Got your resume at the ready? UPS has revealed that it will hire an additional 200 pilots to support the growth and expansion of its air transport business. This announcement brings the total number of UPS's new pilot hires to 300 when combined with the 100 new pilot hires the company announced in October 2004.

Accused Of Threatening To Crash Plane Into Wall Street

You know the old warning, "Be careful what you say -- it could come back to haunt you"? A case in point would be that of UAL Capt. Robert Feneziani, who's been booked on charges of threatening to fly his plane into New York's financial district.

Thirty E-model C-130 Hercules were grounded Feb. 10, and 60 other models including some E, H, H1 and HC-130P/N were placed on restricted flight status. Gen. John W. Handy, commander of Air Mobility Command, directed the grounding and restricted flight status to minimize wing stress and increase the safety margin.

More than 4,000 Now Armed Flight Deck Officers

Although less than two years old, the Federal Flight Deck Officers Program, which arms cockpit crew members in hopes of providing commercial flights with a last-ditch protection system, has grown to become the nation's fourth-largest law enforcement organization. And to hear it told in Washington, the program is much more of a success than even the TSA's air marshal operation.

Wichita Has A Well-Funded Retraining Program -- But Few Students

Right after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on 9/11, the one US city with more aerospace workers per square mile than just about any other saw the future. Wichita, KS, and surrounding Sedgewick County rushed into place a worker-retraining program for aerospace workers who were to be laid off in the wake of those attacks. Both the city and the county dumped $200,000 into the program. To date only ten students have obtained their objective in becoming licensed Airframe and Powerplant mechanics.

A Little Valentine From Klyde, For The TSA... With Love

Well, THAT Didn't Take Long! 

The wing-mate of the Citation Mustang is the latest in a long list of program milestones to be accomplished. On February 3, 2005, at 0830 (CST), Cessna team members mated the wing to the fuselage of the Citation Mustang prototype. The entire process took less than 20 minutes.

Wiblin Wonders If Auto-Pilot Time Should Count

by Gary Wiblin, Editor, International Aviation & Safety Forum I recently spent some time having lunch with an airline pilot friend of mine and the topic of flying hours logged came up. It was during our conversation that I began to question the system of logging flight hours we are subject to.

Victim In Critical Condition After Surgery

A woman in Lebanon, TN, is in critical condition after she apparently walked into a spinning propeller Friday night. The woman, whose name wasn't released by authorities, was severely injured on her right arm, side and pelvis.

Setting Agenda For NATA's Year Ahead

The National Air Transportation Association's (NATA) Airline Services Council (ASC) met in Washington, DC, last week, focused on strategic business issues and Airport Operating Area (AOA) safety and security. This gathering of ASC members was of particular importance because participants set the 2005 agenda of key issues and initiatives for the council and supporting NATA staff.

USAF Aging, But Still More Than Capable, Says General

Today's Air Force is a deployed force, the service chief of staff told the Senate Armed Services Committee Feb. 10. Gen. John Jumper told the committee that the Air Force has 30,000 airmen deployed around the world.

New Spanish-Language Web Site Debuts

In an effort to better serve the public, the National Transportation Safety Board's website now provides Spanish language information about the Safety Board, as well as information about the Board's products and services. "Making this information available in Spanish directly delivers the Safety Board's message to more people so that more lives will be saved," said NTSB Chairman Ellen Engleman Conners.

Air Charter Continues to Show Strong Growth

CharterX will announce at the National Business Aviation Association Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Reno, Nevada, that ten additional companies have joined the single largest air charter marketplace. The industry continues to embrace the web as the new communication medium for the collection and distribution of charter aircraft information.

Here's What The Business Folks Are Up To This Year

The NBAA is out with a calendar of events for the rest of 2005, including the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, the world's largest civil aviation trade show; international exhibitions in Europe, Latin America and Asia; several Business Aviation Regional Forums a year, in cities around the country; and a comprehensive program of seminars for flight department personnel and others involved in business aviation operations.

Huge Rocket Flies Fine, Two Years After Disaster

Arianespace's Ariane 5 lifted off without a hitch from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana Saturday, boosting into space a US-Spanish satellite and an ESA microsatellite. But it was much more than a routine space mission. For the Ariane V, it was a return to credibility.

Generosity Extends Beyond Immediate Crisis

AOPA members continue their work to fund relief efforts in tsunami-ravaged Southeast Asia. AOPA and AOPA members have donated more than $115,000 to Air Serv International, a non-governmental humanitarian organization (NGO) that uses GA aircraft to provide logistical support to other NGOs and relief agencies.

To Repair Bearings For General Electric CF34-3 Engine

Timken Aerospace has been named by Cincinnati-based GE Transportation Aircraft Engines as an approved source for the licensed repair of bearings for the CF34 aircraft engine.

Airline Operations to Commence

Viva International says it has executed an acquisition agreement with Cool Tours dba San Juan Aviation), a Part 135 air carrier in San Juan, Puerto Rico, through Eastern Caribbean Airlines Corporation, a newly formed Puerto Rican subsidiary of Viva International.

For Sale: Cessna 172 Skyhawk, Fixed Gear 

1956 Cessna 172, NDH, 3300 SN, 320 SMOH, S-Tec 30 A/P with altitude hold, IFR. Photos at http://www.n5800a.com  Exterior Quality: 7, Interior Quality: 7 Used, will sell for $37,500.00 (or best offer)

Retail Value: $630 Million

India's SpiceJet last week placed a firm order for ten Boeing 737-800s, valued at $630 million at list prices, and has options for ten more. First delivery is scheduled for 2006.

"While spin training is required to earn a flight instructor rating, the quality and depth of that training can vary widely. Safety, however, demands that flight instructors be thoroughly competent and current in these procedures, because an instructor's ability to impart this knowledge and skill creates better pilots who can handle such situations. NAFI is happy to assist with this effort to gauge training levels and enhance aviation safety and proficiency." Source: NAFI Executive Director Rusty Sachs, after NAFI joined with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to coordinate a major safety study regarding flight instructor experience and opinions on aircraft spin training.