Mesaba Airlines and the ALPA say they've reached an 11th hour agreement on a new contract for the airline's 844 pilots. ALPA and Mesaba have been negotiating since June 2001. "We look forward to continuing a good working relationship with our pilots and ALPA," said John Spanjers, president of Mesaba Aviation. "This deal reflects the professionalism and contributions of our pilots and how important they are to the success of our airline."

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is launching the next century of flight during EAA AirVenture 2004, which will be held July 27-August 2 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh (WI). The 52nd annual EAA gathering, which draws more than 10,000 airplanes and attendance in excess of 750,000 each year, will pay special attention to the what lies ahead for the world of flight, along with recognizing the legacy that has been built by a century of aviation.

As Expedition 8 Commander Mike Foale celebrated his 47th birthday on aboard the International Space Station Wednesday and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri observed the Russian Orthodox Christmas, they both concentrated on troubleshooting a small decay in the Station cabin’s atmospheric pressure. The pressure decay poses no threat to the crew's safety or to the continued operation of the Station and its systems, but Russian and US engineers are conducting a thorough investigation of the decrease, which appears to have begun about Dec. 22. The decline occurs at a rate so small, only a few hundredths of a pound per square inch (psi) of pressure per day, that it is difficult to detect.

Ultralight manufacturer North Wing Design has changed its product pricing to include BRS parachutes with each aircraft. "We're doing this for two reasons," said North Wing president, Kamron Blevins. "First, we think it's the right thing to do for our customer's safety. Secondly, we see a business opportunity. These parachute systems are popular and their sale adds to our income. It's important to stay healthy financially." He says that even the saving of one life is worthwhile. He personally knows of which he speaks.

George "Poppy" Bush is no stranger to skydiving. In fact, he made his first jump in 1944 at the tender age of 20. He called it a "non-elective" jump, after his Navy torpedo plane was shot out from under him by groundfire as he was flying operations in support of US troops on the Japanese-held island of ChiChi Jima in the Pacific. Speaking at dedication ceremonies for the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola (FL) over the weekend, Bush told the audience he's jumped twice since then -- in 1997 and on his 75th birthday in 1999. Now, the former president plans to jump out of a perfectly good airplane once again -- this year, for his 80th birthday.

Klyde Gets Right To The Point

Two Dead -- Cause Unknown Numerous media reports have trumpeted the tragedy that has befallen two men who were killed after their "ultralight" aircraft went down near the Hollister Municipal Airport (CA) Thursday. Authorities said William Dieck, 60, of San Jose, and James Riley, 77, of Saratoga, were killed instantly. Mind you, there is no, technically, such thing as a two seat ultralight... only two-seat vehicles that have been waivered/allowed to operate under expanded regs for the purposes of ultralight training and familiarization... but asking anyone in the general media to do such homework is probably way too much to hope for. For the record, as defined by FAR Part 103, an ultralight is a SINGLE occupant vehicle... or more specifica

US Airways flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants, CWA/AFL-CIO, has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania to prevent airline management from executing what it says is an illegal process in the involuntary furlough of 552 flight attendants. "The jobs and livelihoods of people are at stake," said AFA US Airways Master Executive Council President Perry Hayes. "AFA will fight with all legal means necessary to protect the US Airways flight attendants from this kind of blatant disregard for our contract and rights."

Leaders of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) got together Sunday in Cedar Rapids (IA) to kickoff a week of events aimed at making job creation the pivotal issue in the upcoming Iowa caucus. Speakers included: Tom Buffenbarger, IAM International President (right); James E. Brown, IAM General Vice President - Midwest Territory; Joe Ironside, IAM District 6 Business Representative; Jerry Nowadzky, IAM District 6 President and Ron Hunt, Teamster Local 238 Business Agent.

An American Eagle commuter flight from LaGuardia (NY) to Reagan International (DC) was diverted to Washington Dulles International (VA) Saturday, after an a passenger reportedly passed a note to a flight attendant, saying there was a bomb on board. Authorities said the passenger demanded the aircraft be flown to Atlanta (GA). Flight 4959, an Embraer 135 (file photo of type and livery, right) carrying 19 passengers and a crew of five, parked away from the terminals at Dulles. Passengers and luggage were searched by security officials and bomb-sniffing dogs before officials declared there was no bomb.

