Planes Flying a Little too Low in Buffalo

Planes flying over our house are suddenly becoming eerie. Two months ago I did a post on plane crash statistics because my eight year old had a fear of a plane falling on our house. (We get a lot of small town planes flying overhead.) I felt lucky because a month went by without a single night of her praying that a plane didn't crash on our house.

Then we had a wind storm. Electric went out. Kids didn't have school because there was no electricity. She prayed that night for a plane not to crash on our house. It gave me the chills too because it was horribly windy outside. The next night, I'm writing away and get a CNN alert that a plane crashed in Buffalo - a mile from my dad's house. The Buffalo plane crash of Continental Flight 3407 was little too close for comfort. I was shocked as I followed the story on CNN and couldn't pull myself away.

Turns out one of the girls on the Buffalo Plane that crashed, 19 year old Beth Kushner on Flight 3407, went to school with my son in Eden, New York, and Joe and Beth both used to live in Angola, NY. He has a beautiful picture of her on his blog. Just looking at this smiling picture of this promising young happy girl and imagining what she went through, and what her relatives must be going through makes me want to cry. My son nor I knew Beth. I can only imagine the sorrow her family must feel. What if it was my daughter flying home from college? What if that was my 19 year old son? What if the plane had gone a mile further and landed on my father's house? And then there's always the question - how could God let this happen?

I reason that he doesn't. It's man's plane. Man's mechanics. We are not puppets. So where are the angels and where are the miracles? I just hope that the crash had such a great impact that none of them experienced any pain. I've been unconscious before, and I know when you're out - you're out. You feel nothing. I hope that's what they felt. People burning in Australian wildfires and burning planes are too much to bear thinking about.

Does anyone else find it ironic that Continental's airline magazine has this quote on the airline magazine's front page (advertising Manhattan):

"All free, all moments that stick in the memory, and all in New York"

Do you think they're referencing the Hudson River landing and Buffalo NY plane crash?

Also in the Buffalo plane crash was Ellyce Kausner was a 24 year old law student on her way to her nephew's Valentine's Day party. And Madaline Loftus was another 24 year old victim of the Buffalo plane crash. She was headed to Buffalo State College, where my son attends. Rebecca Lynne Shaw was the First Flight Officer, and at the young age of 24, she too lost her life in the Buffalo plane crash. I'm picking out the 24 year olds because my oldest son is 24.

Two members of Chuck Mangione's band were in the plane. My father was a band teacher (Mr. Sadlo - Lockport Senior High School if anyone remembers!) and a trumpet player (and every other instrument in the world) and met Chuck Mangione in person. I can still picture the photograph in my mind. (I used to sort of kinda' play trumpet in high school..not sure if it was considered playing or making noise...). The Chuck Mangione band was on their way to play with the Buffalo Philarmonic Orchestra. How sad for Mr. Mangione.

With all the musicians that have died in plane crashes, I imagine many of them must think about having a similar fate. List Universe has a list of their pick of the Top Ten Musicians who have died in a plane crash. Buddy Holly is of course, first. A few of my favorites are on the list (don't laugh), John Denver (I used think he was sooo cute), Jim Croce (had the 8-track), and (a little more with the times) Stevie Ray Vaughan. My boyfriend still pines over Patsy Cline and insists Ricky Nelson is what a good lookin' guy should look like. Otis Redding (in my book) is right up there with Buddy Holly. (I just learned that Otis Redding wrote the words to the song RESPECT sung by Aretha Franklin.)

The "Elvis Pelvis" website has short biographies of musicians who have died in plane crashes.

Wikipedia (of course) has a list of "well-known" people who have died in plane crashes (or, "aviation crashes" - probably some helicopters thrown in there...)

Nationmaster always has great statistics, and they too have a list of people who have died in plane crashes.

NBC Sports has a list of athletes, sports professionals, coaches and officals who have died in plane crashes, and ESPN has a similiar lists of athletes and sport teams who have died in plane crashes.

Buffalo's TV station, WGRZ has a touching slideshow and list of everyone who died in the Buffalo plane crash.

Here is Continental Airlines Link to News on the Continental Airlines Buffalo Plane Crash 3407.

Seems like the 1 in 34 million chance of dying from a plane crash needs to be updated.

CNN has a list of articles on the Federal Aviation Administration. I bet they've got a lot of explaining to do lately. I think the words "outsourcing" came up a couple times.

CNN also has over 70 stories which reference the National Transportation Safety Board, which of course includes articles on the Buffalo plane crash.

Why do some live and some die?

On January 27, 2009 a Fedex Cargo plane crash in Texas left only minor injuries.

