As fractional bizjet ownership and regional jets fill the
already crowded American skies, FAA officials are becoming alarmed
at the number of aircraft competing for airspace.
It was a meeting of aviation minds in Washington last week,
where industry and GA lobbyists sought to influence the future
direction of flight in American skies. They went to Washington at
the invitation of FAA in an unprecedented meeting to address the
growing airspace congestion problems along major routes and hub
airports. AOPA sent its representative to the three-day FAA meeting
to discuss the future of FAA's new Air Traffic Organization (ATO
— responsible for flight service stations, control towers,
TRACONs, and enroute air traffic control), hoping to speak up for
the low-and-slow among us.
Former Ohio Senator John Glenn, the grand old man of space
exploration, pulls no punches when you ask him about President
Bush's plan for a permanent colony on the moon and a manned mission
to Mars by 2035.
It "pulls the rug out from under our scientists," he says.
The first inspection of a homebuilt aircraft conducted under the
FAA’s new volunteer amateur-built designated airworthiness
representative (AB-DAR) program was completed last week. Joe
Gauthier, who was designated an AB-DAR under the new program,
inspected an RV-6 built by David Faile, EAA and NAFI member, master
flight instructor, and professional pilot from Fairfield (CT).
Expedition 8 Commander Michael Foale reestablished a vacuum
between the Destiny Laboratory’s science window’s two
panes of optical-quality glass over the weekend. The window work
was associated with continuing repairs following a small pressure
leak detected on the International Space Station in January.
The National Transportation Safety Board will host a forum on
safety issues related to the US air cargo industry on March 30 -
31, 2004, at the new NTSB Academy in Ashburn (VA).
"The goal of this forum is to augment and support industry-
government dialogue on air cargo safety and to help advance the
important work currently being done in this area," said NTSB
Chairman Ellen Engleman-Connors. "Air cargo is a critical segment
of our transportation system and we need to do all we can to ensure
that the highest safety standards are maintained."
Perhaps we didn't hear much about it, but all of Russia has been
riveted on the fate of an Arctic exploration team after the ocean
swallowed up 90 percent of their research station last week. Now,
the team is home safe, thanks to a daring aerial rescue.
It took the combined efforts of the world's most populace
country to put a Chinese man into space last year, but it took a
proposal by the Chinese All-Women's Federation to get a woman into
the program.
An American Trans Air Lockheed L-1011 (file photo of type,
right) collided with a service vehicle Saturday, preventing the
deployment of 225 sailors and Coast Guard personnel from making
their scheduled trip to the Persian Gulf.
Okay, so there's water on Mars. That's an incredible discovery.
But the big questions remain: where did the water come from and
even more importantly, where did it go?
To hear resident Jeff Tanner tell it, Roundtree Field in
Hartselle (AL) is a "hole in the river," a waste of taxpayer
resources. He, along with other Alabamans, wants the Decatur City
Council to drop plans to build new hangars at the field. In fact,
he and his group want the city-owned airport moved altogether.
NOTAM: 4/1765
Issued: 03/05/2004 13:35
Effective: 03/11/2004 22:00 - 03/14/2004 01:00
State: CA
Facility: ZLA - LOS ANGELES (ARTCC)PALMDALE, CA.
Type: AIR SHOWS/SPORTS
Description: NAVAL AIR FACILITY EL CENTRO,
CA.
What was it Grandma used to tell us? If you want something done
right, do it yourself. That seems to be the philosophy that drives
GE's jet engine operation. Unlike rivals Pratt & Whitney and
Rolls Royce, GE flies its own test bed over the California desert,
determined to see firsthand the results of its experimental
work.
"What I am hearing could be likened to the bus industry asking
to ban cars from the interstate!"
Source: AOPA President Phil Boyer at an
FAA-organized meeting on the upcoming traffic jam at flight levels.
The FAA says, because of the proliferation of regional jets and
corporate aircraft capable of flight above 10,000 feet, the
nation's skyways are about to become overcrowded. One airline
industry representative proposed creating High Occupancy Vehicle
lanes in the skies -- sort of like what we see on the highways now.
Boyer obviously didn't take very kindly to the suggestion.
For Sale: Glastar
Lycoming O-360 160hp Montana Amphib floats, both props, has
conventional gear, details and pictures at www.glastar-n238ma.com
Exterior Quality: 7, Interior Quality: 7
Used, will sell for $105,000.00
(or best offer)
A survivability upgrade to the current fleet of AH-1W Super
Cobras has turned out to be a solution to tail boom structural
problems encountered during developmental testing of AH-1Z and
UH-1Y aircraft.