General Aviation Coalition Quizzes TSA Chief

The nominated administrator for the Transportation Security Administration is sensitive to the security issues his agency creates for general aviation. Acting Administrator David Stone met with the General Aviation Coalition (GAC) late last Friday, with representatives from AOPA, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA), and other general aviation organizations, to discuss security issues affecting general aviation.

GAMA seems pretty pleased with the Senate's passage of S. 1637, the Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act today. Included in the bill is a provision extending for another 12 months the accelerated (bonus) depreciation "placed-in-service" date for general aviation aircraft. This is GAMA's top legislative priority for the year.

New Airline Shuts Down After Just One Week

JetGreen Airways is no more. The upstart Irish airline had been in business for just a week before abruptly announcing it would shut down all operations.

An Evolutionary Step Forward For A Revolutionary Airplane

The G2's starting system is pretty uncomplicated once you get through the checklist, pop on the electrical (though one must note that there is a lot more electrical to deal with than other airplanes… since the SR22 has two separate electrical systems), prime (if required) and fire the works up, advancing the mixture as soon as you get the fire burning. 

NATA's Coyne Says There Is No Evidence To Support "Ill-Conceived" FAA Air Tour Plan

NATA president James K. Coyne (right) Wednesday underscored the devastating impact the proposed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air tour rules pose for small businesses. Coyne spoke at the first of two FAA-sponsored public meetings addressing proposed regulations for sightseeing and air tour operators.

Navy Releases Photos Of F-14D Salvage

Members from the San Diego-based Unmanned Vehicles Detachment (UMV) embarked aboard MV Kellie Chouest, a 310-foot-long civilian research and salvage vessel, April 25 to recover an F-14D Tomcat that had recently crashed in the waters off of San Diego.

New Photo Shows Damage Sustained By Super ATR In San Juan

At first, the pictures didn't look that bad and reporters who either didn't know enough to know better or were simply kept too far away described the aircraft as "intact." Not quite.

True To Life Scenery Of "The City By The Bay" For Microsoft Flight Simulator

MegaScenery publisher, PC Aviator, today announced that the third volume of MegaScenery – Northern California, featuring San Francisco, Sacramento and 38,000 square miles of surrounding countryside has gone gold and is scheduled for release on 7 June 2004.

This Time, Two C-130s Over California's Channel Islands

With just over 4 months of preparation invested, I was fortunate to fly with the 146th Channel Islands Air National Guard for a photo shoot consisting of two C-130's including one of two brand new C-130J models stationed there.  We spent about an hour and a half flying over the Channel Islands off the Southern California Coastline last Tuesday.

Five Going To Theorie Training Center In Bonn

Cessna Aircraft Company will deliver a fleet of five Cessna 172R Skyhawks to Theorie Training Center (TTC) located in Bonn, Germany.  The aircraft will be delivered in late May and will be used to provide flight training for students pursuing their private pilot and instrument license. TTC has been using Cessna airplanes to teach people to fly for the past 15 years.

Kids Learn Aviation Through 'Tabletop' Airport Class

By ANN Special Correspondent Rose Dorcey When one of your county's most famous sons is an astronaut, there are bound to be people within it who share great enthusiasm for space and aviation. Such is the case of the Monroe County Aviators, a southeast Wisconsin organization whose goal is to "teach and encourage kids in the field of aviation."

NOTAM: 4/4052 Issued: 05/10/2004 19:27 Effective: 05/14/2004 17:00 - 05/16/2004 21:00 State: DE Facility: ZDC - WASHINGTON (ARTCC),DC. Type: AIR SHOWS/SPORTS Description: DOVER AFB, DE.

NOTAM: 4/4129 Issued: 05/11/2004 20:31 Effective: 05/13/2004 15:50 - 05/13/2004 18:55 State: VA Facility: ZID - INDIANAPOLIS (ARTCC),IN. Type: VIP Description: PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, MAY 13, 2004 LOCAL.

"Like James Loy, the previous TSA administrator, David Stone is showing himself to be someone who is willing to work with general aviation. We're often not going to like the answers we get, but we're finding that, as head of the Transportation Security Administration, Admiral Stone understands that 'transportation' is every bit as important as 'security' is." Source: AOPA President Phil Boyer, after a sit-down chat with President Bush's nominee to head the TSA, Admiral David Stone.

Avcorp Will Double Production Of CRJ200 Horizontal Stabilizers

Avcorp Industries announced Wednesday that it has signed a new agreement with Bombardier which is expected to double the Company's production of horizontal stabilizers for the CRJ200 Series regional jet and the Challenger 604 business jet by sole-sourcing instead of dual-sourcing. Avcorp has manufactured over 1,000 units since the beginning of the highly successful Bombardier regional and business jet programs.

Includes Fly-Around

The Israel Association of General Aviation, the IAGA, is organizing the Israel Fly-In 2004; in which the Association will host a delegation of pilots and airplanes in a fly-over around Israel, from May 13 through May 17.

Midfield Terminal Two-Thirds Complete

Construction of the Midfield Terminal Complex at Southwest Florida International Airport is two-thirds completed and on schedule for opening in spring 2005. The $438 million project includes a 798,000-square-foot terminal, a new taxiway and related roadways.

AD NUMBER: 2004-09-16 MANUFACTURER: AvCraft Aerospace GmbH SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-09-16 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Dornier Model 328-100 and -300 series airplanes, that requires repetitive inspections of the bearing lugs of the rudder spring tab lever assembly for cracking, and corrective action if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent failure of the rudder flight control system due to such cracking, which could result in loss of rudder control and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

AD NUMBER: 2004-09-27 MANUFACTURER: Dassault SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-09-27 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Dassault Model Mystere-Falcon 50 series airplanes, that requires a one-time inspection for improper installation of the electrical wiring for the optional lighting in the cabin, and corrective actions if necessary.This action is necessary to find and fix improper installation of the electrical wiring of the basic/optional cabin lighting, which could result in overheating of the wiring and possible smoke/fire in the cabin during an emergency situation. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

AD NUMBER: 2004-03-14R1 MANUFACTURER: Bombardier SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-03-14 R1 SUMMARY: This amendment revises an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 series airplanes, that currently requires repetitive inspections for discrepancies of certain rear spar fittings between the flex shaft of the flap secondary drive and the wing-to-fuselage structure, and corrective action if necessary. That AD also provides for an optional modification of the flex shaft installation, which terminates the repetitive inspections. This amendment requires that the actions be done per approved service information. The actions spec