Cessna 180 family was popularly known for its bushflying (a term for air operations carried out in remote regions of the world) and its reliable surveillance capability.  Way back February 19, 2003 in Bloomington, Indiana, a white, single-engine Cessna 182 was spotted by foreign students of Indiana University, making passes overhead about noon, in the late evening and after midnight.

Earlier in the week, FBI had denied any link to the plane when aviation officials disclosed that the aircraft was conducting surveillance, since the aircraft’s frequent and unexplained flights had raised fears among some residents. 

“The FBI issued the denial because a reporter asked if the airplane is doing electronic surveillance, which it is not”, stated Agent Thomas V. Fuentes.

Fuentes and Agent James H. Davis said,

“The FBI is not aware of any threat to Bloomington or the state, but is watching many foreign nationals.”

Several students at Indiana University were also questioned by FBI agents, university and agency officials confirmed.  However, Agency spokesman Doug Garrison, would not say if those interviews were related to national security or the airplane’s flights.  Fuentes said the aircraft was conducting surveillance flights over several communities near Indianapolis, the state capital.  The FBI acknowledged that the plane was used to monitor people who might have terrorist connections. 

The FBI agents were just doing their job; to protect the welfare of their citizens and ensure safety.  The FBI agents were just being cautious.  Obviously, the citizens were just apprehensive that the surveillance might have some connection with terrorist activities going on in the area.  The mysterious flight, hence, was just a false alarm.  

No matter how the navigation and weather forecasts are accurate and precise, no matter how high and advanced the technology of a plane is - jetliners can never be as safe as commercial airplanes.

 
Few days ago, an Air Canada flight had left 10 people injured when turbulence hit the plane on a cross-country flight. An emergency landing was made in Calgary on Thursday after the plane violently plunged and rolled tossing passengers around the cabin. Air Canada did not confirm the cause of the problem on the jet but the pilots were already operating it manually to control and handle the plane properly. Ten people were taken to the hospital though six people were already in a stable condition while other four suffered minor injuries.

NavCanada declined to comment on weather conditions along the route although the agency’s web site indicated there were no aviation weather bulletins in effect at the time. The rough flight was the second in Air Canada in recent months. In September, nine people were hurt and three were sent to the hospital after the flight hit turbulence with little warning.

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