Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

MN TFR: 12.09.05

NOTAM Number : FDC 5/1305 Issue Date : December 08, 2005 at 20:30 UTC Location : Ely, Minnesota Beginning Date and Time : December 09, 2005 at 15:30 UTC Ending Date and Time : December 09, 2005 at 17:45 UTC Reason for NOTAM : Due to blasting activity at Babbitt Iron Mines

SWA 737 Slides off Runway in Snowstorm At Chicago-Midway

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 is reported off the runway after failing to stop, while landing, at the Chicago-Midway airport. The aircraft went off the end of the runway and through a perimeter fence before coming to rest in a bordering street.

Virgin America Files For Certification With The DOT

Virgin America Inc., a new U.S.-based airline start-up company, has announced that it has secured $177.3 million in committed funding led by VAI Partners LLC, an investment group funded by U.S. investment firms Black Canyon Capital and Cyrus Capital Partners. This funding transaction is among the largest of any start-up airline in U.S. history.

X PRIZE Foundation Examines Potential Human Orbital Vehicle Prize for NASA

The X PRIZE Foundation tells ANN that it has completed a study examining the benefits and disadvantages for a Human Orbital Vehicle (HOV) challenge.

NTSB Releases Prelim On Racetrack Helo Midair

The NTSB has released the preliminary report on last month's midair collision between a Eurocopter EC-130 and an Aerospatiale AS350B while maneuvering at a NASCAR motorsports event.

Aero-News Featured Aero-Casts For Thursday 12.08.05

ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 12.08.05 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 12.08.05 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature: The FAM Shooting In Miami 12.08.05 (Today's special feature discusses the Federal Air Marshall shooting in Miami with a number of industry experts)

Greater Waco Aviation Alliance Pushes Ahead With Commercial Air Park

City Aims To Bring Av Jobs To Central Texas

Waco, Texas exists in the shadow of its much larger neighbors, the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to the north and the booming cities of Austin and San Antonio to the south. But Waco is on the move.

Urgent CASA AD: Bell 206

AD/BELL 206/162 Main Rotor Blade Grip Plate Tang 2/2006DM

Applicability: Model AB 206A/B helicopters equipped with main rotor blades part number 206-010-200-(all dash numbers) having a serial number with the prefix A-xxxx; except the following serial numbers...

Klyde Morris 12.09.05

Some Ho-Ho-Ho's From Klyde...

Enstroms Now Flying In Slovenia, Georgia

Enstrom Helicopter, having delivered their first two aircraft to Korea earlier this year, continues to open up new markets and new territories.

PAIFA Reduces Costs Of Training For Vets

Pan Am International Flight Academy's (PAIFA) Career Pilot Development (CPD) division has restructured its training program to minimize out-of-pocket expenses for US military veterans.

Oshkosh 2006 Website Ready For Action

Mark The Dates -- July 24-30, 2006, ANN Will Be There!

Although opening day is still nearly eight months away, the preparations have already started for the 54th annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration, coming July 24-30, 2006.

New Orleans Louis Armstrong Int'l Airport Rebounds from Hurricane Katrina

New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport is claiming that, with the success of its ongoing recovery effort following Hurricane Katrina, the airport has restored 58 daily roundtrip flight operations to 21 non-stop destinations, representing 7,000 daily roundtrip passenger seats.

NATCA Sez FAA Jeopardizing Safety, FAA Sez 'No, We're Not!'

What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate...

The NATCA rants continue in their most recent war of words with the FAA -- seemingly as they continue to negotiate a difficult labor contract via the media as well as the negotiating table.

Hickam Was Quiet This December 7th...

The Pacific Air Forces headquarters building -- and Hickam AFB -- was quiet yesterday, the 64th anniversary of the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Be A Pilot Exceeds Goal Of 20,000 TV Responses For 2005

2006 Intro Flying Lessons To Be Offered At $59

BE A PILOT's 2005 advertising campaign has yielded 21,300 new pilot prospects from TV so far, exceeding this year's goal of 20,000.

ACI-NA's Airport Benchmarking Program Completes its First Full-Year

The ACI-NA Airport Benchmarking program continues to develop an airport-based process that permits airport executives to compare their facilities and operations with similar airports.

Cessna Selects AirCell Axxess Satcom for Citations

New System Becomes a Factory Option on Citation Sovereign, XLS and X

AirCell tells ANN that Cessna Aircraft Company has selected the AirCell Axxess satcom system as a factory option on Citation X, Sovereign and XLS business jets.

PASS Claims FAA Supervisor Refused Medical Leave For Worker Suffering Chest Pain

PASS, the union representing more than 12,000 employees of the FAA and the DoD, tells ANN that, "Last week, an employee at Olathe Mid-State Operations Control Center (MOCC) was denied medical leave after complaining of chest pains to his supervisor according to the Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS), the union representing FAA systems specialists."

Aero-News Quote Of The Day (12.08.05)

"NATCA’s statement is patently false."

Source: The FAA's Greg Martin, Assistant Administrator for Communications, responding to yet another NATCA statement charging the FAA with all manner of ills. While NATCA undoubtedly has some serious and concrete points to make in its conflicts with the FAA, NATCA's incessant sniping seems to be turning many in Washington off to NATCA's rhetoric.