NTSB targets college air travel policies

The NTSB has written a comprehensive letter to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recommending that all university athletic departments emulate Oklahoma State University’s revised team travel policy. In January 2001 a Beech King Air 200 crashed near Strasburg, Colo., after an electrical failure, killing all on board–two pilots and eight members of the OSU basketball team. Flight expenses were “donated” and, as such, the operation was not subject to the jurisdiction and approval of the university’s regular flight department. The new, stricter policy was released last April.