Pole Crossing Delayed By Mechanical Problems
Thursday was set to be the first day of a new
bone-chilling adventure for Dr. Gustavus McLeod. Unfortunately, he
was forced to return back to Florida due to some nagging aircraft
problems. McLeod was 30 miles south of Cuba on the way to Panama
for the first leg of a long, challenging attempt to fly solo over
both the North and South Poles in a single-engine plane when the
mechanical gremlins awoke.
McLeod, 49, was flying a modified Velocity SportPlane called the
Firefly, when he noticed a series of abnormal electrical and oil
pressure indications on the aircraft's instrument panel. Right
away, he decided to contact the folks at Velocity for some
technical guidance.
Duane Swing, owner of Velocity Inc., told A
ANN was pleased to be in attendance when AOPA recognized one of
the figureheads from one of the most successful and positive
GA victories of 2003. AOPA President Phil Boyer honored Jack
Tunstill, the AOPA Airport Support Network (ASN) volunteer for St.
Petersburg, Fla.'s Albert Whitted Airport, at a surprise dinner
Thursday night. Tunstill was the driving force locally behind the
triumphant effort to save the bayside airport, working in close
coordination with AOPA's Airports department.
"Jack epitomizes the ASN volunteer," said Boyer. "He spoke out in
strong defense of Albert Whitted in the face of apparently
overwhelming odds. He worked to coordinate the efforts of two
airport support groups — the Airport Advisory Council and the
Albert Whitted Airport Preservation So
The Long Beach Fuel Consortium broke ground and began
construction of the long awaited fuel storage upgrade project at
Long Beach airport (LGB). In addition to solving a fuel supply
issue this state of the art 200,000 gallon fuel storage facility
was designed with convenience safety performance and the
environment in mind.
"This facility will provide airlines a greater level of comfort due
to the increased storage capacity at the airport." says Glenn Ray
Managing Partner of the Consortium and President of Million Air
Long Beach.
The new facility is designed with a Foam Fire Suppressant System
which is unique to the airport. The entire footprint is enveloped
with a perimeter fence providing added security. This new
infrastructure has been designed to cater to the air carriers
Looking back on the last twelve months, it all seems like a
whirlwind to some but Extra Aircraft LLC see it this buzz of
activity as a very positive sign. According to Ken Keith, CEO and
owner of the new company, the first year of his operation was
filled with business success, customer satisfaction and several new
aircraft orders.
"Extra had seen its share of troubled times, believe me," Keith
added. "But our new team was committed to making 2003 a terrific
year for the new Extra Aircraft, and that's exactly how we're
seeing our first year conclude."
In addition to creating an all new US-owned management team and
company infrastructure -- an admirable feat in itself in only a few
months time -- Extra Aircraft brought its all new
AIR, Inc. has released total year airline pilot hiring numbers
for 2003 this month in its 2004 Airline Pilot Hiring Forecast,
attached. The forecast reflects the history of U.S. pilot hiring
from 1996 through 2004E, organized by different career categories:
major, national, jet regional, non-jet regional, upstart, and
training. According to its forecast, AIR, Inc. estimates up to
6,500 new airline pilot positions for 2004.
“The straight math average for the last 12 months predicts
4,300 new pilot positions for 2004, which should go higher
depending on the domestic and international economies, and two
other main forces, pilot retirement, and airline growth,”
said Kit Darby, President of AIR, Inc. “In the final
analysis, the actual numbers for airline pilot hiring
After all the hoopla with the Spirit Mars rover's landing and
first exploration of the red planet, recent news about some
communication problems may put a damper on NASA's starry mood.
The Spirit rover has stopped transmitting data from Mars, NASA
mission controllers said Thursday, but there were signs it is still
operating at a basic level. Flight-team engineers for NASA's Mars
Exploration Rover Mission were encouraged Thursday morning when
Spirit sent a simple radio signal acknowledging that the rover had
received a transmission from Earth. However, the team is still
trying to diagnose the cause of earlier communications difficulties
that have prevented any data being returned from Spirit since early
Wednesday.
Last week, President Bush launched a new, aggressive space
initiative. This week, NASA's new budget has been beefed-up in
order to accomplish this lofty goal. In more specific terms, the
agency's proposed budget for fiscal 2005 will be $16.2 billion, a
5.6 percent increase meant to jump-start President Bush's plan for
missions to the moon and Mars.
NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe said his agency was well-placed
to begin the ambitious space exploration program, even with the
shuttle fleet grounded since the Feb. 1 Columbia disaster and no
clear indication for when the shuttle fleet will resume flight.
"In many ways, we're probably better positioned right now than
we might have been otherwise," O'Keefe told r
F light Options, LLC will soon begin training all of the
company's pilots at CAE SimuFlite's Dallas- Fort Worth center
thanks to an agreement announced on Tuesday. The exclusive
three-year agreement, with an option for two more years, is the
single largest ever for CAE SimuFlite.
The three-year deal, which becomes fully effective in February,
is valued at approximately US$28 million (C$35 million). If
exercised, the additional two-year contract option could bring the
value to US$48 million (C$61 million) over five years.
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Flight Options, LLC is the world's
fastest growing fractional provider and employs over 1300
professionals nationwide. Flight Options offers fractional shares
and leases in i
Delta AirElite Business Jets announced on Wednesday it has added
a new Citation X business jet to its operating certificate. The
aircraft, which is based at the San Jose (CA)International Airport,
joins Delta AirElite's fleet through a charter management
agreement.
