Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

CASA Urgent AD: Eurocopter

AD Number: AD/S-PUMA/58 Swashplate Bearing Attaching Screws 7/2005 TX Applicability: AS 332 L2 EURCOPTER Helicopters: Main rotor mast assemblies, all part numbers.

Arizona TFR: 05.06.05

NOTAM: 5/3500 Issued: 05/05/2005 16:20 Effective: 05/06/2005 20:15 - 05/06/2005 21:05 State: AZ Facility: ZAB - ALBUQUERQUE (ARTCC),NM. Type: VIP Description: PHOENIX, ARIZONA, MAY 6 2005 LOCAL.

Arizona TFR: Until Further Notice

NOTAM: 5/3492 Issued: 05/04/2005 23:20 Effective: Immediately - Until Further Notice State: AZ Facility: ZAB - ALBUQUERQUE (ARTCC),NM. Type: HAZARDS Description: 22 NW WICKENBURG AZ.

Wyoming TFR: 05.07.05

NOTAM: 5/3482 Issued: 05/04/2005 18:30 Effective: 05/07/2005 02:30 - 05/07/2005 03:30 State: WY Facility: ZLC - SALT LAKE CITY (ARTCC),UT. Type: VIP Description: JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING, MAY 6-9 2005.

NOTAM: 5/3479 Issued: 05/04/2005 18:20 Effective: 05/06/2005 17:10 - 05/06/2005 18:10 State: NM Facility: ZAB - ALBUQUERQUE (ARTCC),NM. Type: VIP Description: ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, MAY 6 2005 LOCAL.

N787 Juggernaut Continues.... Northwest Airlines Selects Dreamliner

Order Includes 18 Firm 787-8s, Plus Options, Rights For 50 More

Boeing and Northwest Airlines, Inc. have announced the airline's order for up to 68 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

House Members Leery Of Aviation Trust Fund Claims

At Least Two Want More Hearings On FAA's Accounting Of The Trust

"Disingenuous." That's a word Congressman Lynn Westmoreland likes to describe what he suspects might be the FAA's characterization of the looming crisis in the Aviation Trust fund.

NTSB, CTSB Continue Air Transat Investigation

From The Canadian Transport Safety Board...

On 06 March 2005, Air Transat Flight 961, an Airbus 310-308, Canadian registration C-GPAT, serial number 597, lost the major part of its rudder while in flight from Varadero, Cuba, to Quebec City, Canada. The flight returned to Varadero where an uneventful landing was carried out.

Problem Discovered During Shuttle Practice Would Have Prevented Return To Flight

Tracking Glitch, Weather Would Have Forced Scrub

All was not peaches and cream during this week's launch exercise in preparation for the shuttle Discovery's vaunted Return To Flight.

Rutan Blasts US Export Rules

They're Standing In The Way Of Branson's Virgin Galactic Venture

Burt Rutan is a little peeved these days, put off by rules that govern the export of technology from the United States. Those rules could very well delay the launch of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, an enterprise aimed at putting big money passengers into suborbital space.

First Flight: Falcon 7X

Dassault's Falcon 7X has flown for the first time, Thursday afternoon, at Dassault Aviation's facility in Bordeaux Merignac, France.

Plane Down: Congo

Ten Passengers Lost -- But There's One Survivor

A UN-chartered Antonov AN-26 went down in the Congo Thursday, killing ten of the eleven people on board, according to UN sources.

Man Accused Of Shooting Airborne Pilot Charged With Attempted Murder

Pilot Okay, Suspect Jailed On $1 Million Bond

"I've been hit, Arnie! Radio in I've been shot." That's what Clay County, MO, pilot Mike Spicer remembers shouting across the cockpit of his Cessna 150 last Friday as he helped law officers search for a man who fled a traffic stop. Spicer, who runs the airport in Clay County, has helped law enforcement by flying airborne search missions several times in his 35 years as a pilot. But, he said, this is the first time anyone ever took a shot at him.

It's For Real: Embraer Takes Wraps Off VLJ and LJ

Embraer has finally started talking, publicly, about strengthening its position in the business aviation market with new products and services -- including the first concrete details about their much-rumored VLJ.

NATCA: Rumors Of Trust Fund's Demise Are Greatly Exaggerated

Ruth Marlin Testifies Against User Fees

Saying there is no crisis in the Aviation Trust Fund, National Air Traffic Controllers Association Executive Vice President Ruth Marlin told the House Aviation Subcommittee Wednesday that "we should not underestimate the strength of the current Federal Aviation Administration funding system and we should not tamper with it lightly."

NATA Makes Its Pitch Against User Fees

Coyne Testifies Before House Aviation Subcommittee

At a US House of Representatives committee hearing on the financial condition of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund Wednesday, NATA President James K. Coyne warned of the adverse effects that altering the funding stream for the trust fund could have on general aviation and other aviation businesses.

USAF Yanks Warbird From Fort Worth

B-36 Is Headed For Arizona

There are only four B-36 Peacemakers left in the world and the Air Force has decided one of those precious few will soon be leaving Fort Worth, TX. Sometime in the next few months, the massive warbird will be packed up and trucked out to Arizona, where it will take up residence at the Pima Air and Space Museum.

NAVAIR and NAMRA Keep Aircraft Ready-For-Tasking

Aircraft “ready-for-tasking” is a term used to describe military aircraft that are sitting on the tarmac, mission-capable and ready for continual combat operations.

Forgotten Fuel Cap Damages MU-2 Prop

Preflight, preflight, preflight... this could have turned out a lot worse than it seems to have. Every fuel stop is an opportunity to make sure your airplane is airworthy... but also creates the possibility of hazards induced as a function of landing/taxiing/fueling.

Osprey Flies Home

Completes Successful Mission In Nova Scotia

On April 29, Osprey No. 24 returned to NAS Patuxent River following its second six-month season of icing tests around Halifax, Nova Scotia. Pilots for the transit were Maj. Frank Conway, USMC, and Maj. Steve Augustine, USMC. Flight test engineer Jason Patterson performed crew chief duties.

A Diesel Primer

Putting Diesels In Airplanes Isn't A Bad Idea

By ANN Contributor Patrick Puckett Since I do the engineering and oversee and manage the maintenance of about 70 various items of equipment (most of it diesel) and our shop handles almost every bit of maintenance including complete overhauls. And, oh yes, I am the company pilot... which now brings us to diesel powered aircraft.

Kemmeries Aviation Presents New Trike Handbook

Publication Aimed Specifically At Sport Pilots

By ANN Contributor Jon Thornburgh A new trike handbook received wide acclaim at the April 2005 Sun 'n Fun Fly-In at Lakeland, Florida. The book was available at the Air Creation display in the ultralight area.

Aero-News Quote Of The Day (05.05.05)

"In fact, if you grounded general aviation tomorrow, the cost of the system would not go down appreciably." Source: NBAA President Ed Bolin, in an interview with ANN after completing his testimony against user fees before the House Aviation Subcommittee. Bolen was one of four alphabet group leaders to testify before the subcommittee. All warned that attempts to tamper with the way the Aviation Trust is funded is ill-advised. They also warned members of the committee that user fees would defeat efforts to make aviation safer and more reliable.