Which President Do You Have to Thank for the No-Fly Zone Over Washington? — #TBT Week of March 1

In the spirit of #TBT (“Throwback Thursday,” not Brazil’s Tabatinga Airport) FlyerTalk takes a look back at the events that helped shape modern aviation. Here are just a few moments from history that changed the face of the industry during the week of March 1.

 

March 1, 1933

With concerns of airplane traffic disturbing the inauguration of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Secretary of Commerce issued a temporary flying restriction over downtown Washington for March 4, 1933 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Violators of the flight restriction were subject to a $500 penalty.

Nearly two years later, the same skies were declared a permanent no-fly zone for civil and commercial aircraft.

March 2, 2012

It was the end of an era for an airline dating back to 1934. At 11:59 p.m. local time, the final domestic Continental Airlines flight departed from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), bound for Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (CLE).

At the stroke of midnight, Continental completed its merge with United Airlines, ending the airline’s 78-year standalone history.

March 3, 1974

In the second incident involving the hatch door of a McDonnell Douglass DC-10, Turkish Airlines Flight 981 came to a sudden and abrupt end shortly after taking off from Paris Orly Airport (ORY). All 346 souls onboard were lost when the aircraft crashed approximately 10 minutes after takeoff.

An investigation revealed the cause as a faulty cargo hatch door, similar to what American Airlines Flight 96 experienced in 1972. As a result, the entire door mechanism was re-designed on DC-10 aircraft around the world.

March 4, 1936

After five years of construction, the German Zeppelin Hindenburg celebrated its first test flight with 87 passengers onboard. Deemed a success, the aircraft was prepared for the first passenger flight by the end of the month, opening with service to Rio de Janeiro.

A short 14 months later, the Hindenburg ultimately met its demise during a docking accident in New Jersey.

March 5, 1966

Tragedy stuck for British Overseas Airways Corporation, the predecessor to modern-day British Airways. BOAC Flight 911 — nicknamed “Speedbird 911” — crashed near Mount Fuji shortly after departing from Fukuoka Airport (FUK). All 124 souls onboard were lost in the accident.

An investigation revealed the flight experienced turbulence over the aircraft’s design limit, resulting in the midair destruction of the plane.

March 6, 2003

As part of a fleet rationalization program, All Nippon Airways continued to phase out its Boeing 747 fleet with the order of four new 777. The newer aircraft would directly replace four of the aging jumbo jets, bringing the airline’s total number of 747 down to 19.

Eleven years later, ANA completely phased out the 747 from its fleet, marking the end of over 40 years of service with the Japanese carrier.

March 7, 2007

Following a failed landing at Adisucipto International Airport (JOG), Garuda Indonesia Flight 200 crashed after overshooting the runway, colliding with a perimeter fence and coming to a stop in a rice field. A total of 21 lives were lost in the aftermath.

An investigation of the accident attributed the crash to pilot error, leading to the prosecution of the captain in Indonesia. Although the captain was convicted for negligence, the judgment would later be overturned by an appeals court.

 

[Photo: iStock]