Near Richard Meredith-Hardy's Microlight Base Camp

A DeHavelland Twin Otter flying from the capital of Nepal to a base camp on Mount Everest has crashed, killing all three crew members on board. News reports from the region indicate the aircraft (file photo of actual aircraft, above) was flying from Katmandu to Lukla, where Richard Meredith-Hardy's record-setting expedition is based.

New Carbon-Fiber Aerobat

Cascade Aircraft Development Company of Oregon (CADCOR) has commenced testing of a new, high performance, 2 place, carbon fiber, aerobatic aircraft called "the Chanute." The first flight in type was April 23, 2004. In the subsequent 30 days, CADCOR has logged 50 sorties evaluating flight characteristics in both the normal and unlimited aerobatic envelopes.

New Indications Of Further Collapse

New sounds of disintegration forced evacuations near the collapsed international terminal at Charles DeGaulle Airport in Paris Monday. Airport officials are now thinking of razing the entire building to the ground in the wake of Sunday's deadly collapse.

Eleven Hours Of Learning At AOPA Fly-In And Open House

If a good pilot is always learning, then the 14th annual AOPA Fly-In and Open House will be your chance to be a very good pilot. AOPA and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation will offer 11 hours of aviation seminars during the June 5 event at AOPA headquarters in Frederick (MD).

Couldn't Sort Out Flights For Controllers

What costs about $139 million, is found in Ireland and doesn't work? Answer: The new ATC system at Dublin Airport. Worse, it was handling live aircraft when it failed.

Blame Skyrocketing Fuel Prices

It's the sort of proof no one was hoping for -- an indication that skyrocketing fuel prices are cutting into the commercial airline business. It's sort of like kicking a man when he's down (or just getting up). United Airlines says it may have to lay off more employees because of increased fuel costs. The bankrupt carrier's chief operating officer, Pete McDonald, said "there's always a potential," when asked whether the higher prices for fuel would result in lay offs.

Randolph Brand Will Continue

Poly-Fiber, Inc. says it's purchased the aviation division of Randolph Products, Inc. Randolph has manufactured coatings for fabric and metal aircraft since 1932.

Launches New Electronic Flight Bag 

CMC Electronics Inc. has launched a new, second-generation Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) designed specifically for airlines and the discerning business jet owner.  This new EFB, designated the CMA-1100, bridges the gap between low-end off-the-shelf PC tablets and high-end Class 3 EFBs, by offering an avionics-grade hardware package and certification to DO-160D.

Adam Aircraft Announces $150 Million Order For Its New Breed Of Personal Jets

Adam Aircraft says a new air taxi company led by aviation industry legends Donald Burr and Robert Crandall has placed a 75 aircraft order for its A700 AdamJet. The new air taxi company (so new it doesn't even have a name yet) claims to be creating a new class of on-demand, point-to-point air transportation bringing the benefits of private jet travel to a much broader group of frequent travelers. Both Adam Aircraft and the new venture think they will be the first to market in this closely-followed aviation segment, with FAA certification and first delivery of the A700 in the first quarter of 2005 [E-I-C Note: Though the track record for this company and normal certification timelines doesn't sugg

The Shadow Knows

Almost 200 soldiers at Alaska's Fort Wainright have a new tool in their arsenal: Four new tactical UAVs designed for reconnaisance. The AAI Shadow 200 TUAVs are being used to train the 22 soldiers who will supervise their launches, flights and recoveries over the Land of the Northern Lights.

Virgin USA Close To Decision On Hub

Where will Richard Branson's American budget carrier land? Answer: Not Boston or Dulles.

Two Air Force Reserve Command C-130 Hercules aircraft and their crews deployed to Mesa, Ariz., May 23 to prepare for fire season in Arizona. The planes, equipped with the modular airborne firefighting system, are being pre-positioned to augment the Forest Service.

4100 NM Range

Dassault Aviation Tuesday introduced the Falcon 900DX, a large cabin tri-jet that combines Falcon safety, technology and performance with fuel efficiency and value. The 900DX fills a niche between Falcon's 2000EX and 900EX models.

Named Vice President for Mooney Airplane Company

Mooney Airplane Company says it's named David J. Copeland Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Stuart Matthews To Receive NBAA Meritorious Service Award -- Allan B. Lane To Receive Doswell Award

The NBAA has selected Stuart Matthews, president and CEO of Flight Safety Foundation, as the recipient of the 2004 NBAA Award for Meritorious Service to Aviation. Past NBAA Chairman Allan B. Lane, retired aviation manager and chief pilot for BP Amoco, will receive the 2004 NBAA John P. "Jack" Doswell Award.

New And Returning Board Members

Returning Board Member: G. Edward Newton, Jr. G. Edward Newton, Jr. will continue to represent the Corporate Sector on the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Board of Directors. Newton is currently Chief Pilot of Helicopter Operations and Manager of Safety, Standards, Training & Special Projects with Honeywell Corporation.

"Doctor" Paul Poberezny Honored By UW-Oshkosh

Donning traditional cap and gown, EAA Founder and Chairman Paul H. Poberezny received an honorary doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh during the school's spring commencement ceremonies last weekend. The honor, made in recognition of Paul's contributions to aviation, Wisconsin, and the Oshkosh area, is the third received by the EAA founder. (Others include from Milwaukee School of Engineering (1989) and St. Louis University (1991.)

E-2 Program Prototypes Applying Lessons Learned In Recent Conflicts

The Naval Air Systems Command has successfully prototyped a commercial navigation system currently installed in two of the US Navy’s E-2C Hawkeye aircraft. The GNS-530, originally produced for commercial aviation applications by Garmin International of Olathe, Kansas, will bring dual utility to the Hawkeye cockpit by simultaneously satisfying Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) enhanced display requirements while also providing precision approach to the E-2C Fleet.

Makes European Commitment with New Parts Distribution Center

Raytheon Aircraft Parts Inventory and Distribution (RAPID) is duplicating its success with its Dallas parts distribution center by opening a new parts distribution center in Liege, Belgium to serve Beechcraft and Hawker customers in Europe.

"The first is the call sign identity, such as Aer Lingus EIN 123. The next line is the altitude, and the third is the speed. The display of information to the controllers should have identified the aircraft by their call signs but this did not happen." Source: Lilian Cassin, spokeswoman for the Irish Aviation Authority, on the failure of a new Thales ATC computer system at Dublin Airport. The brand new system spat out numbers instead of transponder information Sunday, forcing air traffic controllers to turn it off and go back to the old system. The same Thales system is installed at Shannon Airport.