While most schools in the Big 12 say they would like to use commercial aircrafts, the small size of the towns where the universities are located often makes smaller aircraft flight a way of life. OSU, in a response to the accident, is pledging to re-examine its policies in the same manner. It is not yet known how Oklahoma State athletes will travel for the rest of the season.
“We will do a complete review of our policies and re-evaluate the standards of safety that have to be a part of any activity such as this,” Harry Birdwell, OSU vice president for business and external relations, said during a Sunday press conference.
OSU, which plays its next road game Feb. 7 against Nebraska, may not have an easy time convincing players to travel in an aircraft, let alone a small plane.
“It’s going to be awhile before any one of us want to get on a smaller plane, I think,” said Andre Williams, Cowboys basketball player.
OSU head Coach Eddie Sutton said he will try to accommodate any strong feelings players might have against flying in small planes.
“If our players do feel that strongly, then that is what we’ll have to do,” he said.
But Sutton promised to return to the air, even in a plane the same size as the one involved in Saturday’s tragedy.
“I’ve flown thousands and thousands and thousands of miles in King Airs,” he said. “Anybody that knows airplanes knows that King Airs are probably the safest planes you can get in. Much safer than a jet, assuming the plane is in good shape.”
One school, the University of Colorado, has already decided to use commercial air travel for the remainder of the season, until meetings concerning air travel can be completed.
Colorado, which has road games left against Nebraska, Kansas State, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, will open meetings with representatives from their chartering company to “discuss any and all options,” according to a press release from the university.
Until the meetings can occur, the men and women’s basketball teams will utilize commercial flights, as long as seats on airlines out of Denver International Airport to other Big 12 cities can be secured.
“The fact that the OSU crash was unnerving to most of our student-athletes is the main reason for the switch at this time,” said John Meadows, CU senior associate athletic director. “It is not meant as a knee-jerk reaction to what has happened or as reflection of the service or safety we’ve received from our charter airline. There has been every indication that commercial airlines and our charter server adhere to identical safety criteria, and no foundation to believe that one is safer than the other.”
Meadows said the decision was made after meeting with both men’s and women’s coaches.
“It’s not about safety,” he said. “Just what makes them feel more comfortable at the present time.”
But despite being located in Austin, Texas, the Big 12’s largest city, the University of Texas basketball team often uses smaller planes similar to the plane involved in Saturday’s accident. Texas A&M and Texas Tech also use similar arrangements.
“Basically, we charter the same kind of plane that went down,” said University of Texas assistant athletic director for media relations, alluding to the Beechcraft King Air 200.
Little said he is confident in Texas’ use of smaller planes because the planes are rented from in-state owners.
“Here in Austin, we are real fortunate,” he said. “We have the state pool of aircraft right here. Because we are a state agency, we can rent those and we are really confident in that system. The state pooling board does a real good job of keeping the planes in good con
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