The pilot was of Armenian descent, according to The Armenian Report, a Facebook page for English-language news in that community, and news of his death brought an outpouring from across Los Angeles.
Who is Ara Zobayan?
Ara Zobayan of Huntington Beach the pilot of the helicopter that crashed in Calabasas on Sunday, killing nine people, including Zobayan and retired Lakers star Kobe Bryant was an experienced flier and a certified flight instructor with more than 8,000 hours of flight time, sources said this week.
Why did Ara Zobayan fly?
The NTSB primarily blamed Zobayan for a series of poor decisions that led him to fly blindly into a wall of clouds where he became so disoriented he thought he was climbing when the craft was plunging toward a Southern California hillside.
How old is Ara Zobayan?
50 Zobayan, 50, died Jan. 26 when his helicopter plunged at high speed into a hillside in Calabasas, northwest of Los Angeles. Zobayan had been trying to climb above a cloud layer when the aircraft banked left and plunged 1,200 feet (366 meters) at high speed.
How long has ARA Zobayan been a pilot?
In 2001, he became a private pilot; in 2007, he got his commercial pilot’s license; and in 2008, he got certified to be a ground instructor, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said. Past Facebook posts from Group 3 Aviation show that Zobayan taught many trainees to become pilots.
Did Ara Zobayan have an instrument rating?
Though the chopper carried IFR-approved instruments, the company did not have certification for their use and Zobayan, who was properly rated, likely had little real-world IFR experience, Kurt Deetz, a former pilot for the company who flew Bryant for two years, told Forbes.
What company did Ara Zobayan work for?
Zobayan, 50, was the chief pilot for Island Express, where he had worked for ten years, according to a statement on the company’s website, and had 8,200 hours of flight time as of July. An instrument flight instructor as well, he reportedly flew Bryant regularly and Deetz says he knew the area well.
Did Kobe pressure his pilot?
KOBE Bryant’s helicopter pilot would have felt under pressure to get him to his destination because he was so famous, crash investigators said. … National Transportation Safety Board experts said the pilot fell into a deadly trap when he flew into cloud and became so disoriented he did not know which way was up.
Who is Christina Mauser husband?
Matt Mauser Matt Mauser, the widower of Christina Mauser, a basketball coach who died in the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and six other people, gave a memorable and moving audition on Tuesday night’s episode of America’s Got Talent.
What happened Altobelli family?
It was another heartbreaking part of the story – legendary Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa – all dying in the helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant. As details have emerged in the past year, John’s younger brother Tony has shut it out.
What can cause spatial disorientation?
Conditions that make spatial disorientation more likely include instrument flight conditions, night vision goggle flights, unaided night flight, and excessive-G flight. But spatial disorientation can occur during any type of flight.
How much is Kobe Bryant net worth?
Kobe Bryant died January 26, 2020 at age 41 in a helicopter crash, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and 7 other passengers. His net worth at the time of his death was an estimated $600 million.
Was Kobe Bryant at fault for the crash?
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined Tuesday that the pilot on the fateful helicopter trip that killed Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was to blame for the crash in January 2020.
Was Kobe pilot IFR rated?
The helicopter’s pilot, Ara Zobayan, was licensed for instrument flying, but likely had little experience in doing so given the company’s operating limitations, Deetz told Forbes separately. The twin-engine helicopter slammed into a hillside in Calabasas, California, with clouds and fog limiting visibility.
Can you file IFR if you’re not current?
If you’re not current, you can’t legally accept a clearance. IMC or VMC doesn’t matter, a clearance is a clearance. If you intend to do hood work under VFR, there’s no need to file IFR.
Which is easier flying a plane or helicopter?
Overall, flying an airplane is much easier than flying a helicopter, particularly for beginners, and there are a few reasons why. … While landing and take-off require a lot of practice and are done manually, autopilot makes the act of flying from destination to destination fairly easy.
