CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, April 16, 1984
Page 6
Clearance procedures and radar not used Learjet stolen from Wichita still missing
By United Press International
WICHITA — A Learjet stolen from Mid-Continent Airport, which had enough (uel in) its tanks to fly 2,000 miles, has not been sighted, a Gates Learjet spokesman said yesterday.
The FBI has a suspect, but has not released the name.
The aircraft, which has a cruising speed of 500 miles an hour, was stolen about 8:30 a.m. Friday. Airport emt Jeffrey Kelton it was flying southward at a low level.
The Federal Aviation Administration
issued a stolen aircraft alert to airports across the country after the Learjet 35A was stolen from a Gates Learjet Inc. service center at Mid-Continent.
"It had approximately four hours of fuel on board," said Al Higdon, spokesman for Gates Learjet. He said that the aircraft with a 2,000 mile flight range.
"It could go to either ocean," said Rails Bell, the airport's director of BMIS.
The jet was owned by Old Ben Coal Co. of Lexington, Ky., Higdon said. The aircraft had been in Wichita since early April. Its two-man crew had been at a
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the FAA.
Flight Safety International training course.
The theft appeared to be the first time a private jet had been stolen from Mid-Continent, officials said.
The plane took off without obtaining clearance, officials said. Radar is not used to track airplanes once they are in the airport's traffic area, FAA officials said.
Higdon, who said the jet was 6 or 7 years old, valued it at more than $1 million. The Learjet 35A, which is
fabricated and assembled at the aircraft company's Mid-Continent plant, seats eight passengers in addition to a crew of two.
"Normally you request and receive clearance," he said. "Apparently that did not happen in this case. There was no clearance requested or granted on departure."
Federal regulations call for most business jets to have two pilots, Higdon said. However, an experienced pilot could commandeer the Learjet 35A alone.
Missouri commission praises utilities for work
By United Press International
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Missouri Public Service Commission, in a recent report, praised public utilities for their efforts in restoring electricity and telephone service to areas zapped powerless in last month's ice storm.
Service Co.
The state agency in Jefferson City examined the efforts and policies of Kansas City Power & Light Co., Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., United Telephone Co., Missouri Public Service Co., Union Electric Co. and Gas
A final report is due April 30 on the investigation, which was begun following hundreds of residents' complaints forwarded to the agency by Kansai City, Mo., Councilman Paul Parmello, who was acting mayor at the time.
Some of the more than 160,000 metropolitan residents who lost their power after the March 18 storm without electricity for up to nine days.
Two storm policy changes were likely to result from the investigation, said
Bill Washburn, manager of the agency's utility operations office.
Companies should have upgraded coordination of repair crew dispatch orders to ensure that downed electric lines were restored first, he said, since many telephone crews arrived first to a number of sites where power and telephone lines were downed and tangled.
A more aggressive tree-trimming program should also be implemented, Washburn said.
The utilities had also conducted investigations into their emergency
However, MoPu needs more than seven telephone lines to its Lee's Summit field office or improve the call-holding system there. Washburn became many callers were unable to get through to report problems.
actions. MoPub officials had said their extensive tree-trimming program helped to avoid damage in many areas, Washburn said.
The report noted that KCP&L inventory and vehicle readiness was good during the 10-day emergency work period, Washburn said.
Sports, Reading and Movie Entertainment for the winner of the 1984 Homecoming Theme Contest
Name KU's 1984 Homecoming and win
- One All-Sports student ticket
- One All Sports student ticket for the 1984-85 season (A $45 value)
- One $50 gift certificate from the Kansas Union Bookstores
- Ten SUA film passes for 1984-85 school year (A $15 value)
Pick up Contest Rules and Information Organizations and Activities Center 403 Kansas Union
Entry Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Friday. April 20. 1984
TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT SUA BOX OFFICE