Era Aviation Files Chapter 11, Will Continue Ops

Citing a bank restriction following a dispute over its cash flow, Anchorage, AK-based Era Aviation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Friday. The company is expected to continue normal operations while under reorganization.

Editor's Note: The Federal Aviation Administration has just issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive affecting all Frakes Aviation (Gulfstream American) Model G-73 (Mallard) and G-73T (Turbine Mallard) aircraft. The unedited text of the Emergency AD is below.

NOTAM: 5/2205 Issued: 12/30/2005 13:40 Effective: 01/01/2006 14:40 - 01/01/2006 19:00 State: TX Facility: ZHU - HOUSTON (ARTCC),TX. Type: VIP Description: SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, JANUARY 1, 2006

NOTAM: 5/2254 Issued: 12/30/2005 19:20 Effective: 01/02/2006 14:00 - 01/02/2006 20:00 State: CA Facility: ZLA - LOS ANGELES (ARTCC)PALMDALE, CA. Type: HAZARDS Description: PASADENA CA.

Aims To Save Cash In Expensive Development Program

Department of Defense representatives told Bloomberg News Friday the Pentagon plans to end a development program for a backup powerplant for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF.)

Tense Moments In The Skies Over NYC...

A British Airways 747-400 with 300 people onboard made an emergency landing Thursday night at New York's Kennedy International Airport after its number 2 (inboard-left) engine caught fire after takeoff.

"Replacement" Workers Becoming Rather Permanent

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) reported on their website Friday that almost 57 percent of the union's voting membership rejected the latest settlement proposal from Northwest Airlines. It was hoped the proposal would end the four-month old mechanics strike at the beleaguered carrier.

Aircraft Fly Where Terrorists Are Active

Israel's El Al Airlines will soon install a variant of the military-spec Flight Guard anti-missile system on six airliners that fly routes where the Al-Qaida terror network is active.

Sparrowhawk II Gets Improvements, Price Hike

If you wanted to own the original American Autogyro Incorporated Sparrowhawk gyro, it's too late. Since December 1st AAI buyers have been getting the new Sparrowhawk II, a machine with a number of detail improvements that are primarily responses to builder and operator input.

Part One Of ANN's Year-End Interview With NBAA's Ed Bolen

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 12.30.05 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 12.30.05 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature: NBAA's Ed Bolen Looks Back At 2005 and Forward At 2006 -- 12.30.05 (ANN's Feature News Program, with NBAA's Ed Bolen, P

Wanna Fly Drunk? Wanna Reach Your Destination? Then Do NOT Fly Monarch Airlines

By ANN Associate Editor Rob Finfrock With the holiday season waning and the New Year fast approaching, the gang at ANN thought we'd take the time to share this fractured -- but true -- fairy tale, for any of you who may be feeling a little low on holiday cheer.

Says Contract Company Is Safe; Passengers, Pilots Disagree

Alaska Airlines said Thursday the airline is standing by the company whose employee accidently rammed a baggage tug into the side of an MD-80 airliner Monday while it was at the gate in Seattle. The mishap left a crease in the plane's skin that later grew into a foot-long hole once the plane climbed to altitude.

Fog May Have Been A Factor

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are heading to the scene of a fatal small plane accident in a suburb west of Omaha, NE. The wreckage of a Piper PA-28 Cherokee was discovered Thursday morning in a sod field about five miles southeast of the Millard Airport (MLE).

Aero-News Staff -- And Readers -- Reflect On 2005, Look Ahead To 2006

As you may be able to tell by looking at a calendar, turning on the evening news or listening to VH1 (it only hurts when you actually watch the videos... or, eep, shows) the end of 2005 is almost here... and with it, comes the time for EVERYONE to reflect on the events of the past year, and well as to speculate on what the new year -- by our best estimates, that'd be 2006 -- will bring.

Not Bad For A Company Fresh Out Of Bankruptcy...

In its first full year of operations since emerging from bankruptcy, Air Canada finds itself with an enviable problem: what to do with the $300 million net profit the airline took in for 2005?

Lawrence D. Bell Memorial Award, Pilot Of The Year Recipients Announced

The Helicopter Association International (HAI) has announced two more of its 2005 award recipients. Dr. Walter B. Comeaux, a former member of HAI’s Board of Directors, and a former HAI Safety Committee Chairman, is the 2005 recipient of the Lawrence D. Bell Memorial Award, while John Holland, Regional Aviation Director for Air Methods Corporation in Macon, GA will receive HAI’s 2005 Pilot of the Year Award.

Klyde Offers Up Some More Christmas Cheer... Via Warthog

That Makes... Carry The Three... A Lot Of Orders For Boeing In 2005

Boeing announced Thursday the manufacturer has signed a deal with Ireland's Avion Group for the purchase of four 777 Freighters. The airplanes are in addition to an order for four 777 Freighters that Avion Group placed with Boeing last September, and were previously posted as unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website.

No Holiday Break For Troops

US and coalition aircrews flew combat and support missions December 28 in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa, US Central Command Air Forces Forward officials in Southwest Asia reported Thursday.

Donation From Former Commander's Widow Honors 406th Fighter Group

A leather flight jacket worn during strafing missions over Germany in WWII is but one of the items to be featured in a new permanent exhibit coming to the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ soon.

China Southern Participates In Anti-Hijacking Drill

China Southern Airlines announced Thursday it has fully participated in the first-ever anti-hijacking drill staged at the new Baiyun International Airport (right). The large-scale drill was held recently at the Guangzhou airport, and was carried out by the newly created Guangdong Province Anti-Hijack Team.

"The enraging fact is that a non-union baggage handler ran into the side of the plane moments prior to take-off... and that it was never reported." Source: Alaska Airlines Flight 536 passenger Jeremy Hermanns, recounting on his blog the incident aboard Monday's flight from Seattle to Burbank, CA. A crease in the MD-80s fuselage, caused by a baggage handler who ran into the plane with a tug (and who failed to report the incident), blew at 26,000 into a footlong hole -- causing the aircraft to depressurize and the flight crew to beat a hasty retreat back to Sea-Tac. The incident has called into question the safety of Alaska's use of contract employees from Menzies Aviation, instead of unionized company employees.

NOTAM: 5/2183 Issued: 12/29/2005 20:20 Effective: 01/01/2006 15:15 - 01/01/2006 19:00 State: TX Facility: ZHU - HOUSTON (ARTCC),TX. Type: VIP Description: SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, JANUARY 1, 2006