Ninth Pilot Charged In Minnesota

ANN would like to ask the state of Minnesota one question: What's your beef with airline pilots? While tax evasion is a serious offense, some are wondering why the state has chosen to publicy humiliate a select group of offenders: airline pilots? Why not do the same for other citizens following the same path of wrong-doing? On Tuesday, Washington County (MN) charged airline pilot Dennis Dentley Dickinson, 41, with three felony counts of tax evasion and promptly distributed a press release announcing the arrest. Dickinson is th

Birthday Bash Planned At Oshkosh

Fifty years ago, Helio aircraft serial number 001 rolled off the production line at Pittsburg, Kansas.  Over the years the Helio has claimed its own place in aviation history.  It was the Harrier jet of its day.  It remains one the safest aircraft ever built.  And the lore surrounding it is as interesting as the plane itself.  It served with distinction in the US Army and Air Force and also made a name as one of the premier missionary airplanes. After talking to the owners at Helio Aircraft Company and other influential members of the Helio Community the folks at heliocourier.net have put together a Steering Committee for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Helio Courier.  The Experiment

Oceanside Airport Assoc. Celebrates 100 Years of Aviation History

So-Cal pilots take note: There's a flapjack breakfast on Saturday morning. Oceanside Airport is celebrating its 100th birthday this Saturday, January 31st. They recently held off an attack by local politicians and developers, which each of us could face one day with rising land values. So, in celebration, the local EAA chapter asks that you fly or drive in for food, friends and fun over a pancake breakfast on Saturday from 9am to 11am. Aside from the mouth-watering food, several events will keep you busy, including live entertainment featuring Jazz & Swing music from Oceanside High School Band, a static airplane display and a paper airplane contest with prizes for kids. Caut

ACAS (TCAS) And Mode "S" Transponder

Cessna Aircraft Company will release ACAS II and Diversity Mode S Transponder Service Bulletins in the 2nd Quarter of 2004, to support European Aviation Authority Mandates. ACAS:  All turbine powered airplanes operating in Europe, with an MTOW of more than 12,500 pounds, or seating between 19 and 30 passengers, must have an "ACAS II" Aircraft Collision Avoidance Systems (known as TCAS II, Change 7 in the United States) installed by January 1, 2005. Mode-S Elementary Surveillance:  All aircraft operating in Europe, regardless of weight, or country registration, must have Mode-S "Elementary" Surveillance transponders installed by March 31, 2005. To comply with ACAS & Mode S Elementary Surveillance, Citati

Fell 2.4 Percent in 2003

As one would expect, war, SARS and a sagging economy did not prove well for the international aviation market. So, it comes as no surprise the official traffic numbers slipped in 2003. On Thursday, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported international air travel declined 2.4 percent in 2003 after a narrow gain a year earlier. The Geneva-based association was upbeat about 2004, however, forecasting traffic growth of 7-8 percent after strong recovery in the last quarter of 2003. As traffic fell many carriers cut capacity to lower costs but the IATA said overall capacity rose 0.1 percent. Passenger traffic rose 5.2 percent in December though the year-on-year rise was slower than a 5.9 percent rise in November. The

2002 Was A Better Year 

Do you like facts and figures? Well, we've got the whole scoop on Textron's earnings, as reported by the company this week. On Wednesday, Textron reported its fourth quarter 2003 income from continuing operations of $83 million or $0.60 per share, compared to fourth quarter 2002 income from continuing operations of $110 million or $0.80 per share. Including discontinued operations, fourth quarter 2003 net income was $83 million or $0.60 per share, compared with the fourth quarter 2002 net income of $131 million or $0.95 per share. Full-year 2003 income from continuing operations was $281 million or $2.05 per share, compared to $367 million or $2.62 per share for the full-year 2002. Including discontinued operations and the c

