Brought Down By Gunfire

Insurgent ground fire near Baghdad brought down an Army AH-64 Apache Sunday, killing both crew members on board.

Two Dead In Daytona Beach Mishap

Two people were killed Saturday when their vintage training aircraft fell from the sky near Daytona Beach (FL).

Klyde Takes Aim, AGAIN, At USAir

Flying Too Close To Bush Ranch In Texas

Imagine their surprise. A father and son flying aboard a Piper Arrow were intercepted and forced to land in San Marcos (TX) Friday after they flew too close to President Bush's ranch in Crawford.

AOPA Flight Instructor Refreshers Open To All

Pilots taking advantage of a new program allowing non-instructors to attend AOPA Air Safety Foundation weekend Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics (FIRCs) are calling them "the greatest safety seminars on earth."

Meets With Oregon Sen. Wyden

AOPA President Phil Boyer met with Oregon Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to talk about security at general aviation airports. Wyden has been a staunch advocate for tight airline and air cargo security, but Boyer pointed out that air carrier-style security is neither necessary nor workable at GA airports.

Aeronca Aviators Club Reborn

The Aeronca Aviators Club is now officially back! Originally founded by Joe and Julia Dickey, who published an informative and enjoyable newsletter for many years before retiring from aviation.

Airline Admits Giving Passenger Data To TSA

The list of airlines that contributed confidential passenger data to the TSA continues to grow, with an admission by American Airlines that it, too, shared more than a million passenger records.

A Ride To Remember

Remember your first cross-country solo? Were you sweaty-palmed and tense? Did you have that out-on-a-limb feeling? Well, if 17-year old Bridgett Green experienced any of that, she didn't show it. Bridgett was flying her Cessna 152 (file photo of type, above) from Clark County Airport (IN) to Huntingburg (IN) and back Wednesday when she says she ran into a tailwind that knocked her off-course.

Airport Search Of Spanish Royalty Ignites International Incident

Boy, the Spanish are not at all happy with the TSA. Not after the next-in-line to the Spanish throne, Prince Felipe (right), was stopped and searched while changing planes in Miami (FL).

All Systems "GO"

The "i's" are dotted and the "t's" are crossed -- everything appears "go" for the launch of Expedition 9 to the International Space Station on April 18th.

Software Blunder Grounds British Chinooks In Iraq

"Absolutely extraordinary." Those are the words being bandied about in the British Defense Ministry after a software goof-up grounded half of the Queen's Chinook helicopters.

"Thanks to a massively botched job, they cannot be flown when there is a cloud in the sky," said Edward Leigh, chairman of the British parliament's accounts committee. Instead of desperately needed helicopters, the MOD (Ministry of Defense) might as well have bought eight turkeys." Source: Edward Leigh, Conservative member of the British Parliament, lamenting the grounding of eight American-built Chinook helicopters, which were supposed to be in the air over Iraq right now. The eight power-lifting helicopters, valued at $476 million, suffer from a software glitch -- the navigation programming doesn't work. The Ministry of Defense says it'll be 2007 before those aircraft are ready to fly -- if the UK decides to fix the glitch.

Safety A Big Concern In Maintaining Ejection Seats

It takes less than a second. In that time, quicker than a heartbeat, the rocket-powered seat in a military jet can exit at a speed from zero to 160 mph. Think of it as something akin to being kicked in the rear by a speeding bullet train – like Superman speed. The force of this explosion is designed to carry a crewmember safely – a relative term here – but quickly out of the cockpit of a doomed aircraft. There’s really very little about an ejection that is safe, but it beats the daylights out of the alternative.

EAA Sees No Hassle With Changes To FAR 99

EAA does not anticipate any recreational aviation flight operation conflicts with FAA’s recent update to the Air Traffic Security Controls for Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 99. The final rule, published in the Federal Register on March 30, becomes effective on April 29, 2004.

NOTAM: 4/2968  Issued: 04/08/2004 19:08  Effective: 04/12/2004 20:05 - 04/13/2004 16:45  State: TX  Facility: ZHU - HOUSTON (ARTCC),TX.  Type: VIP  Description: HOUSTON, TEXAS, APRIL 12-13, 2004. FDC 4/2968 ZHU TX.. FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS HOUSTON, TEXAS, APRIL 12-13, 2004. PURSUANT TO TITLE 14, SECTION 91.141 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, AIRCRAFT FLIGHT OPERATIONS ARE PROHIBITED WITHIN THE FOLLOWING AREA (S) UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY ATC. 3.0 NMR BLW 3000 FEET AGL OF 293624N/0950932W OR THE HUB110006.8 FROM 0404122005 (1505 LOCAL 04/12/04) UNTIL 0404122025 (1525 LOCAL 04/12/04). 1.5 NMR BLW 1500 FEET AGL OF 294441N/0952726W OR THE HUB295010.8 FROM 0404122045 (1545 LOCAL 04/12/04)

NOTAM: 4/2959  Issued: 04/08/2004 16:38  Effective: 04/12/2004 21:50 - 04/12/2004 22:55  State: TX  Facility: ZFW - FORT WORTH (ARTCC),TX.  Type: VIP  Description: WACO, TEXAS, APRIL 12, 2004 LOCAL.   FDC 4/2959 ZFW TX.. FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS WACO, TEXAS, APRIL 12, 2004 LOCAL. PURSUANT TO TITLE 14, SECTION 91.141 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, AIRCRAFT FLIGHT OPERATIONS ARE PROHIBITED WITHIN THE FOLLOWING AREA(S) UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY ATC. 3.0 NMR BLW 3000 FEET AGL OF 313816N/0970427W OR THE ACT089010.0 FROM 0404122150 (1650 LOCAL 04/12/04) UNTIL 0404122255 (1755 LOCAL 04/12/04).

For Sale: Sonerai II  Sonerai II: 90% complete, all materials to finish, 1600 CC stock VW engine, Monnett Super Vee Conversion, Imron paint Exterior Quality: 9, Interior Quality: 9 New, will sell for $7,500.00

NOTAM: 4/3023  Issued: 04/09/2004 23:08  Effective: Immediately - Until Further Notice  State: FL  Facility: ZJX - JACKSONVILLE (ARTCC),FL.  Type: HAZARDS  Description: CRAWFORDVILLE, FL.   FDC 4/3023 ZJX FL.. FLIGHT RESTRICTION CRAWFORDVILLE, FL. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.137(A)(2) TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT WITHIN A 6 NAUTICAL MILE RADIUS OF 301230N/0843345W AND THE SEMINOLE /SZW/ VORTAC 203 DEGREE RADIAL AT 22.9 NAUTICAL MILES AT AND BELOW 3000 FEET MSL TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR WILD FIRE. U.S. FOREST SERVICE, 850-523-8600, IS IN CHARGE OF ON SCENE RESPONSE ACTIVITIES. GAINESVILLE

Saturday should have been a good day for Jeff Ippoliti. And, ultimately, we'd have to suggest that it was. Despite low scud and low visibility, he was very comfortable with his SR22, an IFR-equipped aircraft that he'd logged nearly 600 hours in, and one he'd come to depend on for an unparalleled degree of freedom in getting where he wanted to go... swiftly. A founding member of the highly regarded Cirrus Owner's and Pilot's Association, Jeff had been flying a Cirrus Design SR22, Serial Number 80, for several years and simply wouldn't think of owning anything else. He loved the speed, the looks, and the safety features and he'd gotten quite comfortable with his personal bird, N916LJ. with his personal bird, N916LJ.