All but but four people died in a plane crash in Brazil the same week as the Buffalo plane crash. One of the survivor's was a nine year old.

Also within the first two weeks of February, six Americans are missing from a plane crash in Puerto Rico.

A similar Continental plane on the same New Jersey to Buffalo, NY route didn't crash in Buffalo.

Thankfully, the Pilot in the NY Hudson River plane crash played with gliders. I have to buy my daughter a few.


Here's a list to some online airline, aviation and plane crash magazines. I'm sure there's many stories of plane crashes hidden deep within these pages.

Thirty Thousand Feet refers to themselves as an "aviation directory" and that's exactly what they are. This resourceful website has links to aviation history, airport and cargo information, airline and airport topics, aviation maintenance magazines, and even aircraft and control magazines. Many of these may be paid only, but I'm sure there's some very useful links to free online information on plane crashes, plane maintenance and all the ins and outs of flying.

If you're into fixing planes, there's Aircraft Maintenance Technology magazine and website. Hmmm....one of the articles is on the need for aircraft technicians and engineers...I wonder why...

Historic Wings has some vintage plane photos and looks like they even have a free desktop or screensaver with historical planes.

In Flight USA magazine has a few aviation articles - looks like primarily California flight information. I don't know exactly, but their links to more aviation and flight information has a nice sampling of probably useful links if you're doing airline, airplane or aviation research.

Aviation Week is full of news in the aviation industry, Pilot's Web isn't as official looking, but has links to articles and other useful information.

Aviation Safety Magazine

Federal Aviation Industry News

Aero.com has a list of paid aerospace magazines - but I'm sure many of these have online content as well.

Aviation Week looks like a reputable source for news and aviation industry information.

AV Web Independent Aviation News looks like a good source, but had to close the window quickly since my darling daughter has walked in. But they have a new article on the Buffalo plane crash so if you're looking for mechanical technicalities check it out. I've kept my daughter shielded from the Buffalo Plane Crash because - well- I'll never get any sleep. Had she bought into the logic of only 1 in 34 million people die in a plane crash then saw a plane crash near her Grandpa's house....geezsh - can't even imagine. Logic doesn't work. Statistics don't work. Faith is really the only thing that works. But even Faith is questionable at times.

Okay, she's occupied making a mess with flour and water...don't ask..Here's what AV Web reported:

The crew of the Bombardier Q400 that crashed in Buffalo on Thursday got a stall warning and the stick pusher engaged but still the aircraft pitched upward 31 degrees before turning almost 180 degrees and dropping onto a house in the Buffalo suburb of Clarence Center, near the outer marker for Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The sequence of events, which included a 45-degree dive with a 106-degree right bank ended 26 seconds later in the fireball on the ground, killing 49 people on the plane and one on the ground, the owner of the house. Although icing continues as a theme in the investigation, reporters were told at an NTSB press briefing on Sunday that the aircraft's anti-icing system had been on for most of the flight and, while both pilots discussed the "significant" icing their aircraft was experiencing, at no time did they use the "severe icing" descriptor that is the official notification of flight-threatening buildup. "We don't know that it was severe icing," NTSB member Steve Chealander told reporters. "They [the crew] didn't say that it was severe icing....The weatherman didn't say that it was severe icing."

Something to do with angles...or was that angels...but definitely a site to visit for more info on the Buffalo plane crash.

I have to wrap things up for the night. I was really hoping to do a blog post on birds and planes a month ago...I'd rather talk about dying birds than dying people...

Gotta get to bed. I will cherish that I can kiss my daughter tonight. My heart goes out to all those who lost a loved one in the Buffalo plane crash - or any plane crash, and everyone who ever lost someone they love.

Can Miss America be President?

Can Miss America Be President?

Beauty pageant camaraderie is similar to the "good 'ol boys" network. Appearances and connections get you ahead. Sarah Palin may well be on her way to giving Miss America pageants some more credibility. Maybe the "good 'ol boys’ network" will realize "beauty" and "intelligence" can exist in one body.

The good 'ol boys might think the country is lowering its standards - but perhaps we are gradually opening our eyes to a new way of thinking. Kennedy, Ferraro, Hillary, Obama - and hopefully Palin - will give credence to the virtue of potential and the value of family.

Beauty and political networks both have their scandals. In 1957 Miss USA was dethroned because the secret-snatchers found out that she was really married and a mother of two. Maybe Palin can let beautiful people know it's okay to be a mom. Beauty and intelligence are rarely seen together. But beauty, intelligence and motherhood? It’s a media rarity. But women of that class are working hard in the hidden corners of the world. Many aren't as fortunate as us in the US and could get killed for their intelligence. Many prefer less prolific jobs than vice-president. But America and other nations are full of beautiful, intelligent mothers. Working mothers can relate to Palin.

