Pilots Say Fuel Exhaustion Common On T-210 Centurions

A Cessna T-210 that crashed in Wichita (KS) June 4th apparently ran out of fuel -- a problem that appears to be all too common with the popular single-engine aircraft.

Scientists Debate Origins Of Saturnian Moon

Images collected during Cassini's close flyby of Saturn's moon, Phoebe, have yielded strong evidence that the tiny object may contain ice-rich material, overlain with a thin layer of darker material perhaps 300 to 500 meters (980 to 1,600 feet) thick.

Message To Lawmakers: Don't Mess With GA

AOPA is putting New York State on notice that the association will oppose ill-considered general aviation airport security measures now being contemplated by both the legislature and the executive branch. In a letter to New York Governor George Pataki, AOPA President Phil Boyer wrote, "We want to express our deep concern about any security initiatives being considered for New York's 145 public-use airports.... Our concern is that the state's action could diffuse federal efforts and be counterproductive to enhancing security, while at the same time damaging — perhaps permanently — the state's economy." That letter reinforces lobbying contacts by Craig Dotlo, AOPA's regional representative in New York.

Following In The Tradition...

A new carbon-fiber aircraft, descended from a legendary record-setting airplane, will make its public debut during the Experimental Aircraft Association's 2004 AirVenture fly-in gathering. The 52nd annual EAA fly-in will be held July 27-August 2 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

Almost A Third Of Song Flights To Be Suspended In September

Delta's experiment in discount transportation may not be working out according to plan. Song Airlines will cut about a third of its flights in September, as its parent company hopes to avoid Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Controllers Tell House Aviation Subcommittee Of Looming Staffing Crisis

National Air Traffic Controllers Association Executive Vice President Ruth Marlin told the House Aviation Subcommittee Tuesday about the urgent need to start hiring new controllers in the coming fiscal year. That, she said, is the only way the US will be able to address a looming controller shortage nationwide, warning there is "no other way around this problem. The consequences of inaction are dire."

Free, With Pictures!

A free, illustrated four-step method for VFR pilots to minimize their chance of a collision with terrain at night or when visibility suddenly lowers has been added to the AOPA Air Safety Foundation main Web page.

Soon To Be Cleared For Flight

The Iraqi military soon will be cleared for flight after the purchase this week of two aircraft in Jordan, coalition officials in Baghdad said Tuesday.

Blame Branson

Sir Richard Branson and company have decided on a name for their new US-based low-cost carrier. They've also decided what the new airline will fly.

The FAA has posted two new Domestic Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (DRVSM) documents to its web site. The DRVSM program objective is to implement RVSM between flight level (FL) 290-410 (inclusive) in the airspace of the lower 48 States of the United States, Alaska, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic High Offshore Airspace (including Houston and Miami Oceanic airspace) and the San Juan FIR.

NOTAM: 4/5459 Issued: 06/15/2004 19:17 Effective: Immediately - Until Further Notice State: CO Facility: ZDV - DENVER (ARTCC),CO. Type: HAZARDS Description: MONUMENT, CO. 

NOTAM: 4/5453 Issued: 06/15/2004 19:10 Effective: 06/16/2004 13:55 - 06/16/2004 17:40 State:  Facility: ZMA - MIAMI (ARTCC), FL. Type: VIP Description: TAMPA, FL. JUNE 16, 2004 LOCAL.

NOTAM: 4/5445 Issued: 06/15/2004 18:00 Effective: Immediately - Until Further Notice State: CO Facility: ZDV - DENVER (ARTCC),CO. Type: HAZARDS Description: MONUMENT, CO.

First Naval Battle Fought Solely In The Air

More than 400 people enjoyed a patriotic evening at the Radisson Riverwalk Hotel Ball Room June 4, during the seventh annual Battle of Midway Memorial Dinner.

"What we need is action, now. NATCA is prepared to work with the FAA and Congress to address this crisis before it becomes insurmountable. We have identified real solutions that can make a real difference. However, we all need to recognize that the first and most important priority is to provide funding to hire more controllers. We can no longer wait. For many locations, we have waited too long already." Source: National Air Traffic Controllers Association Executive Vice President Ruth Marlin, testifying before the House Aviation Subcommittee Tuesday about the urgent need to start hiring new controllers in the coming fiscal year.

Will Jointly Offer Services to Business Aviation

ARINC says it's formed a strategic business alliance with Florida-based Satcom Direct to integrate Satcom Direct's services with the ARINC Direct service suite of data link, flight planning, weather, and aircraft tracking. The companies will also focus on developing more joint offerings with added value for their business aviation customers.

SpaceDev Makes Record Time Supporting SpaceShipOne Propulsion System

The Guinness Book of World Records may need a new category by the end of 2004. X-Prize competitor SpaceShipOne makes its first publicly announced manned flight into space on June 21st...and then the modern space race REALLY begins!

AD NUMBER: 2004-09-05 MANUFACTURER: Cessna SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-09-05 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD); applicable to certain Cessna Model 500, 501, 550, and 551 airplanes; that requires a one-time inspection of the brake stator disks to determine to what change level they have been modified (if any), and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires that the existing markings on the piston housing of certain brake assemblies be eliminated. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent wheel lockups that may be caused by cracked or broken brake stator disks becoming jammed in the brake assembly and preventing rotation. Such