One of my favorite "curses" goes something like "...may you live in interesting times." It can also, occasionally, be looked upon as a blessing. At the well-attended and exquisitely crafted 2004 GA outlook meeting in Washington, DC, GAMA's president Ed Bolen pronounced the 2003 aviation year as "A Challenging Year." The day's brief revealed some pretty dismal numbers...Bizjet sales down 23.4% from the year before... employment down 10.3%, billings down 15.5%... all in all it was GA's worst showing since 1998. About the best anyone could say for 2003 was that it was over... and much better times seemed to be on the horizon thanks to bonus depreciation allowances, better economic times, new and innovative airframes/avionics, and less used aircraft available on the market to co

Austrocontrol AD Number: A-2004-002

Date: February 12, 2004 Applicability: DA40D aeroplanes with the following Serial Numbers: D4.020 to D4.024, D4.026, D4.041, D4.043 to D4.045, D4.049, D4.056, D4.060 to D4.064, D4.066, D4.067 and D4.078 Requirement: 1. Amend the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM Doc. 6.01.05-( ) by inserting Temporary Revision TR-M�M-40-122 in accordance with Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSBD4-029 Section 1.8 paragraph a). 2. Carry out an inspection of the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC)wiring in accordance with MSBD4-029 Section 1.8 paragraph b). Austrocontrol, the Austrian Civil Aviation Administration, has advised that an incorrect wire h

CASA AD Number: HB-2004-048

Date: February 11, 2004 Applicability: All PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes. Requirement: Amend the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) by inserting either Temporary Revision (TR) No 11 (Report No 02211) or TR No 40 (Report 01973-001) into Section 2 of the applicable POH. The Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) has received a report of abrupt nose down pitch occurring following disconnection of the autopilot during an ILS approach on a PC-12 aeroplane.

Shareholder Unhappy With Purchase Process

Citing poor treatment of customers as a reason for the declining sales of Bombardier business jets, and the Company's disappointing stock performance, a Bombardier shareholder is calling for the Company to adopt a "Customer Code of Ethics and Satisfaction." This new Customer Code, proposed in a Shareholder Resolution submitted by Michael Huffington, President of Hermes Aero, Inc., would commit Bombardier, Inc. to "the highest standards of behaviour in all of its relations with customers and prospective customers." It would "pledge the Company to deal honestly with customers and prospective customers at all times, to honour its contracts and commitments, to treat its customers with fairness, respect and candour, [and] to ensure

New Summer Session For 10- And 11-Year-Olds

Few moments compare to a child's first experience with the joy of flight. EAA agrees. This is why the organization announced Wednesday its 2004 schedule for the nation's longest-running aviation camp, the EAA Air Academy. The Academy presents a complete, and improved, schedule of residence programs this summer. This year's youth program schedule will begin on June 12 and end on Aug. 9. The individual camps range from five to nine days in length and are designed for youth ages 12-18 and adults. In addition, three EAA Fantasy Flight Camps for adults are scheduled for October, with each three-day session featuring a different vintage aircraft.

Aero Expo 2004, June 19-20, Will Be A Present For Father's Day

If you're looking for someplace different to take your dad on Father's Day, the city of Akron and the Military Aviation Preservation Society (MAPS) Air Museum have a suggestion. The Aero Expo 2004: Defenders of Freedom Air Show will be held June 19-20 at Akron Fulton International Airport. For the third year in a row, the show will return to the Fulton airport, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic announced this week. The air show is the third largest in the state. Sponsors are hoping to draw a crowd of 42,000, surpassing last year's crowd of 30,000.

WACO Makes The Cut

On Wednesday, the FAA advised the FAA following kit has been added to the kit listing since Dec.  2003: "The WACO Aircraft Company Ohio, Inc., Model WACO M-F, WACO M-F Paris List, Assembly Blueprints, Rev. N/C; and Construction/Assembly Video, dtd November 2003, was evaluated by the Manufacturing Inspection Office and has been found to be eligible with respect to the "major portion" requirement of 14 CFR part 21, subpart H, section 21.191(g). Therefore, an aircraft built from one of the kits identified in this message is eligible for airworthiness certification provided all necessary regulatory requirements are met."

