Skip to main content

California reactivates firefighting airplanes

By WTOP Staff

DON THOMPSON
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — With wildfire danger peaking, California’s fleet of 22 air tankers was cleared Friday to return to the skies after investigators found no evidence that a fatal crash of one of the tankers earlier in the week was the result of faulty equipment.

The return of the workhorse twin-engine S-2T airplanes came as firefighters were battling blazes east of Sacramento and at Yosemite National Park, where a veteran pilot was killed Tuesday when his air tanker crashed.

None of the reactivated air tankers was immediately dispatched to the fire along Interstate 80 about 40 miles northeast of Sacramento, and the aircraft likely won’t be dispatched to the Yosemite blaze, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

Still, officials said it was good to have them back during the fire season that has been extended by drought and unseasonably hot, dry weather.

“Obviously, it’s critical for us to get these (planes) back up in the air,” CalFire Director Ken Pimlott said.

The state was fortunate that air tankers under contract to the federal government were able to step in to fill the gap because there currently are few fires elsewhere in the nation, he said.

CalFire lifted the safety stand-down for the state airplanes after federal investigators found the tanker crash did not involve structural failure or aging aircraft issues, Pimlott said.

The planes were grounded after pilot Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt died when his plane smashed into a steep canyon wall while dropping retardant on a fire near Yosemite’s west entrance.

Hunt was making his second drop of the day and did not make any radio calls before the crash, said Josh Cawthra, an aviation accident investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board.

“We are comfortable to say at this point we do not see anything that leads us to any mechanical-related issues with the accident sequence,” he said.

The crash investigation will take months, but at least initially, there were no indications of turbulence, and visibility was good at the time of the crash, Cawthra said.

Preliminary indications are that the left wing struck something and came off the airplane, officials said. The finding won’t be certain until investigators find paint transfer or other evidence of the wing’s initial impact, CalFire’s chief pilot Bill Payne said.

Hunt, 62, of San Jose was a 13-year veteran pilot of DynCorp International. Like the other pilots, he flew the air tanker under a contract with the state.

Berlant said none of the reactivated tankers was immediately called up to the fire northeast of Sacramento because of minimal fire activity.

The blaze was threatening 1,000 structures — many of the homes under mandatory evacuation orders — around the Placer County community of Applegate. It was holding steady at 420 acres with containment at 30 percent.

The fire in Yosemite National Park, meanwhile, was at 311 acres and 25 percent contained. A major route into the park remained closed, and there were power outages in Yosemite Valley.

___

Associated Press Writer Sudhin Thanawala contributed to this report from San Francisco.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote