Ambitious Plan to Visit Moon And Mars Unveiled
After weeks of speculation, President Bush officially
unveiled his new and rather ambitious space initiative on
Wednesday. Reminiscent of John F. Kennedy's famous space-launching
speech, Bush outlined his administration's goals to send human
beings back to the Moon and eventually set foot on Mars.
The President called on Congress to increase funding for NASA by
nearly a billion dollars annually over the next five years, while
radically transforming the space agency's manned space flight goals
from research-based low Earth program to a new aggressive plan for
interplanetary travel. The nine-page executive policy directive was
unveiled Wednesday afternoon by the president during an address at
NASA headquarters in
The souring relationship between Brazil and the USA has been
strained over the past few days in the wake of new security
initiatives instituted by the US Government. Brazil, not too happy
over the fingerprinting and photographing of foreign visitors to US
soil struck back... not out of fear for their safety, but for
political reasons, requiring the same of all US visitors to their
country.
Mind you, Brazil has never (Thank God) had the equivalent of a 9/11
terrorist attack on their soil, but they appear more
than willing to penalize US visitors for their government's
decision in attempting (wisely or unwisely) to secure its
borders.
The latest indignity occurred Wednesday when a US pilot was
arrested for making a rude gesture while being photographed by
Brazilian securi
Will CBS Finish the Damage Done to GA That Was Started
by al Qaeda?
When you want to do an internationally broadcast piece on
general aviation security, who do you put on your interview
list?
Knowledgeable Experts... Right?
The potential list is huge... folks from AOPA, GAMA, TSA, DHS, and
so on... good experienced experts with solid credentials that
will have plenty to say and the expertise to back it up with
solid data and input.
But... a real estate agent?
The cornerstone quote from a very negative anti-GA news piece,
aired on the not-maligned-enough CBS Evening News was a statement
from a Virginal Real Estate Salesperson who helped CBS' Bob Orr to
clobber the GA community as a serious national danger to domestic
security.
"Misleading, one-sided, unfair, and far beneath what we used to
expect from CBS." That was the reaction of AOPA President Phil
Boyer this evening after viewing the CBS Evening News "Eye on
America" story on general aviation airport security. "Not only
didn't they tell the full story, they even got basic facts wrong.
Had CBS talked to us beforehand, they might have got some of it
right."
The story tried to portray GA airports as totally lacking in
security — the kind of place where terrorists could sneak in
unobserved. Yet the story profiled a residential airpark —
the kind of close-knit community where any stranger would be
observed and reported immediately.
"CBS didn't show the typical GA airport, nor mention the security
enhancements, like AOPA's Airport Watch,
We received a lot of mail (mostly copies of their letters to
CBS, in protest) about CBS's attack on General Aviation--both the
promos (which were even worse than the story)... the total neared
400 e-mails by 0800 and exceeded 1000 before we sat down to write
this...
Here are just a few samples...
Sent To CBS News
After watching your story on General Aviation security on
tonight’s CBS Evening News, I have come to appreciate the
true meaning of “story.” I was appalled at your
careless journalism, offended at your sensationalism, and left
wondering what motive or purpose airing this piece served...
The following are the full text of the remarks made
Wednesday by the President on US space policy...
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for the warm
welcome. I'm honored to be with the men and women of NASA. I thank
those of you who have come in person. I welcome those who are
listening by video. This agency, and the dedicated professionals
who serve it, have always reflected the finest values of our
country -- daring, discipline, ingenuity, and unity in the pursuit
of great goals.
America is proud of our space program. The risk takers and
visionaries of this agency have expanded human knowledge, have
revolutionized our understanding of the universe, and produced
technological advances that have benefited all of humanity.
Inspired by all that has c
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has earned FAA
certification of an MD-90 EFD Level-D full-flight simulator that
the university plans to use in its Commercial Airline Pilot
Training (CAPT) Program.
The device accurately replicates all of the operational ground and
flight functions of the MD-90 EFD (enhanced flight deck) jet, which
allows the FAA to consider flight time in this device to be
equivalent to flight time logged in the actual aircraft. Level D is
the highest fidelity rating given to flight simulators.
After completing their flight training in the simulator, cadets in
the CAPT Program will receive a captain's type rating for an MD-90
EFD jet airliner.
VIP TFRs All Over The Place
NOTAM: 4/0358
Issued: 01/14/2004 19:50
Effective: Undetermined - Undetermined
State: GA
Facility: ZTL - ATLANTA (ARTCC),HAMPTON,GA.
Type: VIP
Description: ATLANTA, GEORGIA, JANUARY 15, 2004 LOCAL.
VIP TFRs All Over The Place
NOTAM: 4/0359
Issued: 01/14/2004 20:04
Effective: 01/15/2004 14:55 - 01/15/2004 19:50
State: LA
Facility: ZHU - HOUSTON (ARTCC),TX.
