Aviation Groups Celebrate

Patience is a virtue. Anyone working in aviation governmental affairs will tell you that. The fight to kill TFRs has seen a recent victory, as the FAA officially eliminated two temporary flight restrictions over Valdez, Alaska, which were imposed on Dec. 24, 2003. One was a 25-nm-radius TFR in which pilots were required to contact Juneau Flight Service Station before entering the restricted area. The other was a 1-nm-radius area within the 25-nm TFR, in which no flight was permitted without ATC authorization. Obviously, the alphabet groups smell victory.

Weather, Politics Delay Pole Overflight

Dr. Gustavus McLeod has faced many obstacles in his quest to become the first person to solo circumnavigate the world from pole to pole. First there were electrical problems and then fuel issues plagued the aircraft. A forced landing courtesy of the Ecuadorian military -- due to a flight planning issue -- was obviously a moment of high tension. Now, as McLeod nears crossing the South Pole, he faces weather-related and political delays. A non-stop flight around the Pole and back to Ushuaia, Argentina seems difficult now because of the three vastly different weather systems that need to be navigated through. Favorable weather simultaneously in all three areas is highly unlikely, so the ideal scenario for a second attempt would requ

AOPA Suggests Changes To AC 

GPS are almost rendered useless, without up-to-date databases. AOPA says it has fought to keep this process as accessible and economical as possible. The FAA will make sure that pilots continue to be allowed to install updated database information in their GPS units. AOPA raised a red flag when a draft advisory circular (AC) appeared to weaken the current policy on pilot installations. The association suggested changes to strengthen the loosely worded AC. The FAA is modifying the AC so it's consistent with existing policy.

Air Journey's Latest Adventure Promises Lots Of Fun

The 8th Annual Bahamas Treasure Hunt is a grown up way to act like a little kid, but with real planes and boats and the lure of exotic exploration amidst more than 700 islands and 2,000-plus cays that dot the Caribbean. Air Journey will lead the way. The trip a spirited adventure that combines the best of camaraderie and friendly competition against a backdrop of what can be described as "severely clear" weather that is a pilot's dream. Participants will gather in Florida for the start of the well organized, yet unregimented group fly-in to the Bahamas scheduled for February 16th to February 21st, 2004.

Death Toll Over 40 People, UAE Official Says 

An Iranian plane carrying mostly foreign workers renewing their visas crashed Tuesday as it approached Sharjah airport in the United Arab Emirates, killing 43 people aboard, officials said. Three survivors were being treated at a hospital. The Kish Air Fokker-50, flying to Sharjah from the Iranian island of Kish in the Gulf, crashed at 11:40 a.m. in an open area about two miles from the airport, said Ghanem al-Hajiry, director general of civil aviation and the Sharjah Airport Authority. The cause of the crash was not known, he said. No one on the ground was hurt, Al-Hajiry said. Witnesses said the plane crashed on a road near an upper-class residential neighborhood.

House Committee Passes Comm. Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004

XCOR Aerospace praised the House Science Committee on Monday for its swift markup and passage of H.R. 3752, the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004, earlier last week. The company is in the business of developing and producing reusable rocket engines and rocket powered vehicles. XCOR urges everyone interested in the commercialization of space to write or call their Member of Congress. In your communications, request they co-sponsor H.R. 3752 and support the bill when it comes up for vote on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Have Anyone In Mind?

PAMA’s Awards Program includes recognition for companies, PAMA Chapters and individuals whose recent actions and/or career are exemplary. Please take the time to nominate a hero or heroine you know for one or more of the PAMA Awards. PAMA's 2004 Awards will be presented at the Annual Awards Luncheon on May 18, 2004, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Luncheon will occur during the 33rd Annual Symposium - PAMA 2004: Elevating Maintenance Professionals to New Heights. The deadline for nominations is March 12, 2004.  Categories include: Award of Excellence, Award of Merit/Award of Special Merit, Chapter of the Year, Company Appreciation, Joe Chase Award, Member Service Award and PAMA/ATP Award. To offer a nomination, please indicate th

Union Says Agency's Credibility Collapsed After Extension

NATCA, the air traffic controller's union, is criticizing the FAA. So, what else is new? This time, the group's beef is with the agreement concerning Atlanta's air traffic. NATCA claims the FAA is breaking apart its combined tower/radar approach control facilities controlling Atlanta airspace, penalizing air traffic controllers who are handling increasingly heavy traffic demands. The union also claims the FAA has announced the swift destruction of the nearly six-year-old agreements, which governed the controllers who worked in both the control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the three-year-old Atlanta Terminal Radar Approach Control facility located in Peachtree City (GA). The

Air Force Crews Transport American Flags Flies Over Afganistan

The spirit of Sept. 11, 2001, is still evident in the sky above Afghanistan as airmen there do their part to support a long-standing tradition of carrying U.S. flags onboard aircraft flying combat missions. Crewmembers from the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Support Squadron and the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron have flown more 600 flags since December during combat missions over Afghanistan. The flag owners, in-turn, present the flag to deserving military members, family members, home-base units, towns and other organizations. In addition to C-130 crews, those flying the KC-135 Stratotankers also have an active flag-flying program.

Pilot Wants DUI Charges Dropped

The pilot who was forced to land Jan. 15 after nearly colliding with a police helicopter claims in court papers that Montgomery County (PA) prosecutors have no authority to take him to court on drunken driving charges. John V. Salamone, through his lawyer, Joseph P. Green Jr., is arguing that federal law preempts state law in the area of commercial pilot qualifications and capacity to operate aircraft in interstate commerce where there is no death, injury or damage to property. Before the near-mid air with law enforcement aircraft, air traffic controllers notified Philadelphia police that the plane was flying at an extremely low altitude over the runway in restricted airspace without authorization.