Rover Sets Mars One-Day Distance Record   

The Spirit rover shattered a one-day distance record on Mars, rolling nearly 70 feet across the planet's rocky surface, NASA said Tuesday. The drive covered more than three times the greatest distance that NASA's tiny Sojourner rover ever traveled in a day on its own 1997 mission to Mars, mission manager Jim Erickson said. Spirit drove "blind" about half the distance, following a planned route to a stopping point. For the second half of the short trip, the rover drove to a second stopping point, autonomously executed a turn, and then rolled onward before stopping, Erickson said. NASA has sent Spirit toward a crater nicknamed "Bonneville" that sits about 800 feet from where the spacecraft landed. NASA hopes the s

Congress Says Cabin Air Poses Health Risks

The FAA isn't doing enough to find out whether people are more likely to catch the flu or other diseases when they fly, a congressional report said Tuesday. The report by the General Accounting Office recommended more research into the health effects of the dry, recirculated air inside commercial airplanes. Many suspect that airplane air causes upper respiratory illnesses. In 2001, a scientific panel recommended that the FAA collect more data about cabin air. The FAA agreed to lead a research program to determine the accuracy of perceptions that air circulated inside airplanes causes discomfort or illness. The GAO, Congress's investigative arm, said in its report that the FAA's research plans are too limited.  

Air Inc. Releases January '04 Summary

It looks like 2004 is getting off to a great start for airline pilot hiring. Air Inc., the pilot recruiting company just released its January Hiring Summary and the numbers are promising. THe company claims, "Not since November 2002 have carriers reported hiring numbers this high." Air Inc. says national carriers lead the way by hiring 266 pilots in January. The summary indicates that Jet Operator and Non-jet Operator divisions hired 111 and 98 respectfully. The Majors are hiring once again, taking on 67 additional pilots last month. For the most part, the furlough numbers continued to decline, dropping 2.45 percent from 9,905 on furlough in December to 9668 last month. Airlines reporting to AIR, Inc. forecast approximately 4,300 n

United's Budget Carrier To Fly From DEN

Denver passengers take note: a battle of the airlines is about to take place in your neighborhood. A new era of low-fare competition begins Thursday at Denver International Airport (DEN) when United Airlines launches Ted, its discount carrier. The major carrier hopes to challenge Denver-based Frontier Airlines for the budget traveler's dollar at DEN, a growing market that Chicago-based United can't ignore. Matching up Frontier with Ted, which will fly to eight destinations from Denver by mid-March, promises to give travelers more low-cost options on those leisure-oriented routes. But it won't necessarily set off a fare war. So far, Ted is matching Frontier's prices without undercutting them.

Dropped Nigerian Service Under Review

According to the attorneys representing a group of passengers filing a class action lawsuit, the DOT has commenced an inquiry into World Airways, Inc. and Ritetime Aviation's operation of flights to and from Nigeria. The investigation relates to World Airways alleged decision to completely cease flight operations to Nigeria, abandoning passengers with round trip tickets and leaving the majority of them stranded in Lagos, Nigeria for over three weeks.    

50 And 70 Seat Jets Ordered

Those cynics who wonder if the regional airline market is fairing better than the majors, may want to chat with SkyWest. Bombardier Aerospace announced Tuesday that SkyWest Airlines of St. George (UT) has placed a firm order for 10 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 and two 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 regional jets for its expanding United Express operation. The contract value is estimated at $293 million U.S. ($389.8 million Cdn) and represents the conversion of 10 conditional CRJ200 orders and the exercise of two CRJ700 options. SkyWest's firm orders for the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ100/200 now total 110 aircraft, of which 100 have been delivered. With Tuesday's announcement, SkyWest -- the world's largest independently owned regional airline -- has placed firm

Company Will Limit Boeing 777-200s

Delta Air Lines announced Tuesday plans to limit the size of its Boeing 777-200 fleet. The airline said it intends to sell two Boeing 777-200 aircraft scheduled for delivery to Delta in 2005. The company also intends either to acquire other Boeing aircraft in lieu of three Boeing 777-200 aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2006 or to sell these three Boeing 777-200 aircraft. Delta currently plans to continue to operate the eight Boeing 777-200 aircraft in its existing fleet and said it is pleased with the operational performance of these aircraft.