The company says charter management agreements allow it to
increase aircraft availability without large capital commitments
and to offer on-demand charter service on a broad base of
high-quality, well-maintained corporate jets.
The eight-seat, 3,300nm Citation X joins Delta AirElite Business
Jets' diverse fleet, including Bombardier Challenger, Learjet,
Gulfstream and Cessna Aircraft. The company claims it has over 400
business jets positioned throughout the United States.
History rolled into Bell Helicopter's Flight Research Center at
Arlington Municipal Airport on Thursday when a tractor trailer
loaded with ancient aircraft parts and pieces was eagerly greeted
by Bell employees and retirees. The precious cargo contained
the parts of the Bell XV-3, the world's first successful tiltrotor
aircraft.
Over the next two years, Bell employees and volunteers will
restore the aircraft to museum quality display condition. Bell
Helicopter will keep the XV-3 in Fort Worth, until 2008, when the
historic plane goes on permanent display at the U.S. Air Force
Museum, Wright-Patterson A.F.B.,(OH). Bell officials pointed out
while the XV-3 will never fly again; it remains an important part
of Americ
It sure pays to be an EAA member these days, as one lucky
homebuilder recently found out. James "Jim" Ross, Citra, Florida,
is the lucky winner of a complete Sonex Kit and builder's package
in EAA's 2003 Membership Sweepstakes. His name was randomly drawn
from over 150,000 entries on Thursday, January 15 and publicly
announced on January 21. In a few weeks, he'll receive the kit,
provided by Sonex Ltd., along with instrumentation and accessories,
from Aircraft Spruce & Specialty.
Jim was on the golf course when EAA President Tom Poberezny
called with the good news on January 20. "I didn't believe Linda
(his wife of 45 years) that the president of EAA had called until I
saw EAA on the caller ID," he chuckled. "So I called Tom back, of
co
Woodbury Univ. "Test Flying the World's Fastest Airplanes"
Program
Famed test pilot Bob Gilliland will share recollections of his
high-flying career and take questions from the audience during a
Sunday, February 8 event at Woodbury University in Burbank,
(CA).
"Test Flying the World's Fastest Airplanes" will be held Sunday,
February 8 at Woodbury University, 7500 Glenoaks Boulevard,
Burbank. A cocktail and buffet reception will begin at 6 p.m., with
a discussion and video presentation by Gilliland beginning at 7
p.m. Cost is $50 per person for the entire evening or $25 per
person for the program only. Proceeds benefit Woodbury University's
Library Associates, a volunteer organization dedicated to improving
library services.
Gilliland has logged more experimenta
Raytheon Wins Contract For Air Traffic Management
Systems
On Wednesday, Raytheon Company announced it was awarded a
contract to supply turnkey air traffic management systems for
airports in Iraq. The initial award is for $10.5 million, with
additional equipment options of up to $38.9 million.
Work under this contract will restore full, all weather air traffic
control capability to the key commercial airports in Iraq and
reestablish the infrastructure needed in order for Iraq to rejoin
the international air traffic community. Raytheon will supply
state-of-the-art navigation and landing aids, airfield lighting,
airport meteorological equipment, as well its latest field-proven
all solid-state, digital terminal area surveillance radars and
Rayt
Union Questions Airline's Attempt to Cut Retiree Health
Benefits
Just as the concessionary contract agreed to by United Airlines
management last spring finally arrived in the offices of the
carrier's flight attendant union, the Association of Flight
Attendants alleges United management announced its intent to
illegally cut retiree health benefits and raise retiree out of
pocket costs, raising legal issues significant enough to jeopardize
the signing of the concessionary agreement by union President
Patricia Friend.
Attorneys for the flight attendants say United management's
deceitful actions call into question the product and validity of
the concessionary negotiations. AFA is considering a number of
legal actions in addition to not signing the contract, including:
aski
A Saudi F-15 fighter-jet crashed into an air force base in the
eastern part of this Middle Eastern country.The crash took place
during a routine training flight in the Eastern Province on
Wednesday. Various reports indicated the pilot and
navigator were killed when the jet crashed into a
building at the military base. An Egyptian national employed
in the building's cafeteria was also killed in the crash. News
reports indicated 500 air force cadets were on a base tour when the
F-15 impacted the structure.
Witness reports claim the aircraft crashed moments after
takeoff. Saudi Arabia has about 150 F-15s, including the advanced
F-15S procured in 1995 from the United States.
Alteon Training has received Australian CASA CAR-30
certification for its Boeing 737-700/800 Licensed Aircraft
Maintenance Engineer (AME/LAME) training in its Brisbane Training
Centre in Queensland, Australia.
"We are happy to receive this certification. CAR-30 is a testament
to our rigorous quality system that ensures effective training
solutions," said Bill Gardner, Regional Vice President for
Asia-Pacific. "We are delighted to offer technically excellent
maintenance training solutions closer to our customers' base of
operations."
Alteon is offering full academics type-rating courses in Avionics,
Engine, and Airframe for the 737-700/800 models utilizing desktop
simulation and the latest generation of computer-based training.
These courses are in addition to 737-700/800 fli
"In many ways, we're probably better
positioned right now than we might have been otherwise. The
accident really, really shook the foundation of this agency ...
That's the perfect time, in many ways, in which to look at new
directions."
Source: NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe
commenting on the space agency's latest plan for the space shuttle
fleet's return to flight.
Christen Eagle II Project (File Photo, Below) 800 TT IO-360
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