Two pilots whose aircraft crashed in mid-air above Sussex killing one of them, did not see each other, according to an accident report.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found neither pilot was expecting the other aircraft to be where it was.
Experienced pilot, Alan Weal, died when he crashed onto Adur Recreation Ground following the collision in July 2011.
The other plane's two crew members landed safely and were uninjured.
The AAIB report said the pilots failed to see each other despite clear weather conditions and receiving information from air traffic control.
'Difficult to spot'Mr Weal, 63, of Arlington Avenue, Goring, near Worthing, was carrying out the test flying of a friend's Vans RV-6A aircraft which had been modified.
The former British Airways captain, who had more than 20,000 hours of flying experience, was on his third flight of the day when the crash happened on 4 July 2011.
The other aircraft involved, a Diamond DA40, was from a flying school based at Shoreham airport.
On the day of the crash, one of the flying school's instructors was upgrading his instructor qualifications and he was practising teaching instrument flying to another instructor.
Aviation analyst Chris Yates said: "Given the colour schemes of the aircraft and given the background colour of the sky it's often difficult to spot other aircraft that may be moving the in the sky very close to you."
He added according to the report "everybody involved had done what they were supposed to have to done to the letter".
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said a study into improving aircraft visibility was being carried out.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Sussex athletes selected for Olympics (From The Argus) - The Argus.co.uk
Sussex athletes selected for Olympics
8:00pm Saturday 7th July 2012 in News By Ben Parsons
Athletes from Sussex have been chosen to select Great Britain at the Olympics.
Their names are among 542 due to be submitted by the British Olympic Association to the London Organising Committee on Monday, when the choices will be finalised.
Equestrian star Tina Cook, 31, from Worthing, has been chosen for the eventing team.
She won team and individual bronze medals in Beijing in 2008, on her horse Miners Frolic.
Mark Hawkins, 26, from Cuckfield - who lives in Iceland - has been selected for the men's handball team.
Ben Hawes, 31, from Lewes, and Ashleigh Ball, 26, from Brighton, have been chosen for the men's and women's hockey teams respectively.
Brighton-born Jess Walker, 22, is to represent her country in the canoe-sprint.
Stevie Morrison, 33, from Eastbourne is in the men's sailing team.
Source: www.theargus.co.uk
How could they? Care home assistants suspended for mocking elderly residents by gurning and posing with zimmer frames - Daily Mail
By Jane Bunce
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Two care home assistants have been suspended from duty and social services called in after the pair posted pictures on Facebook mocking the elderly patients they were supposed to be looking after.
In photographs clearly taken next to the home’s elderly residents, the gurning duo pose with zimmer frames and glasses, and in one shot incontinence pants.
The appalling images were taken in the lounge of Little Acorns care home, Eastbourne, Sussex and the disgraced pair have been identified as staff members Becky Cooper and Natalie Hemsley.
Shocking: The two care home workers posed for photographs mimicking the patients, even wearing glasses and holding zimmer frames
In the first photograph, the girls lean forward on the zimmer frames and make faces.
A second picture clearly shows an elderly patient in the background while one of the women poses for the camera wearing incontinence pants.
Shocked management immediately suspended the pair of pranksters while social services investigate the incident.
Owner Michelle Levett said the staff had been ‘suitably dealt with’ – but insisted that no malice had been intended by the prank.
Mocking: One of the girls poses with incontinence pants, while a elderly resident can clearly be seen in the background
‘The episode is the unfortunate result of a role playing incident, which has been taken out of context,’ she said.
‘Relatives of the residents of Little Acorns have been contacted with regards to the incident and they are happy with the care and support given to their loved ones by the staff and management.’
The pictures attracted comments when they were posted on the social media site Facebook, but have since been removed. They were then passed to the local newspaper, Sussex Police, social services and the Care Quality Commission.
A spokesperson at East Sussex County Council social services said: ‘All residents of care homes should be treated with dignity and respect.
Some residents' families have already come out in support of the Little Acorns care home in Eastbourne, Sussex
‘We work closely with our partners in Sussex and have run campaigns urging people to bring safeguarding and abuse issues to our attention.
‘In this case the Care Home has contacted us directly and through the multi-agency safeguarding procedures we will investigate.’
In its most recent inspection of the home, the Care Quality Commission found it was providing a good service.
One resident’s family has already publicly come out in support for the home, describing the staff as ‘caring’.
‘The way it is run and the superb way my husband is cared for is very reassuring for the family,’ the resident’s wife said.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
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