Type: VIP
Description: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, JANUARY 15, 2004 LOCAL.
VIP TFRs All Over The Place
NOTAM: 4/0356
Issued: 01/14/2004 19:33
Effective: 01/15/2004 19:10 - 01/15/2004 20:00
State: NV
Facility: ZLA - LOS ANGELES (ARTCC)PALMDALE, CA.
Type: VIP
Description: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, JANUARY 15, 2004 LOCAL.
WSI Corporation's WSI Pilotbrief Online has received
certification and fully complies with the FAA's Qualified Internet
Communications Provider (QICP) program. WSI is one of only three
organizations to have met the requirements for FAA QICP
certification.
The FAA certifies that WSI meets or exceeds its standards for
Internet delivery of weather and NOTAM information in the areas of
accuracy, reliability and security as set out in advisory circular
AC 00-62, Internet Communications of Aviation Weather and NOTAMs.
"FAA QICP certification validates the trust that WSI's numerous
airline and charter operator customers place in WSI, and our
ability to reliably provide their pilots' quality briefings with
WSI Plitobrief Online," said Arlo Gambell, WSI Director of Aviation
Services.
The following is a statement from AIA President and CEO
John W. Douglass on the administration's proposed initiative for
manned space flight
The aerospace industry welcomes today's proposal from the
White House to begin a new phase in America's manned space flight
program. By putting together a road map for the post-shuttle era,
the administration has served notice to the world that the United
States is ready to blaze new trails in the exploration of space,
and very importantly, that it plans to remain the global leader in
space for the 21st century.
Keeping manned space flight as the centerpiece of our space program
is in agreement with recommendations made last year by the
Commission for the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry. AIA is
pleased that the ad
Conklin & de Decker has released the latest version of its
maintenance management software, MxManager. Version 6.0
incorporates a number of changes and improvements for its users
including the expanded capabilities of alternate part numbers in
the inventory portion of the software. The new feature will
allow the inventory person to link as many parts as desired when
dealing with parts that are superceded, identified with a vendor
designation, or common for any other reason. Once connected
users can view the primary part and any other linked parts on one
screen and quickly determine quantity on hand or on
order.
MxManager 6.0 implements several new features, including sales
order. Sales order shows a summary of previously issued orders and
allows an item
You just know that this guy has a very lucky rabbit's foot. Maj.
Michael Hoepfner said he has the greatest job in the world. As the
first local fighter pilot to complete his F/A-22 Raptor checkout
flight at Tyndall AFB, few would argue.
"I feel so lucky that I got to be the first to qualify," he said of
his recent feat.
The assistant director of operations for the 43rd Fighter Squadron
is one of only three fighter pilots here currently qualified to fly
the F/A-22, and he is the first pilot to qualify in a
Tyndall-stationed Raptor. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Harrigian, 43rd FS
commander, and Maj. Steven Luczynski, a 43rd FS flight commander,
both completed their training at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
"Training Major Hoepfner provided a tremendous sense of pride for
everyone in t
"GA aircraft are a lousy terrorist weapon. Maybe that's
why no one has yet used a small aircraft for a terrorist attack
anywhere in the world."
Source: AOPA President Phil Boyer,
debunking the errant nonsense broadcast by CBS in an anti-GA story
that asserted that GA Airports were a terrorist target of
opportunity.
Exhibitors are anxious to demonstrate their products and
services at the upcoming Aircraft Electronics Association's 47th
Annual International Convention and Trade Show, with over 90
percent of the booth space already reserved and over 125 exhibitors
expected. Hundreds of manufacturers of avionics, instruments,
airframe and test equipment along with shop owners, managers and
technicians will be coming to the 2004 convention, which is
scheduled for March 29 through April 1 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel
in Las Vegas, Nev.
The 47th Annual Convention and Trade Show, the show "where business
gets done," is dedicated to providing those in the avionics
industry with the chance to participate, network and extract
valuable information to boost their business. There will be
hundreds of ideas
Alteon Training has received CASA Level "D" certification on its
Boeing 737-800 full-flight simulator at its Brisbane Training
Centre in Queensland, Australia. This is the company's first
full-flight simulator "Down-Under" in Australia.
The Brisbane Training Centre is one of several facilities
strategically located near customers throughout the ever-growing
Asia-Pacific region. It is the company's fourth in the Asia-Pacific
region, joining the existing Alteon training centres in Kunming,
P.R.C.; Seoul, Korea; and its affiliate centre in Singapore. In
addition, Alteon operates numerous training centres in Europe,
Africa and the Americas.
Alteon has a total of thirteen Boeing 737-700/-800 full flight
simulators in its worldwide simulator fleet. A second such
simulator is being
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