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E-mail StoryMojave airport to review policies after fatal blast
| Wednesday, Aug 8 2007 8:40 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Aug 8 2007 8:44 PM
A consulting firm is reviewing policies at Mojave Air & Space Port after an explosion there killed three people last month.
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The airport has hired Advance Survey Design, LLC, to assess the airport's plans when tenants conduct hazardous tests and its procedures when an incident happens, airport spokesman Tom Weil said Wednesday.
"It's good at times to have outside eyes," Weil said. The airport is paying $40,000 for the firm's work.
A three-member team from Advance Survey Design is scheduled to give a final report at the end of August, Weil said.
On July 26, employees of Scaled Composites were injured when an explosion happened during a propellant test of nitrous oxide.
Scaled Composites, which constructed SpaceShipOne, was conducting a test for a spacecraft.
Eric Blackwell, 38, of Randsburg; Charles May, 45, of Mojave; and Todd Ivens, 33, of Tehachapi died from the blast.
Three people were injured.
Keith Fritsinger was taken to a hospital in Los Angeles and Jason Kramb was released from a hospital.
Gene Gisin is in fair condition at Kern Medical Center, according to hospital staff.
OSHA officials are investigating the explosion.
Ivens' funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Oregon. Blackwell's funeral will take place the same day in Ridgecrest.