SpaceShipOne Has A Ticket To Ride

The Department of Transportation has issued the world’s first license for a sub-orbital manned rocket flight.  The license was issued April 1 by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation to Scaled Composites of Mojave (CA), headed by aviation record-holder Burt Rutan, for a sequence of sub-orbital flights spanning a one-year period.

Boeing Decides Against Pratt & Whitney

Boeing has selected two engine types, the General Electric GENX and Rolls-Royce Trent 1000, for its all-new Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner, an airplane Boeing says will provide the world's airlines with exceptional efficiency and environmental performance. Boeing's decision follows months of collaboration with the leading manufacturers of large commercial airplane engines.

Intense Air And Ground Campaign In Iraq

An Army Kiowa crashed near the central Iraqi town of Baquba Wednesday, apparently brought down by small arms fire in the midst of a growing insurgency that's broken out across the Gulf nation.

First Ever Scramjet Flight

NASA's extremely successful X-43A hypersonic research aircraft flight of March 27, 2004, resulted in a treasure trove of the first actual scramjet flight data ever obtained. The initial data review of the flight was conducted on March 31, confirming that high-fidelity flight data was obtained throughout the vehicle's boost, stage separation and descent to splash down in the Pacific Ocean.

Airline Accused Of Not Informing Workers About Bomb Threat

Three unions representing Northwest Airlines workers filed grievances Tuesday, charging the company didn't tell them about bomb threats on three flights.

Two Floridians Killed

Witnesses say they knew something was wrong as soon as the Piper PA-700 broke ground Monday afternoon. As it struggled for altitude over the runway at Charleston Executive Airport on Johns Island (SC), it began belching smoke. The aircraft never cleared the trees. It crashed and exploded not far from the departure end of the runway.

Austrians Can Now Vote In The Air

Austria's national carrier, Austrian Airlines Group, says it will offer passengers drinks, entertainment and a chance to vote in the April 25th presidential elections -- all while flying at altitude. Voters simply have to carry their voter registration cards, which allow them to cast their ballots outside their usual polling places.

Unique System Ready To Fly

The FAA has certified Max-Viz's enhanced vision system in a move the company says is a "milestone for our industry." The FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) was awarded for installation of the Max-Viz EVS-1000 Enhanced Vision System on the Bombardier Global Express. The FAA STC now complements the Transport Canada STC received earlier this year. 

AOPA Takes It To Congressional Reps In Hopes Of Averting Shutdown

AOPA President Phil Boyer took member concerns over plans to close and destroy a general aviation crosswind runway at Eugene, Oregon's Mahlon Sweet Field to Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), local congressman and the ranking member on the House aviation subcommittee. In a meeting this week, Boyer told Rep. DeFazio that pilots regularly use the crosswind runway and that the FAA wind data used to validate the decision was outdated. Rep. DeFazio has committed to work with AOPA in finding a resolution that will meet the needs of local pilots.

Squadron Remembers Pilots Killed In Savannah T-6 Crash

Nowhere was the weekend crash of a T-6A in Savannah (GA) felt more keenly than at Moody AFB near Valdosta (GA).

Tests Include Air-To-Air Refueling

The Navy's V-22 Integrated Test Team (ITT) recently flew the first air-to-air refueling flights since the program’s return to flight in May of 2002, an operation deemed successful.

But None Involve Manned Missions To Hubble Telescope

NASA is reportedly considering more than 25 ideas on just how it can extend the useful life of the telescope, as well as what to do with it when that useful life is over. Even so, it still doesn't look like there will be a manned mission to service the space telescope. Ever.

WWII Pilot, Aviation Advocate

Harlan L. Jost, 85, whose aviation career spanned 63 years, died March 30, 2004, from a continuing heart condition. A retired US Air Force colonel, Jost was a maintenance officer in North Africa and Italy during World War II. He remained in the USAF Reserve and returned to duty during the Korean War. The Iowa native retired from the Reserve in 1972 after 31 years of service. Jost joined American Airlines after receiving a BA in economics from Grinnell College. He enlisted in the USAF in 1941.

Full Workshop Could Be On The Way

With a full class of twenty students and several more on a waiting list, EAA's first-ever Canadian SportAir Workshop this past weekend was a great success. The course-Sheet Metal Basics-was conducted April 3-4 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Based on the enthusiastic reaction, Canadian homebuilders can likely look forward to more offerings in the future, said EAA Director of Aviation Services Charlie Becker. "There is a very good chance we will add a full workshop, including sheet metal, composite construction and fabric covering, in Calgary within the next 12 months," he said. "We're very pleased with the turnout and the feedback we received."

USAF May Soon Lift Sanctions Against Boeing In Missile Scandal

Boeing's aerospace division, which has been collectively standing in the corner with its face to the wall after a scandal involving 25,000 documents stolen from arch-rival Lockheed-Martin, could soon be released from "time out."

New Airline To Base In Singapore

Qantas said today it would be the major investor in a new intra-Asia, low cost airline based in Singapore.

"I had some really irate mechanics because they just walked right up to this airplane." Source: Bob Rose, president of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association Local 5 in Detroit, whose organization filed a formal grievance against Northwest Airline after a series of three bomb threats to NWA aircraft March 30th. The mechanics, along with a flight attendants' union and an organization representing machinists say Northwest failed to notify them of the threats, causing them to come really close to a place they didn't want to be.

AD NUMBER: 2004-07-09 MANUFACTURER: General Electric SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-07-09 SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Aircraft Engines (GEAE) CT7 series turboprop engines. That AD currently requires propeller gearbox (PGB) oil filter impending bypass button (IBB) inspections, oil filter inspections, replacement of left- hand and right -hand idler gears at time of PGB overhaul, and replacement of certain serial number (SN) PGBs before accumulating 2,000 flight hours. This AD requires the same actions, and adds additional SNs of affected PGBs. This AD results from reports of PGBs equipped with certain gears that do not meet design specificat

AD NUMBER: 2004-03-27 MANUFACTURER: Eurocopter France (Correction) SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-03-27 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) model helicopters that requires inspecting the bevel gear for a crack using aborescope. This amendment is prompted by a crack that was detected on a bevel gear during a main gearbox teardown inspection. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the bevel gear, loss of torque to the main rotor system, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

AD NUMBER: 2004-07-21 MANUFACTURER: Gulfstream SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-07-21 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes, that requires detailed inspections and resistance measurements of the starter generator electrical cables of both engines to detect damage, and replacement of the electrical cable and cable support if any damage is found. This amendment also requires eventual replacement of the cable support. This action is necessary to prevent chafing of the starter generator cable, which could result in electrical arcing in the vicinity of a fuel line, and possible fire or explosion.