CCS To Run Dreamliner's Systems

Every advanced system needs its own "brain" and Boeing has found its choice for the 7E7 Dreamliner. The aersopace giant has selected Smiths Aerospace's Common Core System (CCS) for this important function. The system will be designed and manufactured at Smiths' facilities in Michigan and Cheltenham, England. The new jet is expected to fly in 2008.

Carriers Trim 50% Of Losses in 2003

While the airline industry still has a way to go before declaring a total recovery, some positive signs are on the horizon. The 10 US major passenger airlines collectively lost $5.49 billion last year, or half the $10.99 billion lost in 2002, while the industry operating loss declined to $2.73 billion from $9.94 billion over the same period.  Also, for the first time since 2000, annual revenues actually rose year-over-year: 2003 revenues for the 10 totaled $81.8 billion, up 1.1 percent over 2002. However, sales remained severely depressed compared to 2000, when the airlines generated $97.7 billion in revenue.

The 'Queen of the Skies,' Celebrates 35th Anniversary

Thirty-five years ago Monday, Boeing changed commercial aviation history with the first flight of the world's most recognizable airplane, the 747. Known as the "Queen of the Skies," the 747 has carried 3.6 billion people more than 35 billion nautical miles (64.8 billion km) -- equivalent to 74,000 round trips to the Moon -- since entering service in 1970. To date, Boeing has delivered 1,341 747s. After building the 747-100/- 200/-300/-400 airplanes, the manufacturer launched the 747-400 Extended Range. That modern airplane is available in passenger and freighter versions, offering a range of 8,826 nautical miles (14,203 km).    

Program Founded By Former Astronaut

The heightened awareness of two successful Mars probes and a new commitment to space exploration have filtered down to the classroom. The Mars success and confidence in new space initiatives have caused a spike in activity at the Florida Space Research Institute (FSRI). The institute, based at The Kennedy Space Center, provides the background in space education for all ages, says Dr. Sam Durrance a former astronaut and Founder-President of FSRI. A private/public partnership,the Florida Space Research Institute was established by the Florida's Governor Jeb Bush and the Legislature to promote collaboration among the state's academic institutions, space-related companies, and federal space agencies to support nationwide space-related ed

First Man To Fly Avro Arrow Dies

Avation has lost another pioneer and hero this month. Jan Zurakowski, the chief test pilot for the CF-105 Avro Arrow, died at his home in Barry's Bay, Ontario, on Monday following a lengthy illness. He was 89. An accomplished war pilot, the Polish-born Zurakowski was decorated for his  fighting in the Battle of Britain and later went on to test fighter jets for Britain. He immigrated to Canada in 1952 to work for AV Roe Canada Company as chief development pilot for the supersonic jet and became the first to fly the  Avro Arrow on March 25, 1958. A member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, Zurakwoski retired to Barry's  Bay, located about 150 kilometres west of Ottawa, in 1960 to open a tourist business with his wife. In July 2003

Aero-News: Quote of the Day

"Our basic strategy regarding any kind of modification or equipment change to the Mooney aircraft product line is to listen to our owners and to the marketplace in general before we implement anything. We do not make changes to our product unless we know that the change is right, that it represents a substantive improvement in the airplane and that it provides added value to our customers." Source: Mooney Airplane Company President Nelson Happy commenting on the company's decision to offer the G1000 all-glass integrated avionics system on the new Ovation2 GX and Bravo GX models beginning in the third quarter of 2004. Mooney will continue to feature the current technology panel as st

AD NUMBER:  2004-03-11

MANUFACTURER: Boeing SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-03-11 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-200C and -200F series airplanes, that requires repetitive inspections to find fatigue crackingin the upper chord of the upper deck floor beams, and repair if necessary. For certain airplanes,this amendment also provides an optional repair/modification, which extends certain repetitive inspection intervals. This action is necessary to find and fix cracking in certain upper deck floorbeams. Such cracking could extend and sever floor beams at a floor panel attachment holelocation and could result in rap

AD NUMBER:  2004-03-10

 MANUFACTURER: Airbus SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-03-10 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Airbus Model A300B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R (collectively called A300-600) series airplanes; and Model A310 series airplanes. This AD requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to provide the flightcrew with procedures to maintain controllability of the airplane in the event of an in-flight deployment of the thrust reverser. This action is necessary to ensure that the flight crew is advised of the potential hazard associated with an in-flight deployment of the thrust reverser, and the procedures necessary

AD NUMBER: 2004-03-14

MANUFACTURER: Bombardier SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-03-14 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 series airplanes, that 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. This action also provides for an optional modification of the flex shaft installation, which terminates the repetitive inspections. This action is necessary to find and fix damage and prevent subsequent failure of the rear spar fittings, which c

Company Goes With The Garmin G1000 All-Glass Flightdeck

In keeping itself competitive with the other GA manufacturers, Mooney Airplane Company has decided to jump into the glass cockpit world. On Tuesday, the manufacturer announced that it will offer the Garmin G1000 all-glass integrated avionics system on the new Ovation2 GX and Bravo GX models beginning in the third quarter of 2004. Steam gauges drivers, have no fear: Mooney will continue to feature the current technology panel as standard on the current Ovation2 DX and Bravo DX models. The "G" in GX stands for "glass panel" and used as a tool to differentiate the variants.