Western Hemisphere Nations Increases Airspace Capacity at High Altitudes

The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is going ahead with a doubling of high-altitude airspace routes between 29,000 feet and 41,000 feet, an action that will give pilots and air traffic controllers additional choices by allowing aircraft to fly more direct routes at the most fuel-efficient altitudes. The change, which will be invisible to passengers, will save time and money for airlines and travelers alike.

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Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, chairman of the X Prize Foundation, will be the keynote speaker during Opening Ceremonies at the Aircraft Electronics Association’s (AEA) 48th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Dallas, Texas April 27-30, 2005. Diamandis, who founded the X Prize and co-founded Space Adventures, also serves as the Chairman of Zero Gravity Corp., a commercial space company developing private, FAA-certified parabolic flight utilizing Boeing 727-200 aircraft.

Hardware And Software Problems Abound

The Lockheed-Martin C-130J, already on the Pentagon's chopping block because of budget cuts, is still having hardware and software problems that, in the opinion of some evaluators in Washington, render it combat ineffective.

Governor Jeb Bush has announced the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority has been awarded an Economic Development Transportation Fund "Road Fund" grant of up to $140,000 to pay for infrastructure improvements at the Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville. Lending to the creation of 25 new high-wage jobs, the Road Fund project will foster the location of Aircraft Engine Services Inc (AES).

Early Returns Show Yes Vote To $269 Million In Annual Cuts

US Airways unionized baggage handlers and aircraft mechanics appear to have approved yet another wage and benefit concession deal, this one worth $269 million, in an attempt to keep the bankrupt airline out of the hands of liquidators.

Aircraft Lessor Reportedly Eyeing Purchase Of 20 Dreamliners

This is the kind of thing that makes Boeing salesman dance and sing: The world's biggest lessor of commercial aircraft, International Lease Finance Corporation, is reportedly contemplating the purchase of 20 7E7 Dreamliners, according to ILFC's chairman.

And The Weather Appears To Be Perfect

The annual EAA Skiplane Fly-In is this Saturday, January 22, from 0830 - 1600, at EAA's Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh, WI. If there is enough snow on the ground -- and the latest recent forecast calls for snow this week -- skiplanes will be invited to fly in. In past years, more than 25 skiplanes landed at Pioneer Airport to participate in the event, showcasing this unique segment of flight that is quite popular throughout many parts of North America.

Aerokopter Offers New Helicopter At Great Price

By ANN Senior Correspondent Kevin "Hognose" O'Brien Hey, I know that copter! It's a Schweitzer... the old Hughes 269. Or is it? But wait... it looks like one... but is that a Subaru engine...?

USAF Reportedly Plans Ops In "Near Space" This Year

The US Air Force is reportedly planning operations in "near space" -- altitudes above 65,000 feet -- that would include protecting convoys, discerning between good guys and bad, and boosting communications between the battlefield and the commanders managing it.

ESA Promises Much More New Information

One week after the successful completion of Huygens’ mission to the atmosphere and surface of Titan, the largest and most mysterious moon of Saturn, the European Space Agency is bringing together some of the probe’s scientists to present and discuss the first results obtained from the data collected by the instruments.

O'Keefe: Descent "Appeared To Be Perfect"

NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe Wednesday offered congratulations to the European Space Agency (ESA) on the successful touchdown of its Huygens probe on Saturn's moon Titan.

Two Of The Five Lost Were Members Of South African National Team

Two of South Africa's brightest young bicycling stars were among five people killed this week when the Piper Aerostar in which they were flying went down on a deserted farm in the Cornelia District of the eastern Free State.

Company Says It's Moving Fast Toward Formal Certification Tests

Quest Aircraft says its Kodiak successfully completed its 50th flight yesterday, just three months after the aircraft took its maiden flight. With 40 flight hours on the prototype Kodiak, the company is fast approaching the formal certification flight test program.

All Europe's Major Engine-Makers Are Involved

The European Commission and Snecma Moteurs have signed an agreement to launch a new research program called VITAL to significantly reduce aircraft engine noise and CO2 emissions.

"We're in active discussions with Boeing. They are coming in with a new offer, and we hope it will progress as the weeks go by." Source: International Lease Finance Corp's CEO, Steven Udvar-Hazy, in an interview with Bloomberg News. Udvar-Hazy says his company is contemplating the order of 20 Boeing 7E7 Dreamliners with an option on 20 more. Ironically, he was in Toulouse, France, for Tuesday's rollout of the Airbus A380.

AD NUMBER: 2005-01-17 MANUFACTURER: Extra SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-01-17 SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 98-03-14, which applies to certain EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH (EXTRA) Model EA-300 and EA-300/S airplanes. AD 98-03-14 currently requires you to inspect the upper longeron cutout-bridge for cracks, to repair any cracks found, and to modify this area.

AD NUMBER: 2005-01-18 MANUFACTURER: Raytheon SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-01-18 SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 93-25-07, which applies to Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Beech 100, 200, and 300 series airplanes. AD 93-25-07 currently requires you to repetitively inspect the fuselage stringers for cracks and modify at certain times depending on the number of cracked stringers. This AD is the result of FAA's policy (since 1996) to not allow airplane operation when known cracks exist in primary structure.

AD NUMBER: 2005-02-01 MANUFACTURER: Lancair Company SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-02-01 SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Lancair Company (Lancair) Models LC40-550FG and LC42-550FG airplanes. This AD requires you to incorporate additional takeoff chart distance values information into the Performance Section of the FAA approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM).

AD NUMBER: 98-20-38R1 MANUFACTURER: Raytheon SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 98-20-38 R1 SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) to revise AD 98-20-38, which applies to all Beech 200 series airplanes. AD 98-20-38 requires you to revise the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to specify procedures that would prohibit flight in severe icing conditions (as determined by certain visual cues), limit or prohibit the use of various flight control devices while in severe icing conditions, and provide the flight crew with recognition cues for and procedures for exiting from severe icing conditions. Part of the applicability of AD 98-20-38 includes the Raytheon Models B200 and B200C airplanes.