Marines: Sandy conditions a factor in deadly aircraft crash ADVERTISING Marines: Sandy conditions a factor in deadly aircraft crash HONOLULU (AP) — A military investigation found a U.S. Marine Corps hybrid aircraft that crashed on Oahu this year, killing two
Marines: Sandy conditions a factor in deadly aircraft crash
HONOLULU (AP) — A military investigation found a U.S. Marine Corps hybrid aircraft that crashed on Oahu this year, killing two Marines, flew in sandy or dusty conditions for an extended period before its engine stalled.
The investigation found the stalled left engine put the MV-22 Osprey in an unavoidable freefall.
The airplane-and-helicopter hybrid crashed at a military base outside Honolulu in May with 21 Marines and a Navy corpsman on board.
U.S. Marine Forces, Pacific said in a statement Monday the pilots didn’t violate any regulations or flight standards. But investigators say a proper risk assessment should have prompted the pilots to choose a different flight path or landing site to avoid dust or sand.
Investigators are recommending changes to help pilots make better decisions in similar situations.
Air-conditioning units installed in hot Hawaii classrooms
MAUI (AP) — More than 400 portable air-conditioning units have been installed in Hawaii public schools this year as a response to public complaints about sweltering classrooms.
State Department of Education officials say the units were installed in the “hottest classrooms” across the state for a total cost of $147,000. The department estimates installing air conditioning at all DOE schools would cost $1.7 billion.
The DOE faced criticism this summer from concerned parents and other members of the public, as many schools were without air conditioning during days when temperatures reached record highs. Many classrooms surpassed 90 degrees.
In addition to providing the air conditioning units, the agency has been releasing a heat abatement status report publicly since outcry broke out about the hot classrooms. The report shows schools across the state have millions of dollars to support projects intended to help keep classrooms cool.