Two servicemen missing in action from the Vietnam War have been identified and returned to their families for burial. They are Navy Lt. (jg) Robert A. Clark of North Hollywood (CA), and another officer whose name will not be released at the request of his family.

At the intersection of politics and aviation safety, the British government says it will name names of airlines banned from landing in or overflying the UK and other European countries. Sort of. British Transportation Secretary Alistair Darling made that promise to an opposition party member in Parliament after MP David Wilshire asked for the revelation. "If a government bans an airline from its airspace it has to have a good reason. And we have a right to know whether it is sensible to get on an aircraft," Wilshire told the BBC.

Arotech Corporation says it's entered into a definitive agreement to acquire FAAC, a privately-owned corporation with headquarters located in Ann Arbor (MI). For more than 30 years, FAAC has provided simulators, systems engineering and software products to the United States military, government and private industry. This acquisition will significantly expand Arotech's simulation business into the military arena. The closing of this transaction is expected to take place next week. FAAC management will stay with the company and will continue to manage FAAC as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arotech.

The Department of Homeland Security, in partnership with other federal agencies, is taking an aggressive approach to counter the threat of shoulder-fired missiles to civilian commercial aviation. Homeland Security's Science and Technology division is leading the technology aspects of the effort through its Counter-MAN Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) Special Program Office. The MANPADS office will help determine the viability, economic costs and effectiveness of adapting existing technology from military to commercial aviation use. Following an aggressive 18-24 month analysis, prototype demonstration and testing phase, Homeland Security will provide the Administration and Congress with a recommendation for the most viable solution to defend against shoulder-fired missiles.

Sea Launch Company successfully deployed Loral's Telstar 14/Estrela do Sul 1 communications satellite into orbit tonight. All systems aboard the Space Systems/Loral 1300- series spacecraft are reported in excellent condition. The Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket lifted off at 8:13 pm PDT from the Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned at 154 degrees West Longitude, on the Equator. All systems performed nominally throughout the flight. The Block DM-SL upper stage inserted the 4,694 kg (10,350 lb) spacecraft into a high perigee geosynchronous transfer orbit right on target. As planned, a ground station in Western Australia received the spacecraft's first signal, shortly after spacecraft separation. The spacecraft's final orbital position will be 63 degrees West Longitude.

VIP Travel TFR NOTAM:  4/0214  Issued:  01/09/2004 15:13  Effective:  01/12/2004 20:55 - 01/13/2004 16:45  State:  CO  Facility:  ZDV - DENVER (ARTCC),CO.  Type:  VIP  Description:  DENVER, COLORADO, JANUARY 12-13, 2004 LOCAL. 

VIP Travel TFR NOTAM:  4/0216  Issued:  01/09/2004 15:23  Effective:  01/13/2004 18:40 - 01/13/2004 23:30  State:  WA  Facility:  ZSE - SEATTLE (ARTCC),AUBURN,WA.  Type:  VIP  Description:  SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, JANUARY 13, 2004 LOCAL. 

"I've never understood that if you get shot down why that makes you a hero. I mean, the guys that didn't are the fellows who were doing the good flying." Source: George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the US, speaking at a fundraiser for the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola (FL). Bush, who was shot down during WWII, bailed out and was subsequently rescued by an American submarine on Lifeguard duty, plans to make his third parachute jump later this year in celebration of his 80th birthday.

A public/private consortium in Ohio has received a $3 million grant from the Clean Ohio Fund to demolish the original home of Aeronca in hopes of making the 18-acre site a flashpoint for economic development. The Dayton Business Journal reports city officials in Middletown (OH) are working with Aeronca to rehabilitate the site at Hook Field. "We want to see this airport become an economic development amenity," said Larry Wood, director of the Middletown Economic Development Corp. "Is it going to be like Dayton International or Cincinnati? No. We're going to be a destination and home for the corporate jet community and other aviation-related businesses."