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Rockford Scanner™: Possible Hot Air Balloon Crash Near Sycamore



 

Sources were reporting a possible hot air balloon crash. 

It happened this evening near N Main and Heron Creek near Sycamore.

Reports of a hot air balloon crashed into a house, with multiple people on board the hot air balloon.

Emergency personnel went to the scene to find the hot air balloon had taken back off again. Emergency crews chased the balloon for awhile.

The balloon came close to hitting a few structures, but nothing was actually hit. No injuries have been reported. The crews have the balloon on the ground and everyone is safe.







 

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Rockford Scanner™: Eyes To The Sky! B-17 Aluminum Overcast Tour at The Rockford Airport



Flightaware

Look to the skies this weekend!

You might just see a B-17 Bomber flying overhead!

They have it parked out at the Rockford Airport until Sunday afternoon.

Every hour it is reported to go for a flight, starting at 10 AM.

 So keep your eyes to the sky! 

Email us your photos and videos at
RockfordScanner@Gmail.com 

 


https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N5017N

From the EAA:

B-17 Aluminum Overcast Tour
The B-17G has a remarkable story. One filled with daring missions and personal sacrifice.

You’re now invited to relive that story on a historic flight aboard the EAA’s beautifully restored B-17 Flying Fortress, Aluminum Overcast.

More than just an airplane, the B-17 is living history that holds a remarkable connection to the past and is the most iconic image of World World II.

Today, it serves as a tribute to those known as the greatest generation: the bold men and women who built and served on the heavy bombers in the 1940s.

Relive the story. Join the flight.

We graciously thank Tempest for helping to keep the B-17 flying. All the ticket proceeds support the Experimental Aircraft Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing The Spirit of Aviation with everyone. Our tour stops are hosted by volunteers who are passionate about sharing the B-17’s stories.

For any questions, or if you are interested in booking a full flight at a location, please contact Membership Services at 800-359-6217.

Revenues from the B-17 tour help cover maintenance and operations costs for the aircraft and aid our ambition to “keep ’em flying” for many years to come.

B-17 Experience Pricing
Ground Tour
2-5 p.m. (unless noted), weather permitting
$10: Individual Rate
$20: Family Rate: (adults/children up to 17)
Free: Children under 8 (with paying adult)
Free: Veterans / Active Military

Mission Flights
(weather permitting)
Advance
$409: EAA Members
$449: Nonmembers

Walk-Up
$435: EAA Members
$475: Nonmembers

B17 Flights
May 03 – May 05, 2019 | Rockford, IL United States

https://eaa.org/shop/Flights/B17.aspx

Flightaware




http://RickieTraeger.com



 

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Rockford Scanner™: 2 Military Chinook Helicopters Land At The Local National Guard Armory



Several sources are reporting 2 military Chinook helicopters were flying in the area this morning.

There were 2 military Chinook helicopters that were flying in the area.

At least one of them landed at the National Guard Armory in Machesney Park.

It is unknown why they were in the area.

Video by Matt & Phillip

The Chinook helicopters are used for mainly transporting troops and equipment. Chinook helicopter transports troops, artillery, supplies and equipment to the battlefield. Other applications include medical evacuation, aircraft recovery, parachute drop, search-and-rescue, disaster relief, firefighting and heavy construction

https://www.boeing.com/defense/ch-47-chinook/

The Machesney Park Armory is home to the following:

Special Troops Battalion, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
135th Chemical Company




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Rockford Scanner™: Felony Suspect Taken Into Custody With Assist of Drone



On 04-08-19 at approximately 8:27pm a Janesville officer responded to 303 S. Ringold to speak with Ryan Weaver regarding a retail theft incident. Unbeknownst to the officer, Weaver was wanted for a probation violation. Weaver exited the house through a back door of his home to avoid being taken into custody.

Officers set up a perimeter around the area and deployed the departments UAV/Drone to search for Weaver. The UAV picked up an unusual heat signature between a nearby house and shed. Officers responded to the location and found Weaver hiding. Weaver was taken into custody for the felony probation violation without incident and held at the Rock County Jail. Weaver is on probation for delivery of narcotics.

Arrested: Ryan C. Weaver 30yrs old
Charge: Probation Violation

Watch the drone video below
 




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Rockford Scanner™: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED For The Local Simulated Aircraft Disaster Drill



VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Simulated Aircraft Disaster Drill
Friday, April 26, 2019
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
All commercial service airports are required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a full-scale simulated disaster drill every three years.
RFD will be conducting a simulated aircraft disaster drill on Friday, April 26, 2019.
As part of the exercise, we need up to 100 volunteers to be “victims” of the disaster.  All volunteers will play a vital role in the drill.  We need victims of all ages (juveniles under the age of 16 must have parental consent and be accompanied by an adult).
All approved volunteers must be present at 7:00 a.m. that morning.
The RFD Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Unit, as well as area fire departments, ambulance services, and emergency management agencies will be participating in the drill.
Volunteers will be selected on a first come, first served basis.  Individual information needs to be submitted by Friday,. April 12.  Individuals will need to submit their full name, date of birth and contact information.  A background check is required to gain access to the secure area of the airport.  Once selected, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with details as to time, place, and other pertinent details.
If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the following form:

Click Here: VOLUNTEER FORM

We hope to see you there!

Source: Rockford Airport




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Rockford Scanner™: Plane Crashes Into The Illinois River, Still Developing



Sources are reporting a plane has crashed into the Illinois River near Morris Illinois today around 2 pm.

The pilot and passenger were located about 30 minutes later.  They were alive, but their conditions were not yet known.

The plane was reportedly upside-down in the river.

Still developing




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Rockford Scanner™: Rockford Dam Flood Video, Possible Dam Problems?



