A recent review of Federal Aviation Administration found Allegiant airlines had more than 100 serious mechanical incidents from January 2016 to October 2017 and was 3.5 times more likely than other airlines to have midair breakdowns. (Photo courtesy of St. Clair County)

Senators call for air safety report from Allegiant

Both of the U.S. Senators representing Illinois, Sen. Dick Durbin (D) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D), are asking Allegiant Air for an accounting of any in-flight safety issues that have arisen over the past three years in the Prairie State.

Allegiant Air, the discount passenger carrier serving MidAmerica Airport in St. Clair County, has a history of aborted takeoffs and in-air problems, according to seven-month investigation aired by the CBS News program “60 Minutes” on April 15.

A CBS News review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found Allegiant had more than 100 serious mechanical incidents from January 2016 to October 2017 and was 3.5 times more likely than other airlines to have midair breakdowns. A previous analysis of FAA mechanical interruption summary reports by the Tampa Bay Times found Allegiant was four times as likely to make unexpected landings after mid-air mechanical problems than other U.S. airlines during 2015.

Allegiant, in a prepared statement, dismissed the “60 Minutes” report.

“This unoriginal and outdated story bears no resemblance to Allegiant’s operations today, and shows a fundamental misunderstanding of FAA compliance practice and history,” Eric Gust, Allegiant’s vice president of operations, wrote in a statement released shortly after the program aired. “It focused primarily on events of several years past, prior to the FAA’s most recent comprehensive audit of Allegiant Air, which revealed no systemic or regulatory deficiencies.”

Allegiant’s fleet consists largely of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 airliners, an aging model which has been retired by all but two other U.S. carriers. The Tampa Bay Times report found Allegiant’s jets were on average 22 years old. The average age of planes flown by other carriers is 12.

The aging aircrafts, many purchased used from foreign airlines, require the most rigorous maintenance in the industry, the newspaper notes. However, the airline does not have its own full-time mechanics at many of the airports it serves; including MidAmerica.

Allegiant has been systemically replacing its MD-80s and has subsequently seen improvements in its mechanical incident data, company officials say.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant serve 118 airports including MidAmerica, the county-owned civilian air terminal adjacent to Scott Air Force Base near Mascoutah.

Allegiant also serves airports in Bloomington, Moline, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield.

In their letter to Allegiant CEO Maurice J. Gallagher Jr., Sens. Durbin and Duckworth request “a full accounting of any and all serious mechanical incidents since 2015 involving the six Illinois locations in which Allegiant operates.”

They cite an allege history of “continued mechanical problems since the summer of 2015, involving aborted takeoffs, emergency landings, smoke-filled cabins, a lack of capable engineers, and — most disturbing — roughly 25 engine failures within two years.”

Following the CBS Broadcast, Tim Cantwell, director of MidAmerica Airport, told the Belleville News Democrat he has “absolutely no concerns” about Allegiant’s safety record.

World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival is no more  

Colliinsville’s annual World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival Birthday Party & Car Show has come to an end, according to Mike “Big Tomato” Gassmann and Judy “Catsup Bottle Lady” De Moisy, the husband and wife team that organized the event.

For the past 19 years, some 3,000 to 5,000 have gathered each June to celebrate the birthday of the 170-foot-tall water tower shaped and painted to resemble a Brooks Catsup bottle at 800 S. Morrison Ave.; adjacent to site of Collinsville’s now-closed Brooks Tomato Products Company factory.

“World’s Largest Catsup Bottle” has been trademarked to describe the site.

Elevated 100 feet above the area landscape on steel legs, the 70-foot, 100,000-gallon water tower has been a Metro East landmark since it was constructed in 1949.

DeMoisy spearheaded a 1993 drive to raise funds to refurbish and save the tower after it was slated for demolition.

In an April 22, Facebook post, De Moisy and Gassmann — who met organizing an initial event to celebrate the renovation of the tower and eventually married — said that promoting the ever-growing event has become increasingly time-consuming.

“The Catsup Bottle Executive Committee is announcing that the annual World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival Birthday Party & Car Show has come to an end,” they wrote.

However, various other groups will continue to sponsor events at the catsup bottle site, they promise.

The Illinois Route 66 Blue Carpet Corridor “Miners, Mobsters, & the Mother Road” Motor Tour, will stop at the site, June 9 and 10, with “souvenirs, games, and fun activities,” according to the post.

The World’s Largest Idaho Potato truck — “with Larry and the Tater Twins” — is scheduled to be at the site on Sept. 12.

Missouri State Rep. Bob Burns (D-St. Louis County)

Radio show spurs spat among Missouri Democrats

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) and Missouri House of Representative Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty (D-Kansas City) are calling for the resignation of Missouri State Rep. Bob Burns (D-St. Louis County) after he reportedly called in several times to the often-controversial radio talk show of Bob “The Grimm Reaper” Romanik on Fairview Heights-based KQQZ (1430 AM).

“Representative Burns expressed public support for – and agreement with — an individual who has delivered a constant toxic stream of racist, sexist attacks on his radio show,” Sen. McCaskill said in an April 21 statement on her website.

State Sen Beatty cited tapes of “disturbing comments” made by Burns on the broadcast; although she acknowledged the tapes had been edited.

Burns is refusing to step down; saying his comments on the broadcasts concerned only support for military troops and veterans.  He decried racist and homophobic comment often made by the radio host.

St. Louis Aldermanic President Lewis Reed has also been a guest on the radio program.

Shiloh’s ‘Red Barn’ for sale

The Shiloh Board of Trustees has formally put the village’s landmark “Red Barn” up for sale.  The massive structure, built in 1984 on an 8.3-acre tract abutting Sierra Park, has housed several restaurants; but has been vacant since October 2009, when the village purchased it for $185,000.

Maintenance costs have now become burdensome, village officials say.  The report interest from several parties interested in developing the site.

–Metro East Area News Briefs–