THE PROVERBIAL CRAP HIT THE FAN TODAY
Deer Valley Airport (DVT) is the busiest GA airport in the world. It is not due to the 1200 based aircraft but to the biggest flight school in the US that teaches the Chinese how to fly. TransPac Aviation Academy has had numerous problems over the years. They have changed names and corporate ownership of the airplanes.
There is a practice area NW of DVT over Lake Pleasant that is home to TransPac training. I have always felt that there are too many planes in a very concentrated area. Today the crap hit the fan. There was a midair including at least one TransPac Piper Cherokee. At the time of writing this, the other plane was heavily burned. It might be another TransPac plane but that is to be determined. 4 people lost their lives today. I assume it was a flight instructor and student pilot in each plane.
TransPac’s students are from China. We have always questioned their ability to speak English and more important to think in English. After several problems a few years ago TransPac said they would not accept students who were not English proficient. Then these students were supposed to be immersed in English training while learning to fly. If anything, I feel that the problem has retrogressed to where there is an inherent danger to all pilots that fly out of DVT. Unfortunately today is a very sad day to those who lost their lives and their families as well of those associated with TransPac and GA.
Two things have to change and change now. First, fewer planes flying in the practice area as it is too crowded. Second, quit taking students that are not conversant in English and that having trouble thinking in English. This is the only way that we can prevent another tragedy occurring again and again with TansPac students and flight instructors.
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