Local drone 107 pilot Dj Jkey took his drone up for a flight today to check out the Rockford Dam (Fordam Dam) in downtown Rockford.

He said he read online at http://www.brokendamrockford.com/ About how poor of the condition the dam was in and wanted to get drone footage to share with everybody.  (Scroll Down To Watch The Video) 

According to that website it shows several problems with the dam.
http://www.brokendamrockford.com/

Listed below are some of the current problems with the Dam:

  1. High and low water alarms have not worked for years
  2. The ability to automatically open and close the gates from Joliet has not worked for a decade. This mean that Com-Ed must send an Operator out to manually operate the gates as needed
  3. The Control Room at the Dam has press-on labels saying what to add or subtract from the digital displays to make the number match.
  4. Gate #1 (gate closest to the West bank) is no longer working. The gate would not stay up due to bad hydraulics and in the fall of 2016 Com-Ed brought in a Contractor to manually raise the gate ½ open. They also had to install chains to keep the gate in this position. During the Flood of 2017, this meant that 50% of the water this gate was meant to discharge was not possible. After the Flood event was past Gate #1 was passing excessive water causing low water condition and watercraft being damaged by increased amounts of Sand Bars.
  5. The spill way of the Dam has only been cleared of trees and debris once in the last 10 years. Debris was piled up so much that it was visible on Google Maps Satellite!
  6. Com-Ed is responsible for up keep and repairs to the Dam as long as they own it according to their permit.

The Rock River is a valuable natural resource to the Rockford region.  Towns such as Loves Park, Machesney Park, and Rockton enjoy the river’s beauty as well as recreation it provides.  This not only brings money into the region but also increases home values.  If the river heights are not managed in a good way, there are many results that hurts our community such as:

  • Flooded parks reduces revenue with cancelled sporting events
  • Lost hotel and restaurant revenue due to cancelled events
  • Relocation of families due to homes being flooded
  • Loss of property values with loss in tax revenue for cities and state
  • Health issues with floods affecting septic systems and farm lands with fertilizers
  • Debris in the river affecting boating, swimming, and docks
  • Damage to personal property causing increases in Insurance claims
  • and may more

We reached out to Com Ed for a statement and have yet to hear back from them. We will update this if they provide us with any information.

 




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Posted on

Rockford Scanner™: Another Amazing Video By Dj Jkey



Positive Local:  Local drone pilot and artist Dj Jkey sent us another amazing video of the Rockford area.  Check out this amazing drone footage he has shot from several well known locations.

Rockford highlight
music by DJ Manifesto
positive movement Rockford Scanner
#drone #dji #dronephotography #dronestagram #drones #photography #travel #aerialphotography #dronelife #droneoftheday #nature #mavicpro #fpv #mavicpro2 #dronefly #photooftheday #landscape #djiglobal #aerial #pro #djiphantom #phantom #gopro #sky #djimavicpro #instagood #djimavic #beach #sunset #bhfyp #rockfordscanner #rockfordil




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Rockford Scanner™: FAA Makes Major Drone ID Marking Change




Email your tips and photo to us at RockfordScanner@Gmail.com

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Do you a drone?  If so, you may want to read the following! 

FAA Makes Major Drone ID Marking Change

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) posted a rule in the Federal Register requiring small drone owners to display the FAA-issued registration number on an outside surface of the aircraft.

Owners and operators may no longer place or write registration numbers in an interior compartment.

The rule is effective on February 25.

The markings must be in place for any flight after that date.

When the FAA first required registration of small drones in 2015, the agency mandated that the registration marking be readily accessible and maintained in readable condition. The rule granted some flexibility by permitting the marking to be placed in an enclosed compartment, such as a battery case, if it could be accessed without the use of tools.

Subsequently, law enforcement officials and the FAA’s interagency security partners have expressed concerns about the risk a concealed explosive device might pose to first responders upon opening a compartment to find a drone’s registration number. The FAA believes this action will enhance safety and security by allowing a person to view the unique identifier directly without handling the drone.

This interim final rule does not change the original acceptable methods of external marking, nor does it specify a particular external surface on which the registration number must be placed. The requirement is that it can be seen upon visual inspection of the aircraft’s exterior.

The FAA has issued this requirement as an Interim Final Rule—a rule that takes effect while also inviting public comment. The FAA issues interim final rules when delaying implementation of the rule would be impractical, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. In this case, the agency has determined the importance of mitigating the risk to first responders outweighs the minimal inconvenience this change may impose on small drone owners, and justifies implementation without a prior public comment period.

The FAA will consider comments from the public on this Interim Final Rule, and will then review any submissions to determine if the provisions of the ultimate Final Rule should be changed. The 30-day comment period will end on March 15, 2019. To submit comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for “RIN 2120-AL32.”

As Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao promised last month, the FAA also posted proposed new rules to let drones fly routinely at night and over people, and to further integrate them safely into the nation’s airspace. The comment period for these proposals is now open and ends on April 15.




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Posted on

Rockford Scanner™: Emergency Landing at The Rockford Airport




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Sources are reporting a Boeing 737 made an emergency landing at the Rockford Airport around 11 am this morning.

It was experiencing mechanical issues a source told us.

Thankfully, It was able to land safely as many emergency personnel were on scene just in case.

We are not able to confirm it yet, but there was a Boeing 737 that did land at the Rockford Airport around the same time. It is registered to  Southern Air. (ATLAS AIR INC) Southern Air 362, SOO362 / 9S362 / N362GT

It appears it was circling the SE area of Iowa for awhile before making the emergency landing, possibly to burn off fuel so it could land.

The Rockford Airport has a 10,000 foot runway capable of handling any kind of aircraft for any situation.




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