Enjoyed Some Success; Faced Many Challenges

Boeing, the big kahuna of aerospace, reported its 2003 year-end results on Thursday. Its report revealed the very best and worst the aerospace giant could hope for over the previous 12 month period. Boeing reported net income of $1.1 billion for the fourth quarter, or $1.37 per share, on revenues of $13.2 billion. Reported net income for 2003 totaled $0.7 billion, or $0.86 per share, on revenues of $50.5 billion. The results include a $1.01 per share non-cash charge to revalue goodwill balances in the first quarter and a $0.87 per share gain related to a federal tax refund in the fourth quarter. "This past year was notable both for the solid performance turned in by most of our businesses, as well as the challenges we

Mig And Sukhoi To Join Forces

Russian leading airplane manufacturing companies MiG and Sukhoi recently indicated they are interested in Russian Vice Premier Boris Alyoshin's proposal to form a single national aircraft manufacturing company within the next two years. "We take great interest in the idea of the unification of all Russian air forces into a single fist. This is a normal concept and in the perspective we are ready to participate in the formation of the single Russian air-holding," a Sukhoi corporation representative told a RIA Novosti correspondent. The MIG company representative noted in his turn that "if the government decides to form in the near future a single airplane manufacturing holding than MiG as a state enterprise will just simply abide wi

Klyde Keeps The Spotlight on CBS... Ya Think They Mind?

EU To Publish Blacklist Of Unsafe Airlines By Year-End 

The European Union Commission Wednesday said it intends to publish a "blacklist" of unsafe airlines before the end of the year. The push to tighten safety rules has intensified since a plane flown by Flash Airlines, which had been banned in Switzerland, crashed into the Red Sea in January, killing 148 people, mainly French tourists. E.U. governments and the European Parliament backed a bill this week tightening safety standards on foreign airlines, such as Egypt-registered Flash Airlines. However, the Commission believes European travelers should have access to information as soon as possible since the bill won't come into effect for at least two years. At the moment, only Switzerland and the

Pilots "Failed To Follow Proper Landing Procedures"   

On Tuesday, the government commission in Uzbekistan, which is investigating the airliner accident in that country last month, blames the crash on pilot error. The report contends the crew aboard the Uzbekistan Airways Yak-40 jet failed to follow proper landing procedures, even though heavy fog limited visibility at Tashkent's international airport at the time. The three-engine jet, bound from the town of Termez on the Afghan border, overshot the runway and crashed near the airport, killing all 37 people on board, including the head of the U.N. mission. The crew didn't actually see the runway at the minimum height required but continued landing anyway, "overestimating its professional skills,"

No Injuries, As Elevator Hits Chopper On Landing Pad

Imagine trying to write to explain this one to your superiors. A spokesman for F.E. Warren Air Force Base said an elevator at Presbyterian-Saint Luke's Medical Center in Denver (CO) rose and struck the tail of a UN-1N Huey helicopter while it was sitting empty on the landing pad. No one was in the elevator at the time. The US Air Force helicopter, which was not occupied at the time, was damaged at the Denver hospital's landing pad on Thursday. A three-member Air Force crew was on a routine training mission and had parked the aircraft on the helipad, according to a military spokesman. The elevator sustained $25,00 to $35,000 damage in the accident, according to Stephanie Lewis, a hospital spokeswoman.

15 Wing Celebrates 20K Hours

A Canadian Forces flying instructor at 15 Wing has surpassed 1,000 flying hours on the CT-155 Hawk jet, making him the first pilot in Canada to do so. Captain Dave Boudreau (standing right) of Dalhousie, N.B., completed his thousandth-hour flight Nov. 17 during an annual proficiency check at 15 Wing. A small ceremony was held Dec. 5 to mark the occasion and Wing Commander Colonel Alain Boyer took the opportunity to present Capt. Boudreau with a 1,000-hour patch for him to wear on his flying suit. The ceremony also marked a milestone for the fleet of 18 Hawks that are flown at both 15 Wing Moose Jaw and 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta as part of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) pilot-training program. Recently the fleet rea

