Plane makes emergency landing on Highway 34

An airplane completing contracted aerial seeding for the Department of Transportation made an emergency landing Wednesday on Highway 34.

According to a report from the Jefferson County Sheriff?s Office, a plane from Air Advantage of Mount Pleasant was seeding along the new highway when the throttle linkage broke, and the pilot made an emergency landing shortly before 2 p.m. near Exit 210.

A mechanic from the Fairfield Municipal Airport made repairs, and the plane was able to take off from the highway.

Ingrid Teboe, field services coordinator for IDOT District 5, said the incident was nothing to cause alarm.

?It?s just one of those little things that happens,? she said.

The IDOT has hired aviation contractors to complete seeding this month along Highway 34 from just west of Filbert Avenue, east to Osage Road.

The IDOT has used seeding as a method of roadside erosion control for many years because of its cost-saving benefits, ability to cover vast areas and success rate. Seed is best applied in the late winter months so it will germinate in the spring.

Drivers should be aware of the following:

? Flights are conducted during calm periods with winds 10 miles per hour or less and during other suitable weather conditions.

? Ground crews supporting the airplanes will be in motor vehicles with amber lights parked along the roadside at the start and finish of each project area. The vehicles provide a visual, land-based marker to denote the boundaries of the project.

For the complete article, see the Thursday, March 5, 2009, Fairfield Ledger.