Hello Tower Dog: I think they meant the air center had a flawless record. It is a different company from the airline. The DC-9 was tragic for sure. They thought the cause was a failed valve which allowed hydraulic fluid in the pressure/relief line and unlocked the cargo door. This resulted in an AD note requiring the vent door on all Douglas cargo doors to insure it will stay locked. The finding on the Anchorage incident was that they encountered extreme turbulence. That coupled with old shear pins tore the engine off the wing. All B-747's now have modified pylons, new pins, and more frequent inspections. Several other cargo 747's had been lost due to similar problems with the pylons/pins. Flying at the zone is down again. It seems there will not be a peak season this year.Have fun in the sun!
[ 31 August 2001: Message edited by: Zoner ]