Alleged Fraud While Operating To Nigeria

On January 26, 2004, passengers on flights operated by World Airways Inc. through their lawyers, Echeruo, Counsel, Attorneys at Law, LLP and Madu, Edozie & Madu P.C., filed a Class Action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The action has been brought as a class action on behalf of a class (the "Class") of all persons who purchased tickets for travel from the United States to Nigeria between November 4, 2003 and January 31, 2004 and were not transported to their destinations on schedule by World Airways. Plaintiff attorneys claim the action arose from World Airways decision to completely cease flight operations to Nigeria, abandoning passengers with round trip tickets and

Bringing Students And Aviation Professionals Together

ANN would like to inform all of our friends in the So-Cal area of a very special event this Monday, February 2, at 8:30 a.m. A group of local high school students from Los Angeles Unified School District's Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies will visit Van Nuys Airport (CA) to learn about aviation careers through mentoring and hands-on activities as part of Groundhog Job Shadow Day, a nationwide educational program that promotes career development. Prominent aviation companies and airport employees representing various trades and professional occupations will participate. This is an excellent opportunity for visuals, as students will have on-the-job learning experiences and tour the airport. Students wi

Aero-News: Quote of the Day

"The gaps in the system need to be plugged but this isn't the best way of doing it." Source: William Gaillard, a spokesman for IATA commenting on the European Union Commission's decision to publish a "blacklist" of unsafe airlines before the end of the year. The push to tighten safety rules has intensified since a plane flown by Flash Airlines, which was banned in Switzerland, crashed into the Red Sea in January, killing 148 people. FMI:  www.europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm

Steps In As New Avionics Service Manager

Bill Arsenault, Vice President of Mid-Canada Mod Center (MC2) announced on Monday that Larry Martyniuk has joined the MC2 team in the capacity of Avionics Service Manager. No stranger to this industry and more specifically the Canadian market, Larry has been a leader in client service and technical support and is well known to many for his efforts in this capacity. Most recently he was the Field Service Engineer for Rockwell Collins and worked with them for the past 13 years. For 8 years prior to that, he was with Bombardier in the Engineering Department of DeHavilland. In commenting on the new appointment, Arsenault states: “Mid-Canada Mod Center has been the fortunate recipient of many interesting and unique proj

New Position Created At Company

On Wednesday, Cessna Aircraft Company has named Don Beverlin as Vice President, Supply Management. In this newly created position, Beverlin is responsible for material price variance management; supplier relations and development; strategic sourcing and procurement of propulsion, avionics, electrical, and major aircraft systems; indirect materials; and supply chain new programs, policies, processes and contracts. Beverlin will report to Ron Alberti, Senior Vice President, Integrated Supply Chain. Beginning his Cessna career in 2000 as a commodity team leader, Beverlin has held numerous positions at Cessna each with increasing responsibility. Most recently he served as Director of Strategic Sourcing for the Systems Commodity

New Senior VP Of Product Engineering

On Wednesday, Cessna Aircraft Company announced David Brant as Senior Vice President, Product Engineering. Reporting to Cessna's President and CEO Jack J. Pelton, Brant's responsibilities will include new aircraft creation, development, design, interiors, flight test and certification, as well as product improvements for all aircraft in production and in service. Brant will serve as a member of Cessna's Senior Leadership Team. Brant originally joined Cessna in 1974 and served in various engineering capacities until 1980. He re-joined the Cessna team in 2001 as Director of Airworthiness, Engineering Flight Test and Product Safety.  Prior to that time, Brant served as Senior Vice President of Operations and Strategic

Iniziative Industriali Italiane Sky Arrow 650 Series Aeroplanes AD/SKY ARROW/3 Throttle Stop 3/2004 DM Applicability: Sky Arrow Model 650TC, 650TCN and 650TCNS aircraft as detailed by serial number in Iniziative Industriali Italiane Service Bulletin SB-C No. 01/03 Revision 1 and not incorporating part number (P/N) R05000-11/01 throttle stops. Requirement: 1. Inspect the throttle lever stops in accordance with Chapter 4 of Iniziative Industriali Italiane Service Bulletin SB-C No. 01/03 Revision 1. 2. Replace the throttle lever stops in accordance with Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 of Iniziative Industriali Italiane Service Bulletin SB-C No. 01/03 Revision 1. Note: ENAC Airworthiness Directive 2003-396 refers