The amateur-built aircraft accident rate has taken a major decline over the past year, with EAA reportedly playing a major role in the remarkable reduction in accidents and fatalities. Figures released by the FAA indicate that the homebuilt aircraft accident rate has dropped 25 percent for the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, 2003. Over that same period, the fatal accident rate has dropped an even more remarkable 36 percent. These figures are especially impressive because registrations of amateur-built aircraft have reached record numbers. Over that same 12-month period, total homebuilt aircraft registrations grew to more than an all-time high of 25,000 in the U.S. alone.

Americans are planning more trips overseas this year, despite conflicts and turmoil in Iraq and North Korea, the Al Qaeda threat, cancellations of some international flights and SARS. However, their trust in airport security is lukewarm. A survey of 400 international travelers in the US by 1stAir also found that when traveling abroad, Americans prefer international flag carriers to US carriers.

At least one analyst on Wall Street thinks Delta and Northwest might be penny-wise and pound foolish when it comes to demands for deep cuts from labor.

Klyde's Looking For A Promotion!

NOVA is a program that bills itself a science show and, to reach aviation neophytes, the producers did what television does best. It grabs you by the collar and slaps you in the face to get your attention. Then it tells you what the producers want you to know. In the case of the CBS story on general aviation security, there was no meat. The NOVA piece on Swissair 111, for all its show biz flaws, is filled with facts.

A National Guard and Reserve official has told Northwest Airlines it may be violating the law by denying rights to employees returning from military leave, according to Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) Local 33, serving Northwest and Mesaba Airlines.

Cessna Aircraft Company will feature its expanding product line at Asian Aerospace.  Since the last event in 2002, Cessna has introduced several new products: Citation Mustang, Citation CJ3, Citation XLS, upgraded Citation X, Grand Caravan with Oasis executive interior, and G1000 equipped 182 and 206. Customer response to these exciting new products has been overwhelming, with combined orders exceeding 500 units. 

Coming down to Earth from the International Space Station was kind of a jolt for NASA astronaut Ed Lu. He said his credit card had expired, his phone was disconnected and his car registration had run out. Perhaps these inconveniences are part of the unique orbital profession.

Mired in controversy over its plans to gather information on passengers using intelligence, law enforcement and commercial databases, the TSA issued this news release to ANN in hopes of clearing things up a bit.

We're starting to enter an era, where aviation manufacturing milestones are no longer exclusive to aircraft themselves, as the technology that helps makes them fly safely is now starting to come of age. Rockwell Collins, announced Wednesday it has delivered the 1000th Head Up Display (HUD) to The Boeing Company for the  F/A-18C/D/E/F aircraft.

American Airlines last week dismissed a Wall Street financier's claim that mainline carriers are having no competitive impact on limited-choice carriers. "This kind of 'analysis' flies in the face of the facts," said Roger Frizzell, vice president of Corporate Communications for American.

Aero Club of New England, the oldest aero club in the Americas, will hold its 14th annual CRASH COURSE March 10th at the Renaissance Bedford Hotel, 44 Middlesex Turnpike in Bedford (MA). The seminar will feature nationally recognized lead speaker Bruce Landsberg of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. His interactive presentation will concentrate on maneuvering flight accidents with a review of local accidents.

Working together, Boeing and Dassault Systemes are creating a virtual development workspace known as the 7E7 Global Collaboration Environment (GCE). In this virtual environment, Boeing will design, build and test every aspect of the 7E7 airplane and its manufacturing processes digitally before production begins using the full suite of Dassault Systemes' PLM software solutions.

Raytheon Company plans to increase its workforce in Huntsville (AL) with manufacturing work if awarded the contract for the Joint Common Missile (JCM) program later this year.

For Sale: Grumman/AGAC AA5B Tiger 1978 Tiger, 400STOH w/factory new cylinders, 1800SMOH, King IFR, C1AP, Sensensich Prop, Split Nose, Power Flow, Cruise at 16,500ft, Rudder Cap, Fiberglass Dorsal, WX8, 4 Cyl EGT/CHT, All AD's complied with, Fresh annual. Exterior Quality: 6, Interior Quality: 6 Used, will sell for $66,000.00 FMI: Email the owner

"I got a ticket right away, and my car was parked." Source: Recently-returned ISS astronaut Ed Lu, who says it's a monumental task to get reoriented here on Earth. After 10 1/2 months training for and eventually serving on the International Space Station, Lu returned to Honolulu (HI) to find his car had been ticketed because its registration had expired, his phone disconnected and his credit cards waylaid. And then, of course, there's the mail to sort through. Lu says he's received more than 3,300 e-mails from friends and associates -- no spam.

We've been hearing some rumors for a while now... which turned out to be true. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and General Electric Co. (GE) have announced the formation of a strategic alliance to produce a new jet engine for light business jets. The basic agreement was signed Saturday (2/15) at Honda Motor headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, by Takeo Fukui, President and CEO of Honda Motor, and David Calhoun, President and CEO of GE Transportation, a business unit of GE. The agreement establishes the framework under which Honda and GE will further develop and certify Honda's new HF118 turbofan jet engine. Honda launched its jet engine and aircraft project in 1986, and has been developing the lightweight HF118 engine, in the 1,000- to 3,500-pound thrust class, since 1999.

The VIP TFR Invasion Continues.... NOTAM: 4/1130 Issued: 02/13/2004 22:08 Effective: 02/17/2004 17:40 - 02/17/2004 18:45 State: LA Facility: ZHU - HOUSTON (ARTCC),TX. Type: VIP Description: FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, FEBRUARY 17, 2004 LOCAL.

The VIP TFR Invasion Continues.... NOTAM: 4/1126 Issued: 02/13/2004 21:04 Effective: 02/16/2004 21:45 - 02/16/2004 22:35 State: WY Facility: ZLC - SALT LAKE CITY (ARTCC),UT. Type: VIP Description: JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING, FEBRUARY 16-19, 2004 LOCAL.

The VIP TFR Invasion Continues.... NOTAM: 4/1104 Issued: 02/13/2004 11:06 Effective: 02/16/2004 16:35 - 02/16/2004 20:45 State: NM Facility: ZAB - ALBUQUERQUE (ARTCC),NM. Type: VIP Description: ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, FEBRUARY 16, 2004 LOCAL.