Omega Air
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Europe
USA based in providing refueling aircraft for USAF.
http://www.omegaairrefueling.com/
http://www.fuelbirds.com
http://www.omegaairrefueling.com/
http://www.fuelbirds.com
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
I believe the history of Omega Air starts back in 1981 as a part supplier. Than they started doing major 707 modifications for the USAF. Than they purchased two 707's and converted them to Drogue Air refuelers with a big contract to the U.S. Navy. Now they have a DC-10 coming on line to also do Navy Air Refueling. They plan to add a boom to the DC-10 and do contract air refueling with the USAF. Met the McEvaddy brothers once. Nice guys, drink guiness...My kind of people.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
From: Mostly here, but often there
Met the McEvaddy brothers once. Nice guys, drink guiness...My kind of people.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Ireland
They seem to have had a patch of bad luck back in 1991 when a 707 they were selling to the US military crashed after a wingstrike on take-off from an Arizona boneyard killing two. When the NTSB arrived they discovered the Irish mechanics servicing the plane had fled, despite being witnesses to the crash. They also discovered that the aircraft's temporary operating certificate had been granted by an FAA recognised DAR who wasn't qualified to certify large aircraft, the wheels were'nt capable of retraction, there were only 4 working instruments left in the cockpit (out of more than 50). Among the ones ripped and sold for spares was the main turn and bank indicator which doesn't appear to have helped when the pilots (mostly unqualified) took off with a misset rudder and failed to spot their angle of bank.
Another spot of bad luck a few years later when the Brits grounded three of their 707s at Manston because they were unhappy with their Third World flag of convenience registration.
The boys also seem to have done business with a number of airlines operating out of Ostend, especially Liberia World Airways. Interesting place, Ostend.
Another spot of bad luck a few years later when the Brits grounded three of their 707s at Manston because they were unhappy with their Third World flag of convenience registration.
The boys also seem to have done business with a number of airlines operating out of Ostend, especially Liberia World Airways. Interesting place, Ostend.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Ireland
MNTTECH,
I think you're right about the date. I'm relying on increasingly frail memories. My memory of the investigation was that the DAR who authorised the ferry flight was a light aircraft man with no experience of transport jets and the FAA got a rebuke for that. At least one of the pilots wasn't current for the 707 and there was some issue with another. There was also a flt engnr on board. On man was killed immediately, the other died from injuries a few weeks later. WAs it Marana AFB they were going to?
I think you're right about the date. I'm relying on increasingly frail memories. My memory of the investigation was that the DAR who authorised the ferry flight was a light aircraft man with no experience of transport jets and the FAA got a rebuke for that. At least one of the pilots wasn't current for the 707 and there was some issue with another. There was also a flt engnr on board. On man was killed immediately, the other died from injuries a few weeks later. WAs it Marana AFB they were going to?
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 210
Likes: 20
From: Denver, Colorado, USA
Well, all three of them were co-workers of mine. I would say that they were all qualified, but maybe not current. Yes, the Captain was killed out right, the co-pilot died about 32 days later (which the FAA does not count as killed in the crash) and the F/E recovered.
The NTSB report says:
“FAA'S DESIGNATED AIRWORTHINESS REP (DAR) HAD INSPD ACFT 3 DAYS BFR & ISSUED FERRY PERMIT. HE LACKED FAA MECH CERT & EXPERIENCE WITH LARGE ACFT. FAA ORDER 8000.62 & AC 183.33 LACKED SPEC GUIDANCE FOR SELECTION, TRNG & OVERSIGHT OF
DAR ACTIVITY. ALSO, LACK OF GUIDANCE CONCERNING MIN EQUIP LIST. PLT NOT CURRENT OR MED QUALIFIED TO FLY ACFT.”
So it was the DAR that was not qualified, and the Captain did not have a current medical. Splitting hairs I know, but they all were friends.
The NTSB report says:
“FAA'S DESIGNATED AIRWORTHINESS REP (DAR) HAD INSPD ACFT 3 DAYS BFR & ISSUED FERRY PERMIT. HE LACKED FAA MECH CERT & EXPERIENCE WITH LARGE ACFT. FAA ORDER 8000.62 & AC 183.33 LACKED SPEC GUIDANCE FOR SELECTION, TRNG & OVERSIGHT OF
DAR ACTIVITY. ALSO, LACK OF GUIDANCE CONCERNING MIN EQUIP LIST. PLT NOT CURRENT OR MED QUALIFIED TO FLY ACFT.”
So it was the DAR that was not qualified, and the Captain did not have a current medical. Splitting hairs I know, but they all were friends.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Ireland
MNNET,
Although pilot error was effectively given as the cause by the NTSB I would say that the real error was not omitting to follow a checklist, or failing to notice the misset rudder but in deciding to try to fly that heap of junk in the first place. As for the guy that hired them (not one of the MCEvaddys) ... just don't don't get me started ...
Although pilot error was effectively given as the cause by the NTSB I would say that the real error was not omitting to follow a checklist, or failing to notice the misset rudder but in deciding to try to fly that heap of junk in the first place. As for the guy that hired them (not one of the MCEvaddys) ... just don't don't get me started ...
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,068
Likes: 21
From: WORLD
They are looking into opening in europe offering tanker support. Had a quick phone chat with one of the two brothers, asked for my cv, emailed it, never heard again. I hear on his forum they bought RAAF 707s which sort of confirm it.
cheers
cheers