Then there are the scandals that beauty pageant contestants and the political boys both face. More than a few have been dethroned for posing nude - although that probably is not considered humiliation these days - just a financial maneuver. The pageants have flip-flopped from swimsuits to no swimsuits and back again a few times. No wonder these beautiful women are confused.

Beauty pageants can handle the media though. In 1948 reporters protested because Miss America was in a gown instead of a swimsuit when she received her crown. The pageant tactfully conceded by allowing them to take photos of the runner-ups in swimsuits.

The most memorable clothing conflict in my time was in 1984 - the same year Sarah Palin was competing in the Miss Alaska pageant and Geraldine Ferraro was chosen as Vice President Nominee. It was also the same year I had my first son, and a year after Vanessa L. Williams was the first black to win Miss USA - and winning racist death threats along with her crown. (Who says racism doesn't exit? Whites?)

Unfortunately, Miss Vanessa Williams, much like politicians, had some secret-chasers. Posing nude for Playboy was discovered and frowned upon, and Vanessa had to step down. The runner-up, Suzzette Charles, another singer and actress, was therefore the second black holding the crown - for a record-short period of seven weeks.

Today, it's easy to witness the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants and see that race is not an issue. (Judging by looks - yes. Race - no.) Vanessa's dethroning didn't hold back her musical and acting talents. She went on the receive Emmy, Grammy and Tony award nominations and currently stars in Ugly Betty.

The first black was allowed in the Miss Universe pageant in 1959 (the year Alaska became a state), and 1960 the first black participated in the Miss USA pageant. It wasn't until 1983 that a black won. They're still far ahead of the "good 'ol boys" network though when it comes to race. Oh - and by the way - Sarah Palin was defeated by Maryline Blackburn, who is black and beautiful and now working as a professional singer.

It appears from Pageantry Magazine that most beauty pageant winners go on to media ventures, such as television, radio and music. But all that omega from fresh Alaskan fish must be working wonders in the Alaskan winners, since Wikipedia suggests that more than a few Alaskan winners went into medical fields.

Beauty pageants are an interesting way of capitalizing on human resources. The fact that the Miss America Pageant (started in 1921) was started by local businessmen to attract tourists to America isn't something I am proud of in my American history. (Oops, did I just say I wasn't proud of America?) But pageant advocates haven't been standing idly by wallowing in beautiful ignorance either. Teen drug abuse, breast and ovarian cancer, and HIV/AIDS charities receive significant help from Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants. Beautiful do-gooders.

Pageant winners are, in fact, national and international ambassadors. And international conflict infiltrates beauty pageants as well as politics. The Pageant Almanac has a beauty pageant timeline of historical events that include:

1970 - Feminist protesters throw flour bombs during Miss World 1970.
1974 - Feminists protest at Miss America.
1993 - Miss USA, Kenya Moore, is booed by the Mexican audience at Miss Universe.
2002 - Miss World is slated to be held in Abuja, Nigeria. Amina Lawal, a Nigerian woman, is sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. Miss World attempted to use the publicity of the event to bring awareness to the issue. After the event's security is threatened by anti-pageant protests and riots, several contestants withdraw and the pageant is moved to London, United Kingdom.
2003 - Vida Samadzai represents Afghanistan at Miss Earth, although she resides in the United States. Her appearance in a bikini causes an uproar in her native country.
2005 - Locals in Thailand protest at Miss Universe 2005 after contestants wearing swimsuits are filmed in front of sacred monuments.
2005 - Pakistan is represented in an international pageant for the first time at Miss Earth. Her participation causes an uproar in her native country.
2007 - Miss USA, Rachel Smith, is booed by the Mexican audience at Miss Universe. Smith also falls during the evening gown competition but recovers with grace and a smile.

(The flour bombs were also referred to as smoke bombs. Women were always less violent than men.)

Are beauty pageant networks gender-biased? It certainly appears so. It wasn't until 2001 that a male participated - sort of. More specifically, it was a transsexual who almost won the honor of being of Miss Universe as a representative of China. Quickly, the rules were revised to declare the contestants must be a "natural-born woman." Similar to the president's "natural born" requirements for U.S. Presidency.

The Miss Universe motto (since 1960) is in fact:

"We, the young women of the universe, believe people everywhere are seeking peace, tolerance and mutual understanding. We pledge to spread this message in every way we can, wherever we go."

Maybe carrying that message in our hearts can make all of us beautiful inside. Carrying that message to the presidency might even make America a country to be proud of.