Ancient Obelisk Weighs 70 Tons 

Wanted: An airplane strong enough to carry the 70-ton pieces of an ancient obelisk from Rome to Ethiopia, nearly seven decades after Italian Fascist forces hauled the monument out of Africa. Engineers dismantled the 1,700-year-old Axum Obelisk at the end of last year from where it had stood since 1937 near the Circus Maximus in central Rome after the Fascist invasion of Ethiopia. Divided into three sections, the obelisk is in storage near a Rome airport.

Religious Leaders Caution Carrier on Pilot Discipline

You may recall ANN's report on Monday about the American Airlines captain who is facing disciplinary action after recently asking Christians on his flight to identify themselves and suggested the non-Christians discuss the faith with them. Well, now the church is getting involved in this holy mess. On Wednesday, the National Clergy Council released the following statement: "The National Clergy Council, representing Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant church leaders, will today caution American Airlines executives to carefully approach its investigation of a pilot who urged his passengers to talk to Christians on board about faith." Stay tuned to ANN to see if either group throws the book (holy or

Aero-News: Quote of the Day

"Not since November 2002 have carriers reported hiring numbers this high." Source: An excerpt from Air Inc.'s official Hiring summary for January 2004. The company forecasts between 6,500 - 7,000 new pilots jobs for 2004 and says those airlines reporting to AIR, Inc. forecast approximately 4,300 new pilot jobs in the next 12 months. FMI: www.jet-jobs.com

Recommendation #A-04-01 and -02 - Revoked Repair Stations

The National Transportation Safety Board has made a recommendations to the FAA  that applies to applicants for a Part 145 repair station certificate, so the FAA can prevent individuals who have been associated with a previously revoked repair station from continuing to operate through a new repair station. The NTSB recommends that if an air carrier, operating, or repair station certificate is surrendered prior to completion of an enforcement investigation that is based on charges that could be grounds for revocation, the FAA should nonetheless complete the investigation to the extent necessary to document all available facts relating to the fitness of the involved individuals.

AD NUMBER: AD 2004-03-26

MANUFACTURER: Dassault SUBJECT: Front Area Of No. 2 Engine SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Dassault Model Falcon 900EX series airplanes, that requires modification of the front attachment area of the No. 2 engine. This action is necessary to prevent failure of the fail-safe lugs of the hoisting plate of the forward engine mount, and subsequent cracking of the pick-up folded sheet of the pylon forward rib. Such cracking could rupture the mast case box, which could result in loss of the two forward engine mounts and consequent separation of the engine from the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe con

AD NUMBER: AD 2004-03-22

MANUFACTURER: Dassault SUBJECT: Engine Pylons SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Dassault Model Falcon 2000 series airplanes, that requires modification of the forward ribs of the left and right engine pylons to plug holes left open during production. This action is necessary to prevent fuel leakage into a ``hot'' section of the engine, and consequent propagation of an uncontained engine fire. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition. This AD becomes effective March 17, 2004.

AD NUMBER: 2004-03-29

MANUFACTURER: Pacific Aerospace Corporation SUBJECT: Final rule SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pacific Aerospace Corporation, Ltd. Models FU24-954 and FU24A-954 airplanes. This AD requires you to perform repetitive detailed visual inspections of the forward vertical fin base for cracks. If any cracks or discrepancies are found, you must repair the structure before further flight and notify the FAA. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for New Zealand. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the vertical fin base, which could result in loss of the fin and loss of ai