Good parents make Wise value judgments Morley said. The Gander crash was particularly devastating he said. The time of the year. The fact that Here you have people from one unit returning Home after very arduous duty in the name of peace. It galvanized the nation. Had it not been 1 think for the space shuttle explosion in january the Gander Accident would still be on the front Page of the nation s newspapers. That prompted us to do a study. And As a result of the study we found some things that we think we can do belter and we re doing them the changes instituted at a still unknown Cost in taxpayer Donars Range from More frequent and More extensive inspections by military personnel in Addi Tion to Faa checks to a new system of Quality review questionnaires for service personnel flying on Commer Cial planes. They include More stringent requirements for air lines to qualify for military contracts and an insistence that servicemen be told they have the option of buying flight insurance. The changes also include creation of a new air car Rier analysis office and a new commercial Airlift re View Board within the department of defense. The former will spend its Lime reviewing operating records maintenance records the results of Faa checks and military inspection reports looking for deviations. The taller Board will have authority to suspend a Carrier regardless of what the Faa does. In addition commercial carriers have received guidelines on How to figure aircraft weight when they re ferrying soldiers and service personnel have been told not to Cany their medical records with them when they Fly. Some of those changes Are clearly linked to specific problems linked with the Arrow air tragedy. Identification of the victims for example took months be cause they were flying with their medical records. And although a final report on the crash has t been re leased investigators have suspected that the Crew underestimated the weight of the soldiers and their equipment. Last week sources close to the Canadian investigation of the crash said ice on the wings was the most Likely reason for the crash causing the plane to stall but that excess weight could have contributed to the changes however go Well beyond specific re actions to the Arrow air crash. Congress for example has mandated that Ever chartered plane preparing to leave on an International military trip must be inspected within 72 hour of departure. To the extent practical the same must be done for Domestic Charters. Inspections in the past focused More on the Comfort and cleanliness of the plane rather than on safety considerations. The new inspections will be made by Aua lifted maintenance workers and focus on physical inspections of the plane and reviews of maintenance and Pilot logs. Moreover the Pentagon has launched a program of no notice checks in which qualified cockpit observers will Monitor the performance of civilian air Crews. The military Airlift come the Pentagon Agency that oversees All military travel also has Estt bus de a Spe Cial Liaison office with the Faa and the Pentagon and Faa Are sharing the results of All inspections and maintenance checks. 2 die in another fort Rucker copter crash fort Rucker Ala. Api a flight instructor and student Pilot were killed in the crash of a helicopter at fort Rucker and officials said the aircraft was the same Type involved in an investigation of intentional tampering fort Rucker spokesman Bill Hayes said the names of the victims of the tuesday evening crash were being with held pending notification of relatives. The helicopter crashed in a Clearing about one mile Northwest of the base he Liport he said. The cause of the crash the second at the base in less than a month was not immediately determined. Army investigators were combing through the wreck age which was scattered Over a wide area Early wednesday. The oh-58 helicopter is the same Model that has been the focus of an investigation of Aicra tampering at the base. Hayes said the cause of the crash was not immediately known and an speculation about possible tampering would be premature. An investigation into intentional Lam Peridis with the base s oh-58 Heli copters prompted army officials to apprehend a suspect nov. 10. The suspect s name was never released. The first reported tampering was in May 1986 and involved damage to Heli copter Oil pressure lines. Some of the incidents also involved Sand in Oil tanks and sugar in Gas tanks. Results of an investigation into a nov. 21 Accident involving another of the base s oh-5s helicopters have pot been announced. There were no injuries to that crash but the helicopter was heavily damaged the engine and fuel system from that wreckage were tent to teas for further examination Hayes said court says independents can vote in Safe primaries Washington a the supreme court wednesday ruled that if political parties wish to hold open primaries states May not bar Independent voters from casting ballots to determine the parties Nomi nees. By 5-4 vote the justices refused to resurrect a Connecticut Law challenged by Republican leaders who sought participation in the party s primaries by Natu Limard voters. Justice Thurwood Marshall writing for the court ibid the Law violated the right of free political association guaranteed by the Constitution. T the suite Here placet limits upon the group of re Isle red. Ly1 Mosci Lional opportunities at the crucial juncture it which the Appeal to common principles May be mutated into concerted in Didiw Iii opinion Justice Antonin Scala said the ruling was based on fanciful reasoning. In other Case the court � ruled Luta May bar from general election Telou who fail to receive i percent of the vote in statewide primaries. The court in a 72 decision reinstated a washing ton state Law declared unconstitutional by a lower court. Ruled confessions of mentally ill criminal defendants May be used against them. The justices by a 7-2 vote said Denver prosecutor May use at evidence statements by an accused murderer who said the voice food ordered him to confess or commit suicide. The Connecticut Law on primaries we de tuned Only to assure that voters who refined to enrol in political party could not help choose it amyl Zilfi. seems to me fanciful to refer to this a an interest in Freedom of association Between the member of the Republican party and the putative Independent voter he said. Connecticut like most other slates require lha voters be registered u Democrat or republicans to be eligible to Vole in the respective party Pmarie. Candidate chosen by the two major Pettei Ulo Matt Tuy Are accorded space on general eject i bal lots while minor party candidates Mutt fulfil diner requirements. Democrat Long have been the majority party in Connecticut resist end and �08.613 i in 1984, the stale Gor,.a moderate Republican with Appeal to l. Independents amended its Lefoi l voter to Cut ballot in the primary for the is. Settle and House governor and other statewide offices. Independent voter were not allowed to vote for other office in the primary such As the state Lent Rule Dianae conflicted with a in Jim he using on affiliated voters from voting u psf Lewk. Top Laden challenged the Law in men Cost Anwo coun of Appeal no to 1981 that the Taw a unconstitutional. Numerous other sate joined connection i in Jatoi the supreme court to overturn the Appeal Coart no ing. In wednesday s decision Marshall Wasoi Ftp by justices William j. Brennan Harry a. Byron r. White and Lewis. Powell i Lia. The dissenter were chief Justice Rich Squitt and Justice John fatal san vhf Sand Day o Connor the of it Tashjian a. Republican party of up next Cut 85-766
