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It has been a year since the crash of a SAN-100 helicopter into the Banana Price department store on Via España in Calidonia. The store burned and 11 passengers of the helicopter died. The crash report just came out blaming engine failure and pilot error. In the meantime the Panama National Air Service has received funding of $25 million for new helicopters and for repairs of the existing fleet.

According to the crash report by manufacturer Pratt and Whitney the crash was caused by engine failure compounded by pilot error. It turns out that the crash was due to the breakage of a compressor blade in the motor and the pilot did not react with the correct emergency procedure.

What comes in secondarily on the report is a host of maintenance issues. The compressor blade had not been installed according to the service manual. There are also other maintenance items on the report including fuel injection nozzels not standard for the aircraft.

The use of non-recommended parts is a growing problem in the aircraft industry where users will purchase a cheaper part with all of the same specs except strength of metal or correct tolerances. Also the report of incorrect installation speaks to training of aircraft mechanics.

Since last year the National Air Service has received monies for purchase of new helicopters and $10,000,000 for the repair of five helicopters. Of this later sum less than half has been used.

It turns out that last year only seven, or a third, of the National Air Service aircraft were in working order and currently only six. There are two new helicopters since last year.

Investment in Panama has, by in large, upgraded infrastructure to first world levels. It would appear that the National Air Service has been lagging behind in that upgrade. Buying new equipment does not help if you do not invest in the people and their training to maintain what you have and to constantly upgrade pilot training.

One would hope that with an upswing in the economy, more investment dollars and higher real estate values in Panama that some of that money will go to adequate supervision as well as funding of the National Air Service.

In the last year the Banana Price store was the first large Calidonia department store to burn down. The second was Oca Loca (The Crazy Goose). Banana Price is rebuilding as, we expect will Oca Loca. The stretch of Via España where the crash happened and the later fire at Oca Loca is a very popular shopping area.

Locals will joke that everyone dresses up to go to the mall and when they have found what they want they put on jeans and head for Calidonia where they buy it.

The rapid rebuilding of the Banana Price store is a testimony to Panama’s thriving economy. In a poor economy both storeowners could have collected their insurance and walked away. However, Panamanians have money to spend and the stores will be rebuilt to help them with this task.